THE FUTURE OF MARTIME DOWNTOWNS & MAIN STREETS

This Mother's Day, give Mom the gift of choice while supporting local businesses with the Downtown Charlottetown Gift Card Mother's Day Sale! 20% off face value, one day, online only, May 7th, from 10:00 AM until allocated packages are sold out, shoppers can take advantage of this exclusive promotion to express their love for Mom while enjoying significant savings. The Downtown Charlottetown Gift Card is the ideal present for even the most "hard to shop for" moms. Accepted at over 130 participating locations, including restaurants, retailers, salons, and accommodations, the card provides Mom with the flexibility to select exactly what she desires. A recent survey conducted by Miconex Ltd. sheds light on the preferences of mothers across Canada. According to the survey, 75% of moms expressed feelings of guilt when spending money on themselves. Additionally, 98% of moms expressed a desire for a local Gift Card, emphasizing the appeal of supporting local businesses. "Through our Mother's Day Sale, we aim to alleviate the stress of decision-making for shoppers while bolstering our downtown businesses," says Dawn Alan, Executive Director of Downtown Charlottetown Inc. "Our Gift Card not only offers convenience and flexibility but also contributes to the prosperity of our community." To seize the opportunity of our Mother’s Day Sale and purchase the Downtown Charlottetown Gift Card, visit our website at https://www.downtowncharlottetown.com/giftcard starting May 7th at 10:00 AM. Act quickly, as this online sale is available for one day only, while the supply lasts. Purchases are limited to one per person, up to a maximum of $200, until the budgeted $20k is depleted. For those unable to participate in the limited-time sale, Downtown Charlottetown Gift Cards are available for purchase year-round, providing an effortless way to support local businesses and commemorate special occasions throughout the year. Businesses within the BIA interested in becoming participating merchants can easily sign up by contacting us directly. The Downtown Charlottetown Gift Card can be seamlessly integrated with any POS system, ensuring smooth redemption for both businesses and customers. About Downtown Charlottetown Inc.: Downtown Charlottetown Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the revitalization and promotion of Charlottetown's historic downtown district. Through various initiatives and events, Downtown Charlottetown Inc. strives to create a vibrant and thriving community for residents and visitors alike. The Downtown Charlottetown Gift Card is issued by Peoples Trust Company. Card funds are not insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) or any other government deposit insurer or agency. Funds do not expire, non-reloadable and no cash access. 

WinterDine, A Celebration of Charlottetown’s Culinary Landscape, returned for its 19th year last month. Featuring twenty-six of Downtown Charlottetown’s distinguished fine dining restaurants, over three consecutive weeks. Participating restaurants offered three-course meals, exclusively curated for WinterDine by some of Charlottetown’s top culinary artisans. The ‘People’s Choice Menu Award’ , an online contest held during the event, allows the public to vote for their favorite WinterDine menu. The Chef’s Creation with the most votes receives the 2024 WinterDine People’s Choice Menu Award. 1st Place People’s Choice Menu: Claddagh Oyster House Chef Landon Thaxter created three different WinterDine Menus this year featuring entrees of Island beef and seafood. We are pleased to award Claddagh Oyster House’s fourth WinterDine People’s Choice Award this year, as they have also won in 2022, 2019, and 2018. 2nd Place People’s Choice Menu: Taste of India Charlottetown This year’s award goes to Taste of India, their first time wining a WinterDine People’s Choice Award. Chef Harry Singh created a unique menu this year featuring a Chef’s Tasting menu. We are excited to welcome Taste of India to the list of distinguished past winners. WinterDine Lunch People’s Choice Menu: Redwater Rustic Grille This is the first year, we hosted the WinterDine Lunch ‘People’s Choice Menu Award’ contest. We are pleased to announce that the inaugural award is presented to Chef Pepper McLean of Redwater Rustic Grille. Chef Pepper created not one but three different Winterdine Lunch Menu’s. Congratulations to the winners & thank you to all our participating restaurants.

THANK YOU to all who Donate to our 2023 Coats for Kids Campaign! Charlottetown, PEI – The collection of gently used or new winter coats, (snowsuits, snow pants, hats, mittens, gloves, scarves and boots) for families is under way; infant through teen sizes are needed. Coats for Kids 2023 event is organized by Downtown Charlottetown Inc in partnership with The Salvation Army, The Confederation Court Mall who provides a Drop off Depot, Sterns Laundry who clean all the collected clothing and the Guardian – our Media partners. “Island Winters are long and cold, and there are many Island children who don’t have adequate winter clothing. We collect hundreds of coats each year and they are always all picked up, so we know the need is there, especially during pandemic times. The cold weather is quickly approaching so it’s important to get coats to families in need as soon as possible. Let’s fill up those bins in the drop off depot and make this winter a little warmer for Island children” Says Dawn Alan Executive Director of DCI. Donations can be dropped off until Saturday October 28th at our Drop off Depot in The Confederation Court Mall – at the base of the escalators on the main level. Depot is open Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm. Salvation Army will open the “Free Shop” on November 6 - 9th : 9:30am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm . They welcome all families to come and pick out what they like from racks of clean winter coats and snow suits. There will also be lots of hats and mittens to choose from. If you have any questions about distribution, please contact the Salvation Army at 902-892-2281. “For an ever-increasing amount of island families, putting on a coat, let alone a choice is simply not an option. Their children may have outgrown or outworn their coat from last year and purchasing a new one is out of their budget. We are so THANKFUL to be a part of this opportunity to partner again this year for campaign and look forward to seeing everyone at our Free Shop Days”, says Justin Able from Family Services, Salvation Army Charlottetown. “Supporting Island kids in keeping warm during the coldest months is a tremendous cause Confederation Court Mall is honoured to support. Seeing the generosity of Islanders supporting Islanders in filling the bins is a beautiful thing, and we look forward to contributing to the continued success of the program” says Keri Charlton, General Manager, Confederation Court Mall We encourage local businesses and organizations to get involved and do an office wide collection to bring in to the drop off depot. For more information; Dawn Alan 902-368-8636

PRESS RELEASE. Charlottetown, P.E.I. The success of the Downtown Dollars initiative in Charlottetown is being built on with a new high tech Gift Card. Downtown Charlottetown Inc. is introducing the new Downtown Charlottetown Gift Card to make shopping locally easier for customers and businesses and keep even more dollars downtown. The Downtown Charlottetown Gift Card can be purchased online or in person from the Downtown Charlottetown Inc. office (160b Queen) and spent with 100+ registered businesses in the Downtown area, including restaurants, shops, salons, hotels, and venues. Cards can be purchased at: https://www.downtowncharlottetown.com/giftcard Dawn Alan, the Executive Director at Downtown Charlottetown Inc., said the time is right to upgrade to the new Gift Card: “We’re pleased to offer the new Downtown Charlottetown Gift Card, the next generation of our very popular Downtown Dollars; an easy, convenient way to buy local, gift local, and support local. Rather than a gift card which can be redeemed at only one business, this new card will be accepted at 100+ shops and services in the BIA. Using the Downtown Gift Card assures you, your money stays in our downtown,” says Alan. Cards can be loaded to a set value and shipped directly to the recipient or picked up at the DCI office. Organizations can easily place bulk orders. DCI will also be using the Gift Card in our promotions to drive footfall to the Downtown area. The technology for the Downtown Charlottetown Gift Card is provided by fintech Miconex in association with international payments technology solutions provider EML Payments. The Downtown Charlottetown Gift Card is issued by Peoples Trust Company. Card funds are not insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) or any other government deposit insurer or agency. Funds do not expire, non-reloadable and no cash access. For Cardholder Agreement or Customer Service: www.getmybalance.com or 1-833-558-1108. Press information For media inquiries, please contact: Dawn Alan, Executive Director, 902-368-8636

June 30, 2023 For Immediate Release Charlottetown PE – This year, 2023, marks the 150th anniversary of Prince Edward Island joining Confederation as Canada's seventh province. In honour of this occasion, Downtown Charlottetown Inc (DCI) has designed an infographic for our infamous 2023 BIG RED numbers. The graphic which overlays on our 2023 display includes historical facts of the year: clippings from local papers, photos of the Mayor and Premier of the day, newspaper ads, and stories, and photos capturing historic properties, as they looked 150 years ago. This project provides Islanders and visitors a chance to explore the beautiful visual and celebrate the anniversary, learning about the past along the way. Check out the ‘market prices’ of the day from the local paper, learn about the Charlottetown Railway and so much more. Our BIG RED # have been the location of thousands of commemorative photos over the past 10 years. The backdrop of so many happy occasions, weddings, Graduation, family reunions, birthdays, visit keepsakes. This beautiful installation enhances this important downtown feature and makes it even more interesting. So come celebrate with us, learn some history and capture the memory. Thanking the The PEI 150 Celebration Fund – for supporting this impactful project. For more information, please contact: Dawn Alan, Executive Director, Downtown Charlottetown Inc. dawn@downtowncharlottetown.com (902) 368-8636

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

Downtown Charlottetown Inc. is pleased to announce the return of WinterDine , our popular winter dining festival, for the 18th year. Featuring 22 of Downtown Charlottetown’s fine dining restaurants; WinterDine 2023 promises to celebrate the best once again in the Capital City’s food scene. WinterDine will be held over three consecutive weeks, 7 days a week. Event dates from January 16th to February 5th. Participating restaurants will offer a three-course meal, designed specifically for WinterDine by some of Charlottetown’s most talented and creative chefs, at $35/$45$55 price point per person. NEW this year: WinterDine Lunch - meant to provide opportunity for our smaller restaurants and Café’s to participate and elevate their profile. Participants will create a new and different Lunch Special for this event, not something currently available on the menu, that will showcase your Chef’s talent and entice new customers into your establishment during the Lunch Hour. Menus will be two courses and priced at $12/$16/$20 (prices do not include taxes or gratuity). After a couple years of restrictions, we are so excited to get back in full swing with WinterDine says Dawn Alan, Executive Director of Downtown Charlottetown Inc. “This celebration of our local food scene and the enhanced options just highlight the resilience of the City’s restaurant community and how important their dedicated customers are to them” Returning this year is the ‘People’s Choice Menu Award’, an online contest where participants vote online for their favorite WinterDine menu, for a chance to win a $75 gift card from one of the WinterDine 2023 restaurants. The restaurant with the most votes wins the People’s Choice Menu Award. Past winners include The Pilot House, Slaymaker & Nichols Gastrohouse, Claddagh Oyster House and Sim’s Corner Steakhouse. For a complete list of participating restaurants, to view menus, or to enter the WinterDine contest, please visit www.downtowncharlottetown.com DCI would like to remind everyone that, as in previous years, WinterDine reservations book up very quickly, and everyone is encouraged to make reservations early to avoid disappointment.

THANK YOU to everyone who participated in and donated to our Coats for Kids 2022 campaign earlier this fall. It was a great success with more than 425 coats collected in our drop off depot at The Confederation Court Mall . We want to thank the amazing team at Sterns Launderers & Dry Cleaners for cleaning the coats which were then distributed by the hard working crew at The Salvation Army in Charlottetown, PEI over a full week in November. Special thanks to The Guardian for helping us get the word out. We look forward to another successful campaign in 2023.