By Denise Bacon

Residents in our neighbourhood are a very hardy group! Despite the cold and rainy weather on November 1, more than 60 people came out with their Halloween jack-o-lanterns for our first-ever Pumpkin Parade in Port Union Common.

Bundled up under umbrellas and raincoats, adults and children proudly showcased their pumpkin masterpieces along the pathways of the park. Pumpkins were absolutely delightful, glowing by candlelight and ranging from Mickey Mouse ears and gemstones to intricately carved Halloween landscapes. This was a great way to admire pumpkin art from across neighbourhoods all in one place, especially since many of us stick close to home handing out treats on Halloween night.

Vijay Thanigasalam, our MPP for Scarborough-Rouge Park, came directly from Queen’s Park to enjoy the camaraderie. It was a great opportunity for people to chat with him  as he stayed for a long time on that wet evening, while wearing his business suit and dress shoes!

The night ended with volunteers depositing the pumpkins into a compost bin that had been brought to the park for the event. The things left from the Pumpkin Parade were footprints and wonderful memories.

Much gratitude goes to the organizers and volunteers from the West Rouge, Highland Creek and Centennial community associations. This is another reminder of how lucky we are to live in this beautiful neighbourhood! We’re hoping the Pumpkin Parade becomes a yearly event.