Category Archives: People

WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED

Fall is a time for reflection.  Since the election of the current board many changes have been implemented.   Let’s take the time to review what we have accomplished.   The  points listed  are not in any particular order.    Editor

  • Attended the London Home and Lifestyle Show
  • Supported Holy Angel’s 100 Anniversary
  • Attended the Home,. Garden and Outdoor Living Show in St. Thomas
  • Distributed a survey to participants at Home Show to determine what matters to our community
  • Held Town Hall meeting to discuss concerns for the Downtown and to get initial input into new marketing strategies.
  • Downsized the administrative position
  • Reviewed previous board budgets and reallocated financial resources to meet new priorities
  • As a result of the financial review,  new fiscal policies created to increase accountability
  • New website has been created and is being developed for content
  • New full colour newsletter format created
  • New directory and database is being created
  • An email directory is also being developed to increase communications with community and DDB members
  • Participated in the Downtown Spring Clean up
  • Creation of new banners within the core area.
  • Creation of new Art in the Park program. Two dates were determined with good participation and success on each date.
  • Hiring of summer student to maintain the cleanliness of our downtown.
  • Review of the Downtown Dollars Program
  • Established constructive communication protocol with Mayor and City Council
  • Increased advocacy to highlight areas of concerns within the downtown which need to be addressed.
  • Improved public safety through bicycle signage and age and enforcement
  • Ongoing development of  new logo and marketing strategies
  • Procured an independent bookkeeper
  • We now utilize a volunteer model to cover most aspects of operating the DDB office.
  • What’s Ahead

    Review of advertising wall at Timken Centre

    Upgrades for Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Decorations

    Replacement of Garbage Cans on streets

    Expanded area at the 2012 Home, Garden and Outdoor Living Show

    New Art Program for 2012

     

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS AND PROMOTIONS

Planning and preparations for the Holiday season in our downtown are well under way.

Look for more Holiday wreaths to be put up before the annual Santa Claus Parade.  Additional wreaths and decorations are being purchased to decorate the majority of our downtown.

The Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will be different this year.  Preliminary plans are being considered for more and brighter lights on the tree.   The board is also investigating other activities this year that will encourage more participants to our downtown.  Look for more details on our website as they become available.  If you have suggestions please email them to our office.  info@downtownstthomas.com

 

 

Beautification Committee Report by Earl Taylor

One can’t help but notice the amazing flower boxes and baskets as you walk or drive along downtown Talbot Street!  Plus to top it off, the beautiful graphic banners which added even more colour to this fabulous display.

We have received many complimentary comments from citizens of St. Thomas and from visitors to our city.  Many thanks to those who helped make it happen.  Mike Bisson from Maxwell’s FotoSource shot the photos of the actual flower baskets as they hung in the greenhouse and provided us with the graphic files used on the banners.  Sandy Gillis of Louie’s Promotions printed the banners and then Ginette Minor and Suzanne Edwards from Genuine Stitches sewed the banners in the form you see on display along Talbot St. and around the corners of all side streets.  Thanks also to Ross Tucker, Catherine Sprately and the crew from Parks and Recreation for installing the banners as well as the flower baskets and boxes and to the crew who originally planted everything  and then watered and fertilized them every other day.  However, all things must come to an end.

The flowers will disappear the week of September 12th.  We tried to find a way to keep them on display until Thanksgiving, but the student work force just isn’t available to continue the watering program.  Without a proper watering program the flowers will die quickly.  So, for this year we’ll say goodbye to our floral display while they still look great.  But, all is not bad news.  We plan on leaving the banners in place until the late fall or until the  Holiday decorations are installed.

 

My Summer Experience by our Student Ambassador

“My experience this summer with the Downtown Development Board has been a good one.  Throughout the past 2 months I got to experience a lot of St. Thomas.  I picked up trash from our streets, swept cigarette butts and kept the weeds out of the sidewalks.  Every city has these problems, and it felt good to know I was the person making my city look and feel better for the residents and businesses.

I was able to help out visitors to  our city by giving directions too.  I think St. Thomas is a better place because of the job I had this summer. Thanks for the opportunity. “

The above are some comments from Louis Bernardi, who was hired by the St. Thomas Downtown Development Board through a Summer Employment program.

As a board we thank Louis for his work.  There has been a noticeable improvement is the tidiness and cleanliness of our downtown during the time Louis has helped us.

With his example maybe we can give a little more effort ourselves in keeping our streets clean.

 

CHAIR’S MESSAGE by Dan Muscat

Well, unfortunately our summer is coming to an end.  Together with the members of the DDB, we would like to thank the consumers whom have supported us downtown this summer.  We hope you enjoyed our beautiful flowers and our beautiful downtown and all the things our merchants have to offer.

We as a board are striving to make a change and to better our downtown.  We hope you as consumers have noticed some of our accomplishments.  If everyone can work together we can one day get our downtown to where it should be .

I appreciate all the support and ideas that have come forth and hope to always be able to make a difference and with that better the heart of our city.

Thank you.