A year after a financial Grinch appeared to be threatening Toronto’s Santa Claus parade , the head of the festive event says he’s optimistic for its future.

“Certainly we’re back, which is the good news,” said Clay Charters, president and CEO of the Original Santa Claus Parade. “We’ve set ourselves up now for the ability to succeed and build on that salvation for future years, but the work continues.”

Even as the parade was set to host its 120th event, organizers in 2024 were sounding the alarm and had set up a GoFundMe campaign, citing growing inflationary and operational costs, combined with corporate budget constraints.

The parade said in November 2024 that if they did not raise $250,000 to fill their deficit, the 2025 parade may not happen.

A year later, the parade says the “

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