Downtown businesses welcome the holiday and Christmas shoppers
The lights are on after the Downtown Holiday Light Up on Rice Howard Way.
The annual holiday event was moved from Churchill Square this year, something the Downtown Business Association (DBA) has said is to increase foot traffic for local businesses in the area that have been hurt over the last two years by the pandemic.
“So great to have those extra people around. People are excited. They come downtown. So this event is amazing,” said Elisa Zenari of Dalla Tavola Zenari. “We couldn't have asked for a better event.”
The city and the DBA received public backlash after the changes were announced in November, including the lack of a giant Christmas tree, which has been a Churchill staple in past years.
Those who attended said the changes didn’t dampen their Christmas spirit.
“It’s awesome,” one woman told CTV News Edmonton. “It’s a really great way to get the community together, get outside, see what’s outside in Edmonton when it’s cold out here. So a wonderful experience so far.”
“As Edmontonians, if we want to have an amazing downtown we all have to put in our effort to make it that way. It’s a group effort,” said another.
“There’s so much joy in exploring local businesses, local makers…just being together with friends and family. So that’s the kind of stuff we’re featuring here,” said Puneeta McBryan of the DBA.
The move is one of several initiatives the DBA is taking to try and support local downtown businesses.
The organization unveiled two alleyways earlier this week to try and attract more visitors to the core, with murals and improved lighting.
A Downtown Shop Local gift card promotion was also launched, with the first 800 gift cards bought online getting an extra $25 gift card from the DBA.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jessica Robb.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.