Downtown Charlottetown Inc hosts Annual Award Presentation

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                            June 10^th, 2022

Charlottetown PE- Downtown Charlottetown Inc is pleased to announce the winners of their 2024 Business Awards.

In 2005 Downtown Charlottetown Inc. developed an awards program to honour those who make a remarkable contribution to the vibrancy, growth, and spirit of our downtown. Over the years, these awards have become a proud tradition—recognizing excellence, innovation, and dedication across our BIA. (BIA).  The award categories include Retailer of the Year, Business Development of the year and the DCI Presidents Award. 

The Downtown Charlottetown Inc. Retailer of the Year Award is reserved for a business that goes beyond transactions and sales. It recognizes a retailer whose presence enhances our downtown, not just through a beautiful storefront and strong business acumen, but through service, mentorship, creativity, and unwavering community spirit. 

DCI 2024 Retailer of the Year Award was presented to Courtside Sneakers  

In 2011 Nathan Clark and Rebecca Barrett, opened Courtside Sneakers; with a passion for basketball and a keen eye for culture. In 2012, they relocated into the heart of downtown Charlottetown. Known for their curated product selection and deep knowledge of basketball, they brought in brands and styles you simply couldn’t find elsewhere on the Island. Just a few years later, Courtside expanded into Moncton and Halifax, and their name began to ring out nationally.

Through their ‘Courtside Cares’ program, they’ve given back time and again — meeting needs as they arise and responding to causes both near and far.

For over a decade, Nathan has run the Courtside Senior Men’s Basketball League, building community while promoting physical activity and sport. This past season, that league helped raise $10,000 for UPEI Basketball — just one example of how business and community can lift each other up. 

With an eye for style, a heart for the community, and a commitment to excellence, Courtside Sneakers has grown into a beacon of what’s possible when retail meets purpose. Their downtown storefront may be modern and sleek, but the values behind it are time-tested and deep-rooted. 

The DCI Business Development of the Year Award recognizes more than bricks and mortar. It celebrates the beating heart of a business that uplifts its community, inspires others, and reimagines what’s possible through investment, care, and vision.

DCI 2024 Business Development of the year Award goes to, The Rodd Charlottetown Hotel 

The Charlottetown Hotel opened its doors on April 14, 1931. Through many hands and histories, it finally came under the care of David Rodd and the Rodd Hotels and Resorts family in 1984. Since then, the hotel has grown, adapted, and served with unwavering Island hospitality. This year marks a milestone—90 years of Rodd Hospitality. 

In the past two years, Rodd Charlottetown has undergone a significant renovation. The property now reflects a modern, welcoming aesthetic while preserving its classic charm. More than a facelift, this project represented a commitment: to maintaining historical integrity, to elevating guest experiences, and to investing in the heart of downtown Charlottetown. 

With initiatives like Sky is the Limit, Rodd Charlottetown is developing leaders from within, some of whom are the second generation of families who have worked at the hotel; creating a legacy. 

Their impact extends outward too. They uplift our cultural community by hosting and supporting local organizations and events. They open their doors in times of emergency, offer storm rates, and consistently give back through donations and services. 

Most recently, they’ve launched Evergreen Stays—a sustainable guest initiative—and deepened relationships with local producers to ensure that every meal and every experience remains rooted in Island pride. 

Rodd Charlottetown is a true representation of this award’s spirit: improvement, inspiration, growth, community impact, and undeniable Island character. 

Mark Rodd, President and CEO of Rodd Hotels and Resorts, along with Carolyn Bertram, designer and Mark Rostad, Director of Project Management and Development for Rodd Hotels and Resorts; accepted the award.

The DCI Presidents Award is reserved for an individual whose leadership extends far beyond their own business. It recognizes someone who has become a pillar in their community, demonstrating not just professional excellence but exceptional community spirit, mentorship, and vision. This person leads by example, gives generously of their time and resources, and truly embodies what it means to invest in a place, not just in property or business, but in people. 

DCI 2021 President’s Award winner is Hal Bevan

Hal Bevan’s journey is one of resilience, integrity, and steadfast commitment.  At an age when most young people are still finding their path, Hal stepped into a role of great responsibility, helping to carry forward the business his father had started in 1934: Bevan Brothers Limited, a plumbing and heating company that would go on to shape much of the built environment in our province. 

Throughout the 1960s and beyond he founded Bevan Enterprises, expanded into real estate and development, and in 1974, alongside his brothers Roger and Wayne, purchased what many now know as the Quality Inn on the Hill. 

From there, the family’s impact on Prince Edward Island only deepened. Through construction, real estate, and core infrastructure work, the Bevan brothers built homes, businesses, and opportunities—laying foundations not just in concrete, but in community. 

In 2008, Hal led the acquisition of Olympia Electric and that same year, he founded Weymouth Properties, ensuring the family’s legacy of responsible, community-centered development continued into a new era. Today Hal’s vision supports over 100 employees, and over the years, thousands of Islanders have lived in homes developed and managed with care, fairness, and a deep respect for the people who call them home. 

He has always had time for others, especially for new entrepreneurs. His door has always been open for guidance, mentorship, and encouragement.

Hal has also been a tireless community volunteer. He’s served on the board of many influential organizations. He is a proud Rotarian and a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his service. He has made major contributions and endowments to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Holland College, helping to ensure the next generation has the care and education they need to thrive. 

Hal Bevan’s story is the story of Prince Edward Island: of family, perseverance, community, and an enduring belief in leaving things better than you found them. 

Hal Bevan accepted the DCI Presidents Award

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to honor and celebrate some of the exceptional business leaders in Downtown Charlottetown and share their inspiring stories at this annual event,” says Dawn Alan, CEO of Downtown Charlottetown Inc. “We are deeply appreciative of these individuals, as well as all of our downtown members, for their ongoing passion and collaboration in helping to build a vibrant, welcoming, and thriving downtown.”

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