SANTA on the lake - a Christmas Eve tradition that ended in Toronto last December - has been revived.
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For 35 years, the Wangi Queen boat would take Santa around the lake every Christmas Eve.
When the grand old timber boat was sold in 2012, Santa hitched a ride on SolarSailor, the wind- and solar-powered vessel.
SolarSailor has since been sold, so the tradition ended last year, and the locals were disappointed.
"As a lifelong resident of Toronto, I grew up with Santa on the lake and it was really sad to see it come to an end," realtor Paul Wrigley said.
So this year, Mr Wrigley's business, Ray White Toronto, and the Rotary Club of Sunrise Toronto have sponsored the event to bring it back to life.
"It was always a local tradition to go down to the parks around the lake on Christmas Eve and wait for Santa," Mr Wrigley said. "The boat would slowly make its way around the lake, stopping in at jetties to throw off lolly bags for the kids.
"It was a time when the community really came together and it was sorely missed last year."
Santa is expected on the Toronto foreshore at about 5pm. He'll cruise slowly to Kilaben Bay Park arriving about 6pm, and then head to the Rathmines F jetty by 7pm. The boat will then travel into Wangi Bay.
