'This is my downtown; it’s everyone’s downtown'

NEWS RELEASE

DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION

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Downtown business association celebrates the past at Annual General Meeting

SAULT STE. MARIE - Held at the Grand Theatre, the 35th Annual General meeting of the Downtown Association recapped highlights of 2011, elected the 2012 board of directors and celebrated former business owners.

The Downtown Association has a membership of over 400 building and business owners and stretches along Queen from Pim to Dennis Street.

“This is my downtown; it’s everyone’s downtown,” said Susan Myers, city councilor and management chair for Celebrate 100!.

In the spirit the evening, she shared her own fond memories of Queen Street and invited everyone to attend the Celebrate 100! events taking place at City Hall all week.

To coincide with Celebrate 100!, Kim Forbes, director/curator from the Sault Ste. Marie Museum created a slideshow depicting Queen Street’s history.

Current members and former members alike enjoyed the walk down memory lane.

Former business owners in attendance included, Ilene Macdonald, Trudy Cameron and Wendy Macdonald from Mac’ s China; Peggy Keenan from Peggy O’Linens and her daughter Michaela Keenan from Beautiful Dreamer; Phil Virene from Virene’s; and Tom Keenan from Olympia Billiards and Duke of Windsor Sports Shop.

Michael and Paula Zaharuk from Zak’s restaurant reminisced about meeting and working at the Windsor Park hotel’s Tiffany’s disco bar.

“Reminiscing about downtown, is a conversation anyone can join,” said new manager Tasha Varpio. “Downtown is the heart of the city and everyone has a memory or experience from Queen Street.”

Attendees also heard about downtown improvements, new developments, and residential properties.

“The synergy between business and residences is part of what makes the downtown core able to reinvent itself and change with the times,” said Bill Watts, chair, Downtown Association. “Residential units combined with business in the downtown may be our best kept secret.”

The Downtown Association has promoted and served the needs of downtown businesses since 1977.
                                                        
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