Downtown businesses earn awards
Bookmark, T3 Transit and Founders’ Food Hall marked successes in 2019
Bookmark has been Charlottetown’s local, independent bookshop since 1972 and is the oldest independent bookseller east of Montreal.
Owned since August 2014 by Dan and Marlene MacDonald after the untimely death of its founding owner, Rodney Jones, Bookmark earned the Downtown Charlottetown Inc. (DCI) retailer of the year award at the organization’s recent annual general meeting in Charlottetown.
“Bookmark enjoys a very loyal cliental, a strong team of booksellers led by longtime manager, Lori Cheverie, and a carefully curated stock that reflects the community,” said DCI outgoing president Shaun MacIsaac in presenting the award.
“The cornerstone of Bookmark’s inventory is its P.E.I. book section. Bookmark is a strong supporter of the local literary community stocking and promoting books by Island authors.”
The shop hosts book launches and annual events like Poets and Pints celebrating National Poetry Month, and December’s Super Saturday Island author event.
One of the store’s highlights of 2019 was an event with the iconic Canadian author, Margaret Atwood in conversation with Carol Off.
Bookmark’s event was one of eight readings across Canada and, with 1,230 people in attendance, the event was the second largest in Canada.
Other award winners acknowledged during the evening included Founder’s Food Hall, which earned business development of the year, and Mike Cassidy, who earned the DCI President’s Award for his company, T3 Transit.
DCI members also outlined new and established initiatives the Navigator Street Outreach Program, Paws Downtown, Winterdine, and place-making elements like the Big Red 2019 on the Wharf.
Highlights of the year include the newly enhanced Downtown Farmer’s Market – closing three blocks of Queen Street to vehicle traffic which made the Downtown Farmers Market more pedestrian friendly; and another successful year for Downtown Dollars program with approximately $33,000 in the vouchers circulating in the downtown in 2019.
“As a board we recognize the importance of attracting and retaining business tenants, increasing residential opportunities, and continuing to market our businesses and retailers throughout the city," MacIsaac said.
"Working with our Mayor Philip Brown and his team, the provincial and federal government, developers and our stakeholders collectively we strive to support and or implement new initiatives which will result in new developments that will have major impacts in our downtown for years to come.”
Board members Kim MacKenzie and Brian Howatt stepped down, having served their terms. New to the DCI board are Isaac Murphy and Deborah Matthews. Liam Dolan moves from his role as DCI vice-president to take on the position of board chairman.
“DCI’s work will continue, as more businesses, employees, residents and visitors seek the convenience, comfort and accessibility of being at the crossroads of commerce and culture in a city that offers an invigorating diversity of people, place and experiences,” said DCI executive director Dawn Alan. “Although we still have much to accomplish, our downtown’s future is looking brighter all the time.”
Downtown Charlottetown Inc. (DCI) is a non-profit organization with the mandate to work with businesses to create and maintain a vibrant downtown through an established Business Improvement Area.