Three Days Grace Drummer Neil Sanderson Named Grand Marshall For 2024 St. Patrick's Day Parade

A true rockstar will lead the 21st Annual Peterborough St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 17 as Three Days Grace drummer Neil Sanderson has been named this year’s grand marshall, announced at The Venue on Thursday afternoon.

Neil Sanderson, Three Days Grace Drummer said he is roughly one-third Irish mixed with Scandanavian/Dutch heritages. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Sanderson is best known for his work with Three Days Grace but has done work with Peterborough’s Thousand Foot Krutch and My Darkest Days. He has spent over two decades in the music industry, winning awards from Juno, Billboard Music and Loudwire Music with Three Days Grace.

The announcement was made by organizer Tim Burke who wanted to continue bringing in high-profile big names to the event after last year saw former sports anchor Dan O'Toole as the grand marshall.

“Dan was amazing last year and I couldn't ask for a better guy to do for us what he did for us in Peterborough,” he explained. “Neil came to mind. I talk to him occasionally and I asked him on Facebook. Within a day or less, he got back to me and it wasn't him saying, ‘Yeah, I'll do it,’ it was, ‘Thank you so much for asking me, I'd be honoured.’”

Sanderson confirmed the feeling Burke mentioned and was grateful for the opportunity, considering the worldwide success he and O’Toole have had in their respective careers.

“I've been lucky that from such a small town, we've been able to have the reach and audience that we've had on a global level. We look at that today and we feel blessed and we never take that for granted because it's amazing to see that world in that capacity” explained Sanderson. “I feel like I have a lot of big shoes to fill with over the years of great parade marshalls and I'm just going to do the best that I can.”

Sanderson’s mother would bring him to several parades when he was younger, such as the St. Patrick’s Day and Santa Claus parades, with several fond memories. During his adult years, he celebrated from dusk until dawn as he said with a chuckle but highlighted the upbeat and diverse music scene he would experience during St. Patrick’s Day.

“There's a lot of great live bands playing and that's what's really cool,” explained Sanderson. “I love live music and this city is rich with it; the music here is pretty eclectic.”

There are 77 entries in the parade so far but Burke says he is looking for more and sponsors.

“I can't believe how big it's growing,” said Burke. Last year, we had 87 so this year I'd like to hit maybe 100. It'd be pretty incredible to hit 100. I'm not sure if Peterborough parades have ever had 100 entries before so let's knock wood, luck of the Irish and all that stuff, let's do it.”

To register for the parade, visit the parade’s website and apply until March 1.

The parade is scheduled for 2 p.m., with the route beginning on George Street at City Hall and ending at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Prior to the event, a 5k run along George Street will occur to raise money for Right to Heal to help those with mental health and addictions.

To sign up for the run, contact Dave Dame of Runner’s Life at 876-8960. Donations can be given online at Right to Heal’s website.

A flag-raising will occur at City Hall on March 10 to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day.

For more information, contact Tim Burke at (705) 875-2542.

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Hometown PTBO: Neil Sanderson of Three Days Grace With Band Updates and Filming a Commercial With His Son

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with Neil Sanderson of Three Days Grace about the band's status, doing a commercial with his son and spending more time in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

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Hometown PTBO: Neil Sanderson of Three Days Grace on the Release of the Band's New Album

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday speaks with Three Days Grace drummer Neil Sanderson about attending Adam Scott, the band's new album Explosions and some of his tour stories.

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Neil Sanderson Of Three Days Grace Special Guest Speaker At Team 55's 6th Annual Friday Night Lights

On September 21st, all of Peterborough and beyond is invited to Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School for the annual Friday Night Lights, a Team 55 event supporting suicide prevention through the Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge. 

While the event has drawn big crowds in the past, organizers hope this year will be even bigger as they embrace the opportunity to showcase the community’s passion for suicide awareness and mental health to the Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Health, who is expected to be in attendance.

From left to right: Dave Pogue from Team 55, Jack Veitch from CMHA and Jeff Challice from TASSS.

“We really need to get as many people to TASSS on Friday night as possible—we want to pack the place,” says Dave Pogue, founder of Team 55: Let’s Tackle Suicide Awareness.

At the opening ceremonies, this year’s special guest will be speaker Neil Sanderson of Three Days Grace. The Canadian band, including the Adam Scott alumnus, is about to embark on a European tour before returning for a Canadian tour in late November.

Friday Night Lights begins September 21st at noon with games and a barbeque, and the Open Ceremonies start at 6 p.m. The main event kick-off is at 7 p.m.

For more on Friday Night Lights and Team 55, watch this recent interview we conducted with Dave Pogue on PTBOCanada show…

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