Larger Crowd Expected At Santa Shuffle Means New Venue

By Angela Gemmill

Participation in the Sudbury Santa Shuffle has grown so much over the past couple of years that organizers have had to move it to a larger venue.

This year’s event –which includes a one-kilometre Elf Walk for kids and a 5-K route for runners and walkers — will start and end at Collège Boréal.

It’s set to go next Saturday, December 5th at 10am.

Local Race Director, Loretta Maillet, says Sudbury is one of 43 communities taking part across the country.

This is the 25th anniversary for the Salvation Army’s Santa Shuffle in Canada.

Maillet attributes the participation growth to the fact that Sudbury’s event is the only one that is timed, and this year it will be chip-timed.

Last year, there were 530 participants at the local event, and it raised almost $25,000.

Maillet says another reason for the participation growth is that all money raised in Sudbury stays in Sudbury.

Funds collected during the Santa Shuffle help the Sudbury Salvation Army with both of its mens’ and womens’ shelters, as well as its Family Services programs.

All participants get a unique finishers’ medal at the end.

No roads will be closed for Saturday’s event.

Maillet says participants in the 5-K Santa Shuffle will start at Collège Boréal, work their way along Lasalle Boulevard to Notre Dame Avenue, through Cambrian Heights and back behind Collège Boréal.

The one-kilometre route for the children’s Elf Walk will take place within the school’s campus.