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Toronto’s Santa Claus parade takes to the streets Nov. 18

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Elements of floats in various states of completion fill the warehouse, while other completed floats are in storage elsewhere. Twenty-three distinct floats are listed for this year's parade. The media were invited to the Toronto warehouse on Nov. 2, 2012 where the floats for the 108th Santa Claus Parade are being prepared for Nov. 18th, 2012.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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Costumes, masks, and parts line the walls of the warehouse.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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Some of the finished Santa Claus Parade floats are covered with plastic until the big day.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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Masks are stored on a the warehouse walls above parade costumes.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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Elements of floats in various states of completion fill the warehouse, while other completed floats are in storage elsewhere.Peter Power

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Some children participated in today's event by dressing up in costumes that will be worn by parade participants this year.Peter Power

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Float decorator, Krysta Massey paints a large octopus on the Underwater Band float. Twelve people work full-time year-round on float construction, and that number is doubled during the rush as the parade date approaches.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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Elements of floats in various states of completion fill the warehouse, while other completed floats are in storage elsewhere.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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A large police man stands tall on the Legoland float.Peter Power

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Animals are the starts of the Farmer & the Dell float.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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Some recognizable figures from the Wizard of Oz hang high in the warehouse.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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Misho Klacar, 64, carves a pair of skates from styrofoam in the workshop. Mr. Klacar has been working on the Santa Claus Parade for 17 years but this is his last, since he is retiring next year.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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Cartoon characters come to life through skillfully carved styrofoam. Twelve people work full-time year-round on float construction, and that number is doubled during the rush as the parade date approaches.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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A stuffed toy serves as a model for this element of a float.Peter Power

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Elements of floats in various states of completion fill the warehouse, while other completed floats are in storage elsewhere.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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Ross Morton, a Santa Claus Parade board member, has been a celebrity clown in the parade for twenty years. This year there will be 150 celebrity clowns in the parade.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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The gingerbread man towers above a couple of the celebrity clowns for this year's parade. This year the Santa Claus Parade is celebrating the celebrity clown's 29th year in the parade.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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Rudolph and the other reindeer on Santa's float are covered by protective plastic.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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Santa Claus waits patiently while Mrs. Claus speaks at the microphone.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus chat in the wings while waiting to be introduced.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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Santa and Mrs. Claus pose for photographs on the float that Mrs. Claus will ride this year.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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Santa and Mrs. Claus pose for photographs on the float that Mrs. Claus will ride this year.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

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