Steps down

DBIA executive director retiring

Maybe retirement will stick this time.

Paul Raino, executive director of the Downtown Business Improvement Area, announced Wednesday morning that he’ll be leaving his position Sept. 28.

Raino stepped out of retirement four years ago to take the organization’s top job, something he jokes he did at the behest of his wife.

It was a job Raino thought he’d have for two or three years, he said.

He credits the people he works with in the DBIA and the wider community for keeping him in the position, and said he’s loved every minute of it.

With Raino at the helm the DBIA rebranded itself and the downtown core.

The DBIA began running fea- tures of businesses each week, something Raino is proud of and said was well received by the business community.

The organization also took steps to make events more meaningful, he said, handing the reins to service organizations which allowed the DBIA to work in a support capacity.

Citing the annual Ribfest as an example, Raino said the Kawartha Rotary Club is running this year’s event, with the DBIA’s help.

Peterborough’s downtown core is just as good as or better than any other municipalities, he said.

Raino said he’s heard criticisms about the downtown regarding cleanliness, safety issues and panhandling.

“Other cities have those same issues,” he said, adding that those issues will never really go away in an urban setting.

The best an organization like the DBIA can do, he said, is minimize the i mpact those issues have.

Wanting to leave the rat race of Toronto behind, Raino and his wife Mary Lou moved to the Peterborough area about six years ago.

He said they’ll always consider Peterborough their home.

They do have a residence in Florida and Raino said they’ll likely spend a few months each winter enjoying the sunshine and playing a little golf.

Raino has his realtor’s licence and said he may dabble in the real estate field. In other words, he can’t say for sure that he won’t find himself back at work.

“Ask me in about a year,” he said with a laugh.

The DBIA board will soon begin an external search to find a suitable replacement for Raino, according to a press release.

CLIFFORD SKARSTEDT Examiner Downtown Business Improvement Area executive director Paul Raino enjoys the view of downtown Peterborough on Wednesday next to Charlotte St. Raino is retiring after four years at the helm of the DBIA after he announced his Sept. 28 retirement Wednesday...