Grand Prize Winner Of Holiday Shopping Passport Announced

Arlene Petrany of Peterborough has been named as winner of the Holiday Shopping Passport grand prize draw.

Arlene Petrany, Holiday Shopping Passport Grand Prize Winner and Terry Guiel, DBIA Executive Director posing outside the DBIA office. Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA.

Petrary’s winning Holiday Shopping Passport was drawn on January 12 at the Peterborough DBIA.

“I absolutely love downtown Peterborough, I always have. There are so many amazing shops and restaurants. I can't wait until everything opens up again”, said Petrany.

The winning passport came from Things from Mom’s Basement located at 192 Charlotte St.

This year the Holiday Shopping Passport program saw a 15% increase in participation generating a little over 2.6 million in local spending.

“Congratulations to Arlene Petrany on winning this year grand prize draw and a special thanks to everyone who prioritized shopping downtown this holiday season. I am incredibly proud of our community’s steadfast support for our downtown and I am hopeful that local support will continue to flourish in 2022,” said Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the Peterborough DBIA.

The Holiday Shopping Passports ran from Nov. 8 to Jan. 12. Throughout the program shoppers were rewarded with a passport stamp for every $10 they spent at a participating location. Each completed passport (20 stamps) were entered into a draw, including three early bird draws of $500 in Boro gift cards.

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Trent University Student Wins $500 Early Bird Prize With The Boro's Holiday Passport Draw

Trent University student, Jonah Udovc has won the final Holiday Shopping Passport early bird draw of 2021, which is a $500 Boro giftcard.

Jonah Udovc and Terry Guiel, Peterborough DBIA. Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA.

Udovc’s winning Holiday Shopping Passport was drawn on Dec 15 at the Peterborough DBIA.

He collected his stamps after purchasing a coat from Wild Rock Outfitters and a new house plant from Plant Goals.

The $500 gift card can be used at various stores in the downtown core, and Udovc says he will use it to explore places he hasn’t been to.

“Supporting local directly impacts the livelihood of our local shop owners which feels far more impactful than shopping at a big box store. I love the downtown and couldn’t imagine shopping for the holidays anywhere else,” said Udovc.

Holiday Shopping Passports are still available at any one of the 150+ participating shops, boutiques, salons, restaurants, and cafes in downtown Peterborough. Each completed Holiday Shopping Passport increases the chance to win up to $1,500 in Boro gift cards.

The $1,500 grand prize draw will happen on Jan 12, 2022.

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The Boro Announces Wild Rock Outfitters As Holiday Window Contest Winner

The Boro announced on Wednesday that Wild Rock Outfitters placed first in their annual Holiday Window Contest.

Wild Rock Outfitters staff members Bridget Moore (left) and Rachel Dean (right) celebrating their winning window. Photo courtesy of The Boro.

“This holiday season has been all about community, getting outdoors, and supporting each other. Our staff brought their fabulous ideas and talents together to create a beautiful expression of just that, and we're so happy they'll be rewarded for their efforts. We are so grateful to have a team filled with so much enthusiasm, skill, and love,” said Tori Silvera, Wild Rock General Manager. “Thanks Peterborough, and have a wonderful holiday, whatever you're celebrating."

This year’s winners are:

1st place — Wild Rock Outfitters, 169 Charlotte Street

2nd Place — Statement House, 378 Water Street

3rd Place — Green Street, Shop, 237 George Street

The top three winners will be receiving $1,000, $500, and $200 for their winning windows. Locals voted online for their top three holiday window displays throughout the contest period from November 19 to December 6.

“It feels very festive downtown right now thanks to the creativity of our brilliant shop owners. This year’s theme was Holiday Cheer and our businesses curated wonderfully cheery holiday window displays this season,” said Terry Guiel, DBIA Executive Director. “It’s incredible to see the community rally behind our small businesses. Over 2,400 votes were cast throughout the contest, and we are just blown away by the local enthusiasm for this program.”

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The Boro Opens Holiday Hub Downtown To Spread The Christmas Magic

A new festive pit stop for holiday shoppers has opened downtown Peterborough, to brighten the streetscape along George Street between Simcoe and Hunter.

Elves will wrap gifts at the Holiday hub every Friday. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

Located in the former Pensieri Shoe store at 373 George St., the pop-up Holiday Hub will provide complimentary gift-wrapping services for all downtown shoppers.

With two ‘elves’ on scene, any shopper with a gift purchased downtown (receipt required) can get that gift wrapped every Friday from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. until Dec. 17.

The new hub will also host a local toy drive in support of the Salvation Army and The Children’s Foundation. Visitors are also invited to take a selfie with the Grinch of George Street, painted by local artist Tim Wales and colour a picture of their own.

“We wanted placemake this space and turn it into a space where people could gather and enjoy all the magic that is the holidays, while getting some perks for shopping downtown,” said Hillary Flood, Peterborough DBIA. “We also will be turning it into a holiday market where you can enjoy a slew of local art vendors that will be happening on December 11 and 18.”

Initially, the Holiday Hub was initialized by The Boro as a ‘placemaking’ initiative to help animate a section of George Street that was under construction.

While the construction wrapped up sooner than anticipated the Holiday Hub will still act as a place to enjoy the holiday season.

“The idea behind it all is that when you have closed store fronts it can make the downtown feel kind of drab. So this is the first model of a positive intervention where we take over a store front for whatever reason and turn it into something that people want to gather in.”

The space being used for the Holiday Hub was donated to The Boro by Gentry Apparel, who own the building.

The Holiday hub will be open Fridays 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday Dec 11 and 18 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

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One Local Business Will Win $1000 With The Boro's Holiday Window Contest

Downtown businesses are being given the chance to win up to $1,000 cash with The Boro’s Holiday Window Contest.

Photo courtesy of The Boro.

Over the past few weeks, merchants in the downtown area have been hard at work decking the halls and walls for a chance to win big at the 2021 Holiday Window Contest. The business that gets the most votes will receive a $1,000 cash prize with second and third receiving $500 and $200 respecitvely.

Judging will take place online at theboro.ca. Participants can vote for their top three windows each day throughout the contest period from Friday to Dec. 6. The theme for this year’s contest is “Holiday Cheer.”

“I love seeing our shop windows illuminated with lights and holiday decorations. Our merchants always create top-notch displays that bring a wonderful festive spirit into the downtown core,” said Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area. “This year we’ve mapped out some of the best hot chocolate spots so folks can bundle up and come experience the charm of our historic downtown shopping district while touring this year’s holiday displays.”

Participants can view the Holiday Windows from home online or take a downtown tour and cozy up with a hot chocolate along the way.

To stay up-to-date on this year’s holiday window contest, follow The Boro on Facebook and Instagram.

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Voting for The Boro's Holiday Window Contest Opens on Friday

The Boro’s Holiday Window Contest is underway and voting will open on Friday.

In 2017 TOY SHOP OWNER JEAN GRANT Came FIRST PLACE PRIZE IN THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY WINDOW CONTEST. She donated her $300 prize to The Salvation Army Toy Drive. File Photo.

Local businesses can enter their decorated window on The Boro’s website until Thursday.

Voting is open to community members and will be open from Friday until Dec. 6.

The first place window will receive $1,000, second place $500 and third place $300.

This year’s theme is “Holiday Cheer.”

Community members can vote from their homes by visiting the website or they can use the interactive map to take a tour of downtown.

The map highlights participating businesses as well as hot chocolate stops along the way.

Windows will be able to be seen online when voting opens.

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Holiday Shopping Passports are Back to Support Local Christmas Shopping

Holiday Shopping Passports are back in Peterborough and are available at 150 participating shops, boutiques, salons, restaurants, and cafes in downtown Peterborough.

Jennie Moore won the Holiday Shopping Passport early bird draw in 2020. Photo courtesy of The Boro.

Shoppers will earn a passport stamp for every $10 you spent locally in downtown Peterborough. Each completed Holiday Shopping Passport increases the chance to win up to $1,500 in Boro gift cards.

The Holiday Shopping Passport program rewards people for shopping, dining, and enjoying downtown. Last year’s program saw shoppers stamp more than $2.5 million worth of Holiday Shopping Passports.

For every $100 spent locally, up to $48 stays in the community, compared to just $14 when shopping at big box stores.

“Every year our Holiday Shopping Passport program brings an excitable shopping buzz into our downtown core,” said Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the DBIA. “In order to combat online and big box shopping trends we have to support programming that celebrates the physical shopping experience. We are so excited to have the Holiday Shopping Passports back and love rewarding our shoppers during the holiday season.”

Shoppers are welcome to collect free stamps at the Peterborough Public Library, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Visitors Centre and The Boro Holiday Hub.

This years’ Passport will be sporting a new holiday graphic, and smaller purse-friendly design. Shoppers are encouraged to shop early to increase their chances of winning in one of the three early bird prizes for a $500 Boro gift card. Early bird draw dates will take place on December 1, 8, & 15.

The final grand prize draw will take place after the holiday season on January 8 where one lucky passport holder will win a $1,500 Boro card shopping spree.

The City of Peterborough will be providing free 2-hour parking in the downtown beginning Black Friday (Nov. 26) until the end of December courtesy of Wolfe Lawyers.

For more information on this year’s Holiday Shopping Passport program visit www.theboro.ca

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Sam's Place Deli Crowned First Ever Peterborough Mac and Cheese Fest Winners

After a month of friendly culinary competition the Peterborough Mac and Cheese Festival has crowned Sam’s Place as their first ever Mac and Cheese Champion.

Eddy Sweeny and Owen Walsh from Sam’s Place. Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA.

18 signature mac and cheese dishes were featured on local menus throughout the downtown restaurant scene for both dine-in and takeout as part of the month-long foodie competition.

Over 500 votes were casted to crown the top mac and cheese dish. In the end, only a narrow margin of votes determined the difference between first, second, and third place.

Sam’s Place took the Mac + Cheese top honours as this year’s most loved mac with their glorious Jalapeño Bacon Mac + Cheesewich.

As the winner, Sam’s Place received a hand-crafted trophy, a $500.00 donation to Kawartha Food Share in the restaurants name, and bragging rights for the year.

“We are thrilled to hear that our Jalapeño, Bacon Mac + Cheesewich was just as great to all who voted, as it was to us. We are honoured to have had the chance to “compete” with some of Peterborough's finest chefs, while supporting the greatness that is Kawartha Food Share,” said Sam Sayer, owner of Sam’s Place. “Once again, the DBIA has come up with another creative way to draw attention to the awesomeness that the downtown has to offer, while supporting a killer cause. Until next year, cheese on, friends.”

Capra Toro’s Bacon and Beer Mac captured the hearts of many voters and landed in second place alongside Amanda’s’ Bringing Sexy Mac which was ranked third favourite.

Sam’s Place winning Jalapeño Bacon Mac + Cheesewich. Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA.

The events’ online Mac Map was viewed over 44,000 times throughout the festival. A number of restaurant partners experienced out-of-town diners traveling to Peterborough specifically for the Mac + Cheese Festival, with 66% of participating restaurants reporting that they were able to reach new customers during the festival.

“It was incredible to see the community rally behind our festival and its mission to bring mac and cheese lovers together for an entire month. We can’t wait to do it again next year,” said Amanda McBain, Marketing and Social Media Coordinator for the Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival.

The Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival also ran a month-long food drive in tandem with its food competition at each restaurant location. Throughout the month festival goers were encouraged to bring their non-perishables downtown when visiting mac and cheese locations.

“We are so thrilled with the support we have received from local businesses during the Mac + Cheese festival this past month,” said Ashlee Aitken, General Manager of Kawartha Food Share. “Even through all the obstacles and tough times these restaurants have faced the past year and a half, their willingness to support our organization and their fellow neighbours is truly remarkable. Thank you so much to the DBIA for including us in this fantastic initiative. These donations are a huge help as we begin preparations for the upcoming busy holiday season.”

For more information on this years first annual Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival visit www.ptbomacandcheesefest.com.

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Peterborough Gets First-Ever Month-Long Mac and Cheese Festival

A childhood favourite meal is turning into a celebration as Peterborough is getting their first Mac and Cheese Festival announced on Tuesday.

Judges from the Pasta Shop, the Food Shop and the Toy Shop with participants in Tuesdays competition from the Peterborough Petes, Kawartha Food Share and Trent University. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

Starting on Oct. 1, the self-guided festival will invite participants to dine in or order take-out from 18 local restaurants.

During the festival, restaurants will be competing for local votes to become the ‘Mac + Cheese Champion.’ Participants can vote online for their favourite mac and cheese dishes until Oct. 30.

The winning restaurant will receive bragging rights for the year, a cheesy hand-crafted trophy and a donation to Kawartha Food Share in the victor’s name.

“Yes, it’s a competition and of course some folks are in it for the glory- but for the most part, our 18 restaurant partners are just happy to help bring a little comfort back into the community,” said Hillary Flood Communications Manager, Peterborough DBIA. “I don’t think it gets any more comforting than mac and cheese.”

Leo Grourke, Trent University President, Sarah Khaki and Michael Khan, vice-president academic at Trent with their mac and cheese at the Silver Bean Cafe. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

The official launch party at the Silver Bean Café had three local organizations participate in a cook-off to give a sample of what people can expect in October.

The Peterborough Petes, Trent University and Kawartha Food Share each brought a crock-pot of the famed comfort food and were judged by local shop owners.

Kawartha Food Share placed first with their student-inspired mac and cheese with ingredients one might find in a student’s pantry.

In addition to serving mac and cheese, each restaurant location will host a month-long food drive in support of Kawartha Food Share. Festival goers are encouraged to bring their non-perishables downtown this October when visiting any mac and cheese restaurant location.

“We are so excited to partner with the DBIA and partake in the 2021 Mac and Cheese Festival. It’s been a very tough year for our food banks. We’re so thrilled to see so many local restaurants collecting food donations to help us restock the shelves at our 37 member agencies before the busy holiday season,” said Ashlee Aitken, Kawartha Food Share General Manager.

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DBIA Partners With Ferrero Chocolates To Give Away Boxes of Premium Chocolates To 4 Local Organizations That Do Vital Community Work

Ferrero Chocolates is looking to give back this holiday season and reached out to Business Improvement Areas across Ontario. The application from Peterborough’s DBIA caught their attention and they offered 84 boxes of their new premium chocolates—Golden Gallery Signature Chocolates.

The DBIA will be giving away boxes of premium chocolates to four local organizations that do vital work in the downtown: One City Peterborough, the Youth Emergency Shelter, Friends Peterborough, and the Aylmer Street Pharmacy.

Jenny Bloom (One City Ptbo), Terry “Mr. Downtown” Guiel (DBIA) & Christian Harvey from One City (Photo courtesy DBIA)

“I was elated that Ferrero would show such great support for BIAs across Ontario with this extremely generous offer,” says Terry Guiel, DBIA Executive Director. “It’s wonderful that we can use that generosity to spread a bit of joy to some in our community that may not feel very included during the holidays.”

“This year has been a struggle for so many Canadians and that’s why it’s more important now than ever before to find ways to support those who need our help,” says Maureen Romansky, Senior Marketing Director, Premium Chocolate, Ferrero Canada. “We’re proud to be able to play a small part in bringing some joy through the gift of chocolate.”

“This chocolate donation is going to raise the spirits of all the young people with us on Christmas morning,” says Brooke Erickson, Y.E.S shelter’s Community Engagement Coordinator. “Because youth in shelter rarely have anyone to buy holiday gifts for them, we asked what they would like, so we can provide something for them to open on Christmas morning. Like most kids, almost all of them asked for candy and chocolate.”

Terry Guiel (DBIA) & Engi Hakim (Aylmer Street Pharmacy), photo courtesy DBIA

The Y.E.S. shelter works to reduce and prevent homelessness by providing shelter, education and transitional supports for youth and families in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. During the delivery of the chocolates to Y.E.S., Guiel will be joined by Atria Development, who will be making a cash donation to the shelter.

“We are so grateful to Ferrero for this gift,” adds Christian Harvey, Executive Director of One City Peterborough, which focuses on housing, food security, community safety and inclusion. “In a year as we have had, where our most marginalized have faced so much, a moment of joy or a little chocolate can mean a lot.”

“Something as simple as giving someone a holiday greeting while handing out a few chocolates during this time can make them feel special and included in our community," adds Pharmacist Engi Hakim of the Aylmer Street Pharmacy, which mainly distributes addiction treatment medications such as methadone and suboxone to the clients.. "For some, this could be the only positive interaction they will experience during the holidays.”

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