Saskatoon boy gets private parade after COVID-19 postponed dream vacation

Erik Alexandrovici was in for a big surprise Saturday in Saskatoon.

The seven-year-old fighting leukemia was supposed to be travelling to Florida later this month for a dream vacation to Disney World on behalf of the Children’s Wish Foundation.

With COVID-19 stopping international travel across the world, Children’s Wish Foundation Saskatchewan Chapter teamed up with Centennial Plumbing, Heating and Electrical to surprise Alexandrovici and brighten his day.

His stepfather, Blair Fettig was floored as dozens of vehicles rounded the corner in Hampton Village to cheer on Alexandrovici during the parade.

“It was so touching,” Fettig said. “We heard there was going to be a parade, and we expected people to drive by and honk — and they did, but then everybody stopped and came out and handed (Erik) something. It was great.”

As part of Centennial’s 14 Days of Service, the company has been giving back to the community in various ways. During the initiative, Centennial delivered pizza to the Interval House and the Saskatoon Crisis Nursery, staff put their support behind Green Shirt Day, and they also helped deliver much-needed supplies to a home celebrating three birthdays.

On Saturday, dozens of vehicles from the Saskatoon Fire Department, Saskatoon Police Service and Medavie Health Services West blared horns and sirens as they passed by Alexandrovici’s driveway. Joined by a monster truck from the Saskatchewan Rush and a fleet of vehicles from Centennial, each vehicle in the parade stopped at the edge of the driveway to hand Alexandrovici a gift.

7-year-old Erik is battling leukemia. The little man was surprised with a community parade after his trip to Disney World was cancelled.

Dozens of police cars, fire trucks and even a monster truck stopped by to lift his spirits. #yxe #StaySafe pic.twitter.com/6r4x2n1Wk2

— Keenan Sorokan (@KeenanSorokan) April 12, 2020

“You can tell how much cabin fever everyone has,” Fettig said. “We were standing on our driveway and it’s the most fun we’ve had in weeks.”

“It’s crazy how those little things can change over a few weeks of isolation.”

Jumping up and down, and wanting to leap out and hug each person waving at him, Alexandrovici admitted his favourite part of the parade was the Saskatchewan Rush bus that stopped in front of the house.

Children’s Wish Foundation Saskatchewan Chapter has had to postpone many of its wishes during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a little help from community partners helped make accomplish this one with little planning involved.

“It just came from a small idea and grew into something huge,” Catherine Lunn, development coordinator with Children’s Wish, said. “We weren’t expecting this at all, but just to see the smile on Erik’s face and his brothers, I can tell it means a lot to their family.”

Small gestures like these prove that while we’re all isolating to stay safe and healthy, you can’t quarantine kindness.