Fort McMurray celebrates birthdays on wheels

PHOTO. Supplied. Vehicles are lining up and then parading down streets to wish children happy birthdays as they celebrate in isolation and have their parties cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Birthday parties are having to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing guidelines set by the provincial government. 

To get around that and keep the celebrations going Amanda Chubbs created the Facebook group Fort McMurray Birthday Parties on wheels

She got the idea from a video online of a little girl in the United States, who sat on her front lawn while all her friends and families drove by to wish her a happy birthday.

“Then my son’s birthday happened, and we weren’t able to have anybody, and he was very upset.”

Chubbs thought it would be a great idea if people could get together and show their support for our community.

“Since the fire everybody here has been family instead of just neighbours.”

Through the Facebook group, events are made and Chubbs helps organize a drive by where a fleet of vehicles travel around giving out special birthday greetings.

She had no idea the initiative would take off the way it has.

Even after a snowstorm, 43 vehicles showed up over the weekend to drive down one street, some decorated, honking their horns and wishing a young boy happy birthday.

In one day the group helped nine children celebrate their birthdays.

You can join the Facebook group to get involved.

With files from Taylor Pope