Businesses down Selkirk’s Main Street are getting their creative juices “glowing” and are going to reach new “lights” with the Holiday Alley and Canadian Tire Selkirk’s Light Up Main Street project.
For the second year in a row Canadian Tire Selkirk has stepped up to with a financial incentive – this time for Main Street business – to “light” the bullet and to give Selkirk bragging “lights” as the brightest city in the province. Last year it made the same “bright” offer for homeowners on Eveline Street.
“I think we all saw Eveline really popped with light last year just when we needed a boost in our spirits. And we wanted to do phase 2 and help Main Street businesses take the Holiday Alley lighting to the next step,” says Edgar Head, co-owner of Canadian Tire in Selkirk.
“We have a huge range of lights in stock right now, and we’re excited to see what they come up with,” added co-owner Michelle Head.
Five years ago over 130,000 LED lights on 40 buildings in Selkirk’s old downtown, starting brightening the darkest winter nights. It was made possible because dozens of business and non-profit organizations on Manitoba Avenue and Eveline Street invested in their community and bought over $50,000 of lights to adorn their buildings This year businesses on Main Street between Britannia Avenue and Manitoba Avenue can expand the lighting program with a jump start of a $50 Canadian Tire Selkirk gift card.
Creative ideas like this is getting Selkirk some well-deserved attention, says Lois Wales, president of Red River North Tourism that delivers Holiday Alley.
“There’s an incredible refreshed spirit here and we hear people outside of Selkirk saying “Hey Selkirk is doing some pretty cool things.” And that in turn encourages people to come here, visit our shops, restaurants and businesses which is the side benefit of good tourism,” says Wales.
The early investment by local building owners at the launch of Holiday Alley five years ago really inspired Mayor Larry Johannson.
“I could see right away that in time business and homeowners could really catch on and they could light up the whole city,” Johannson. said.
Businesses on Main Street between Britannia Avenue and Manitoba Avenue can sign up for their gift cards on a first-come, first-serve basis by contacting Oksana, Holiday Alley’s Festival and Communications Coordinator, at [email protected].
