By Maria Maund
•
09 Jun, 2023
For Immediate Release June 7th, 2023 Charlottetown PE- Downtown Charlottetown Inc is pleased to announce the winners of their 2022 Business Awards. These awards were presented at their Annual Awards presentation on June 7th @ Peake’s Quay. In 2005 Downtown Charlottetown Inc. developed an awards program to recognize exemplary contributions to our city by individuals, businesses, and property owners' members in the Business Improvement Area (BIA). The award categories include Retailer of the Year, Business Development of the year and the DCI Presidents Award. DCI 2022 Retailer of the Year Award was presented to Red Island Hospitality Group Jeff Sinnott and Chad MacDonald met in 2005 as part of the original staff of Hunter’s Ale House. Thirteen years later in 2018, together they purchased Hunter’s Ale House, as well as three other restaurants - John Brown Richmond Street Grille, The Factory Downtown, and Charlottetown Beer Garden, which comprised the properties of Red Island Hospitality Group (RIHG). Quality service, quality product, and giving back to the community were three of the premises on which RIHG was founded and continues to grow, most recently with the addition of Phinley’s Restaurant. Personalized, attentive service is the foremost focus of a positive dining experience, and one in which Jeff and Chad both lead their RIHG team by example. If you’ve dined at one of their restaurants, chances are one of them has served you! They have been major contributors to the arts and music scene in Charlottetown over the years, from providing stages for musical acts to sponsoring local theatre. In addition to sponsoring several sports teams (and feeding many more!), RIHG restaurants support numerous causes, from large scale corporate events to grassroots community fundraisers. RIHG continues to be a leader in PEI’s hospitality industry. Jeff, Chad, and their staff provide exemplary guest service in the Downtown Charlottetown area and beyond. The award was presented to Paula Sinnott, Marketing Manager of RIHG. DCI 2022 Business Development of the year Award goes to Sea Rocket Oyster House 110 Queen Street is a rare property that was able to keep all of its historic charm and architectural splendor for over its centuries of existence. Stamper Block, the building on the corner of Victoria Row, and Queen, most known as the Anne of Green Gables Store over the past several years, along with the adjacent building, 102 Queen, were painstakingly renovated, and restored to house the restaurant that would become Sea Rocket. Using the inspiration of creating an oyster house with a light and modern feel that could stand the test of time, the entire design build team worked tirelessly through the challenges of taking a historic property up to modern day building and safety codes; while still preserving as much natural character as the building has to offer. Partnering with Raspberry Point oysters, Chef Richard Court, whom we all know from the very successful Pilot House, has made it his goal to share the bounties of our seas, shores, and farms to locals and visitors alike. Sea Rocket aims to be one of Charlottetown’s go to places for the community to engage and celebrate. The Award was presented to Richard Court, Sea Rocket Oyster House. DCI 2022 President’s Award goes to The Board of The Charlottetown Library Learning Centre Opened in July 2022, the new Charlottetown Library Learning Centre now fills all 42,000+ square feet of the ground floor of the former Charlottetown Post Office in the Dominion Building. In 2017, Dawn Alan, Executive Director approached then DCI President Brian Howatt with an idea of turning the empty space in the Dominion Building into a new Library. Not “just a library”, but a new facility in the style of the new Halifax and Calgary Libraries. Incredible physical facilities, hugely expanded programming, and true community centres and hubs. Not only would this be a huge upgrade for the existing Charlottetown Library, it would return much-needed space to the Confederation Centre of the Arts and make it available for even more downtown upgrades and improvements. Acting as a catalyst for the project, the DCI team recruited a working group, later to become the CLLC Inc. Board, to work towards the fulfillment of the vision. The group-initiated discussions with provincial, federal, and municipal government organizations to explore the possibilities. It took over a full year of meetings, discussion, and presentations, but the new group secured agreement in principle for financial support from the Province and the Federal government. By 2019, a Board consisting of Brian Howatt, Stan MacPherson, Shawn Murphy, Dawn Alan, Myrtle Jenkins-Smith and Ron Waite were actively working with project managers CADC, architects Nine Yards Studio, Library Services management and government financial supporters. With a start-up budget of $0, a team of just six people and an engagement for 4-6 years each, the CLLC Inc. Board has driven the creation of a $17 million Downtown Charlottetown crown jewel. An incredible public facility that welcomes people at a rate of $1,000+ daily and growing, a hub that will continue to bring traffic and community to Downtown Charlottetown. For this outstanding commitment and effort, we are pleased to award the 2023 DCI President’s Award to the CLLC Inc. Board of Directors; Brian Howatt, Stan MacPherson, Shawn Murphy, Ron Waite, and Myrtle Jenkins Smith. Downtown Charlottetown Inc. (DCI) is a non-profit organization with the mandate to work with businesses to create and maintain a vibrant downtown through an established Business Improvement Area. Working with these businesses, DCI will focus on projects that will improve living and commerce in Downtown and rejuvenate the city core into an exciting place to live, work and play – the Centre of business, government, culture and entertainment. -30- For more information, please contact: Dawn Alan, Executive Director, (902) 368-8636, dawn@downtowncharlottetown.com