Dance the Boro Gets Downtown Moving
The City of Peterborough receives My Main Street support to draw visitors and increase vibrancy in downtown Peterborough.
Peterborough, ON – The City of Peterborough is pleased to announce that the Dance the Boro project was selected for the My Main Street Community Activator initiative and received support to make enhancements to Quaker Foods City Square and offer free community dance classes in downtown Peterborough.
Dance the Boro, held Friday evenings and Saturday mornings from September 27 to October 19 at Quaker Foods City Square, encouraged the community to come downtown for an hour of fun, dance and connection. Support from My Main Street was used to make permanent enhancements at Quaker Foods City Square. Improvements included a portable stage, benches, planters, removable bollards, bike racks, and outdoor speakers, all designed to enrich the visitor experience while driving traffic to main streets and contributing to the economic vitality of the community.
For more information about the project, please visit Connectptbo.ca/dance-the-boro.
My Main Street is built on the principle of supporting community economic development and creating vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods which will enhance the overall quality of life for residents while also promoting sustainable and inclusive community development. My Main Street is delivered by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), and supported by a Government of Canada investment through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). Learn more about the My Main Street program at mymainstreet.ca.
Quotes
“Bringing people downtown for fun, interactive events like Dance the Boro transforms public spaces into shared spaces where residents of all ages can connect, move and celebrate community. These experiences are what make our city thrive and our downtown shine.”
– Alex Bierk and Joy Lachica, Town Ward Councillors.
"Dance the Boro demonstrates the power of community-driven initiatives that breathe new life into our downtown spaces. We're proud to support free events like these that provide opportunities for people of all ages to experience what makes our downtown a unique and inviting gathering place for all.”
– Nour Mazloum, Executive Director, Peterborough DBIA.
“Dance the Boro is one of the many impactful placemaking projects happening across Ontario’s main streets thanks to the federal government’s investment in My Main Street Community Activator projects. Placemaking supports healthy, vibrant main streets and millions of Ontarians who live and work around them. Peterborough has been empowered to leverage community events on their main street to create a hub of social and economic activity, setting long term change in motion.”
– Mary W. Rowe, CEO and President, Canadian Urban Institute
“The Canadian Urban Institute, with support from the Government of Canada, is investing in community projects, such as The City of Peterborough’s Dance the Boro. These projects attract visitors to our main streets, support local businesses, and revitalize our communities – helping shops, restaurants and local economies thrive. Together, we’re building stronger, more vibrant communities.”
– The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Associated Links
Background
About My Main Street: The My Main Street program has returned with an additional Government of Canada investment, building on an initial investment in 2021, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to spur local economic recovery. To date, the initial investment has supported nearly 4,500 businesses and organizations, nearly 7,500 jobs and leveraged nearly $19 million in additional investment. The funding aims to revitalize neighbourhood main streets with a healthy retail mix while generating inclusive economic opportunities. The program now features two streams – Business Sustainability and the Community Activator. My Main Street is delivered by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI).
About Canadian Urban Institute (CUI): The Canadian Urban Institute is a leading organization dedicated to advancing urban solutions. CUI collaborates with city builders, researchers, and community leaders to create thriving, equitable, and sustainable urban spaces across Canada.
About FedDev Ontario: For 15 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our investment profiles, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.