Canora residents have been seeing the community’s business district getting brighter, and some of the brightest businesses were rewarded last week.
The Downtown Beautification Contest was organized by Brandi Zavislak, the prior community development officer; and Jo-Anne Sigurdson, the interim community development officer. On November 1, Sigurdson announced the winners of the first year of the competition.
The winner of the Most Improved Award was Gabano’s Pizza. Awards for being the businesses with the most effort were awarded to Bev Belinski for Carnation Street Florals and to Terry Dennis’ Canora-Pelly constituency office. Awards for continued excellence were won by Community Insurance and The Flower Mill.
Honourable mentions included Nehaj Building Centre, Nobles Home Rentals, the former building of Steven’s Jewelry, the Dari Bar, Wolkowski Funeral Service and Leson’s Funeral Home.
The Downtown Beautification Contest was open to all Canora business owners, who entered by explaining what they had done to improve storefronts. The nominees were then judged by the Economic Development Committee.
Winners of the contest will receive an old-fashioned hanging sign to advertise their businesses.
“Hopefully everyone likes them so much they’ll all get one,” said Sigurdson.
Sigurdson said that she was “thrilled with the response” the contest received, and mentioned that the Town of Canora would “absolutely” hold the contest again next year.
Sigurdson thanked all the businesses for putting in the hard work needed to make the downtown area look better.
