Downtown merchants mark end of construction on Queen Street

After a summer of road work and sidewalk replacements, the merchants of downtown St. Marys are ready to celebrate. On Thursday, October 20, the group is hosting an event to commemorate the end of the Queen Street reconstruction project. The celebration is an opportunity to showcase the new streetscape and to remind residents and visitors that downtown St. Marys is open for business.

The event will begin at 4:00 p.m. with a charity barbecue, which is being held on Water Street North between Queen Street and the Water Street Bridge. An official ribbon cutting ceremony will follow at 6:00 p.m., with remarks delivered by Mayor Al Strathdee and members of the downtown business community. A plaque will also be presented to Charlie Hammond in recognition of his long-term service to the St. Marys Business Improvement Area.

The event will run until 8:00 p.m., with a variety of free activities happening along Queen Street between Church Street and Water Street. Roaming buskers and a world-class unicyclist will be on hand to provide live entertainment. Many stores, restaurants and businesses will be open late, with some vendors offering treats to visitors or hosting interactive workshops and demonstrations. Instagram users are encouraged to share photos from the event and use the hashtags #stmarysont and #eocevent2016 for a chance to win downtown dollars.

The celebration will also provide an opportunity to learn more about the accessibility features that were installed as part of the Queen Street reconstruction project. Members of the St. Marys Accessibility Advisory Committee will be stationed outside Town Hall to share information and a short video about the new pedestrian signals and other accessibility enhancements. While in the area, attendees can also visit the St. Marys Public Library’s annual Fall Book Sale.

For more information about the event, contact Chantal Lynch, Chair of the End of Construction Event Committee (chantalynch@gmail.com), or follow @stmarysdowntown on Instagram.

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Contacts

Chantal Lynch | Chair, End of Construction Event Committee
519-284-1508 | chantalynch@gmail.com

Brett O’Reilly | Corporate Communications & Events Manager
519-284-2340, ext. 432 | boreilly@town.stmarys.on.ca