Miniature cars, clowns and oriental bands

“It's fun for kids of all ages,” said Al Burns, president of the Sudbury Shrine Club.

“One float looks like the Maid of the Mist, and that's from Niagara Falls. We have another one that looks like an actual train. We have Viking ships coming up, and oriental bands and clowns and mini cars.”

He said he thinks there will be a big turnout for the parade, which starts at 1 p.m., as it coincides with Downtown Rotary Blues for Food. The parade will last about an hour and a half and will include 45 floats.

The parade is just one aspect of the Spring Ceremonial, with about 1,500 Shriners set to converge in Sudbury June 12-15 for a long weekend of meetings and social activities.

A fraternal organization, the Shriners are well known for their philanthropy.

Like all Shriners, the Sudbury Shrine Club's 150 members raise funds for the Shriners Hospitals for Children. The 22 facilities provide pediatric medical care. The closest facility to Sudbury is located in Montreal, Que.

The Sudbury Shriners have also donated $350,000 over the past 10 years to the botox clinic at Health Sciences North's Children's Treatment Centre. Botox gives better mobility to children with cerebral palsy, as it relaxes their muscles.

For more information about the Sudbury Shrine Club, phone 705-524-0335.