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Peterborough, ON – A new downtown public square – the Quaker Foods City Square – that provides a year-round space for community events and activities with family-friendly features, including a refrigerated outdoor skating rink for the winter and water play feature for the summer, officially opened on Saturday, December 17, 2022 with the first skating of the season, a DJ providing music for visitors, and face painting for children.
The $6.4-million project was supported by a non-repayable contribution of $750,000 from the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) as part of the Canada Community Revitalization Fund, to support the construction of the rink, as well as landscaping and water features. The City also used $677,909 from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation from its share of gaming revenues provided as a host community for a casino, and $50,000 from the DBIA to support the project. PepsiCo Foods, through its Quaker brand, is providing approximately $240,000 over 15 years for the naming rights to the public square.
This square will contribute to the vibrancy of the community by providing a space for community gatherings and activities, similar to Springer Market Square in Kingston and Mel Lastman Square in Toronto.
While the refrigerated outdoor skating rink is a central feature of the new space that will offer free outdoor skating throughout the winter, the public square has been designed to be enjoyed year-round with water play features for children to have fun in the summer and seating areas where people can gather after visiting downtown businesses or services.
The downtown public square is on Charlotte Street, just east of Aylmer Street. It was built on the site of the former Louis Street Parking Lot, beside the King Street Parkade.
Quotes from City officials, funding partners, and naming rights sponsor
“The Government of Canada is pleased to support the development of the City of Peterborough’s new public square through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund. Through these investments, communities like the City of Peterborough will have the resources needed to bring back visitors, enhance public spaces and grow local economies that work for everyone.”
- The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
“Quaker Foods City Square is a space where our community can come together for celebrations and events throughout the year in the heart of our City. It’s also a space where friends can meet over lunch and where people who work or live downtown can take a break during the day. This investment in our community will contribute to the life, work and play of our residents. Thank you to the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario through Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the Downtown Business Improvement Area, and PepsicoFoods for contributing to this project and supporting this vision.”
- Mayor Jeff Leal, City of Peterborough
“OLG is proud to be a vital part of Peterborough for more than 4 years and we look forward to continuing to build on that support. Each and every year 100 per cent of OLG profits are invested in Ontario. From healthcare, to education, to community festivals, OLG’s profits are hard at work in Peterborough and all across our province. And, we appreciate the contribution of gaming site employees at Shorelines Casino Peterborough in making life in Peterborough that much richer. When you play at an Ontario casino, you play for Ontario.”
- Kathleen Devine, OLG’s Senior Municipal Relations Manager
As a longstanding member of the Peterborough community, we are proud to continue investing in the City through initiatives like the Quaker Foods City Square. We’re thrilled to have partnered with the City of Peterborough to bring residents a space to connect and engage in recreational activities year-round.
- Stephen Loch, Senior Director, Quaker Canada.
"I thank the City for reimagining an underused part of downtown and bringing it to life with a much needed urban park. These are the kinds of investments that make areas enjoyable for the community around them and those who want to move, invest or bring their business to Peterborough. This new and exciting urban park will take a lot of pressure off Millennium Park as events, festivals and other community gatherings continue to grow in the downtown core."
- Terry Guiel, Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area Executive Director
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