Almost 50 in running for Celebrate Downtown awards

Nearly 50 Lethbridge businesses, individuals and organizations are in the running for this year’s Celebrate Downtown awards.

Organizer say 49 nominations in seven categories are being reviewed, while preparations are underway for award presentations on May 10.

“These outstanding individuals, businesses and organizations have been nominated for awards because they invested time, ideas and capital into our downtown to make it more beautiful, liveable, exciting, vibrant, accessible and sustainable,” says Dawn Leite, a Heart of the City committee member who’s chairing the event.

Created by the committee last year, the awards program celebrates initiatives in seven fields. They include the Back in the Day Award, recognizing preservation efforts, along with an “Event of the Year” Award for its organizers and a “Champagne Award” for someone who’s “an incredible volunteer and champion for a vibrant downtown.”

The “Running with the Bulls Award” is for initiatives that involve risk but “challenge the status quo in working to create, maintain, support and/or promote an exciting downtown.” Meanwhile the “Hip Downtown Transformation Award” is for work that transforms businesses, premises, activities, events or the whole neighbourhood to make the city centre “just that much cooler.”

The awards program’s “From the Heart Award” will honour someone “who is a social change agent who is creating an inclusive downtown and is involved in making downtown a welcome place for all.”

And its “Taking Care of Business Award” will go to a nominee “who is committed to taking care of the downtown community, including its streetscapes and spaces, to build a beautiful downtown.” It also “recognizes those who are not scared to get their hands dirty to get it done, and are often unsung heroes.”

The award presentation event, open to all, will be held at Casa on May 10, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. But space is limited, and those interested are asked to request a free ticket online by contacting https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/celebrate-downtown-tickets32282697417. Follow @DMabellHerald on Twitter