Santa Returns to CTV for THE 112TH ANNUAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE Broadcast, November 20

TORONTO (November 3, 2016) – It’s the hap-happiest season of all! Canada’s beloved family event  kicks off the holiday season as THE 112TH ANNUAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE marches on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 4:30 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, and 5:30 p.m. AT on CTV Atlantic. For the seventh straight year, CTV is the exclusive broadcast partner of the annual holiday spectacle, and longest-running children’s parade in the world. Hosting this year’s 90-minute broadcast is THE SOCIAL’s Marci Ien and YOUR MORNING’s Kelsey McEwen with E! and ETALK’s Chloe Wilde returning as the broadcast’s roving parade reporter. This year’s event features all-new floats, special celebrity cameos, and a performance by JUNO Award-winning singer-songwriter Johnny Reid, who will also co-host throughout the broadcast. Some of the biggest stars in entertainment join in the festivities this year to help spread the holiday cheer with exclusive yuletide greetings from Brampton’s-very-own Alessia Cara, comedian and actor Russell Peters, GOTHAM’s Jessica Lucas, YouTube sensation Connor Franta, and more. “We are overjoyed to have Canadian icon Johnny Reid join us for THE 112TH ANNUAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE broadcast,” said John Kampilis, Executive Producer, In-House Productions, Bell Media. “Having him perform and join the parade as co-host will be a great addition to the festivities, bringing holiday cheer to viewers across the country.” “I’m thrilled to be performing on and co-hosting THE 112TH ANNUAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE on CTV,” said parade performer Johnny Reid. “It’s an incredible opportunity to celebrate the gift of holidays with family, friends, and fellow Canadians across our great country.” Adding to the memorable lineup, THE 112TH ANNUAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE debuts several newly designed floats this season, including representing the hit animated television series PEPPA PIG, Disney’s highly anticipated upcoming film Moana, and the phenomenon that took over the world, Pokémon. The broadcast will also ring in the holidays with season’s greetings from families around the globe; children reading letters to Santa and singing Christmas carols; a behind the scenes look at the parade’s marching bands, Santa’s workshop, hundreds of performers; and a visit from the one-and-only Santa Claus.   In addition to on-air coverage, CTV’s parade-day essential website CTV.ca/Santa returns with all of the latest THE 112TH ANNUAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE news, on-demand access post-broadcast, as well as exclusive video content. To get in to the holiday spirit, CTV asked this year’s hosts to share their favourite holiday movie: Marci Ien: “Elf. It’s that whole fish-out-of-water scenario that works so well. Plus Will Farrell in a giant elf suit… You just can’t beat a story where good ol’ Christmas cheer prevails in a world full of cynics. Watching it with our kids, and seeing them enjoy it as well, is now one of our family holiday traditions.” Kelsey McEwen: “Love Actually. It captures the many emotions of the holidays, but beautifully wraps it up in hope and happiness.” Chloe Wilde: “The Santa Clause. Sometimes accidents happen… Like putting on a red suit and all of a sudden becoming Santa Claus. Tim Allen goes from grouchy to jolly, selfish to selfless and rocks a red suit & white beard like a boss – year after year this movie is a household favourite during the holidays!”