The recent tragedy in which six people were killed and dozens injured during a Santa parade near Milwaukee, Wisconsin has forced organizers of the Ottawa Help Santa Toy Parade and Santa's Parade of lights to drastically scale back their joint plans for a parade on Dec. 4.

The organizers had originally planned to hold a series of three mini parades in Kanata, Ottawa and Orléans throughout the day and into the evening, but those plans have been scrapped and replaced with a single downtown parade.

In a press release issued earlier today, parade co-organizer Bob Rainboth says the parade will begin at 11 a.m. and follow the traditional route from City Hall on Laurier Street to Bank Street and then south to Lansdowne Park.

"This past weekend, a tragic incident occurred in Wisconsin USA which left six dead and dozens injured. After lengthy discussions and plan revisions... our intended plan to hold 3 mini parades were scaled back to one parade in the downtown core," explains Rainboth. "As difficult a decision this was to make, we focused on the safety and security of both participants and parade watchers."

This year's parade will be vastly different from past parades in that there will be no participation from outside groups. Instead the parade will focus on the city's first responders and other departments.

The parade will include the traditional Toy Wagon, however it will only there for show. No toys will be collected during the parade. Instead signage will be in place to advise parade watchers that toy donations can be made at all City of Ottawa fire stations where they can be collected and organized in a safe/hygienic manner.

Cash donations can also be made by visiting www.toyparade.ca.