Business owners within Canora’s downtown business core are being asked to participate in a beautification competition run by the Canora Economic Development Commission.
Information packages are being sent to all affected business owners who are being asked to undertake beautification/revitalization projects which can be completed by July 1, said Brandi Zavislak, the community development officer.
The purpose of the contest is to encourage business owners to makeover and transform the exteriors of their buildings, she said.
Canora is gearing up for reviving the business sector, Zavislak said. “We want business owners to take part in revitalizing their businesses.
With the assistance of almost $6,500 from the former chamber of commerce, the EDC is starting a beautification project downtown and we want to encourage our business owners to take part in this great campaign.”
The competition invites business owners to take some pride in the exterior of their business premises, she said.
“We have a vivacious community that attracts a lot of tourism throughout the year,” said Zavislak. “Let’s start making a statement and generate some new customers to our business sector and encourage residents to shop locally.
The overall criteria includes: cleaning, upgrading, improvements to the store front, new paint, repairing damaged areas, and adding decorative pots and flowers.
Awards will be decided in three categories.
The continued excellence award will be for a business person who has shown great pride in the appearance of his or her business over the years. This business person should also continue to maintain pride and beautification on a regular basis.
The most improved business award is to be awarded to a business person who shows the most dramatic changes and efforts in upgrading the business.
The most effort award is to be presented to the business which has shown the most effort in transforming the business.
This contest fits in well with the mandate of the EDC which is to keep Canora a proud, clean, well-managed community collectively pursuing growth, said Zavislak.
Canora has some strong assets, including a pleasing lifestyle, a relatively crime-free environment, reasonable real estate prices, good water and the proximity to good commuting routes to area industries, she said. The EDC has a solid group of directors who are vitally interested in the future development of Canora and area.
“The town has a pleasing appearance but it will be good to further enhance this to make it excellent,” said Zavislak.
