We were so moved by the incredible creativity and heart poured into this year’s Love Notes contest. After creating a shortlist of favourites and conducting a random draw for our Grand Prize, we decided to award three additional Runner-Up prizes to recognize some truly beautiful entries.

To everyone who participated and sent us such beautiful love notes, thank you. Your stories reminded us that Downtown Orangeville is more than shops and events. It is connection. It is memory. It is belonging.

Reading your words was truly a privilege, and we are so grateful to be part of a community that shows up for one another with so much heart. 

Here are the Runner-Up Winners and their Love Note Entries:

💌 Holly Gewarges

A Valentine's Poem for Downtown Orangeville:

Roses are red, violets are blue,

A perfect day in Orangeville, you can come too.

Mornings at Mochaberry to start the day,

A warm cup of coffee or caramel latte.

I stroll through Kay Cee Gardens whilst sipping my drink,

The fresh air was just what I needed I think.

Next, to Son of a Chef for lunch,

And one of their cupcakes for me to munch.

Now for some retail therapy at Pear,

There's no doubt I'll find something unique in there.

For dinner a pizza homemade at The Craft,

Sat in the window seat, watching people walk past.

A show at Theatre Orangeville makes me laugh til I cry,

Before I know it, the hours have flown by.

Cocktails at Bluebird after the show,

Then back home we go, trudging through snow.

I came to Orangeville from across the pond,

But this town made me feel like I belonged.

And what better birthday present on February 17th, than finding out I have won downtown dollars and a stay at Nest Suites!

💌 Ashley Travassos

Downtown Orangeville has been my home since I was two years old. Through foster care, growing up, and finding my footing in the world, this town was my safe place. When life got hard, downtown was still there.

The Choices Shelter and Support Services in town has been a continued source of support in my growth. They helped me get into my first place in 2019 and again helped me secure the home I’m in now. Their support, along with places like the Edelbrock Center and programs like Youth Job Connection (which sadly isn't available anymore), truly changed the direction of my life. That program didn’t just help me find work, it helped me find me, giving me the opportunity to work in a daycare and confirm my love for caring for children.

Some moments downtown are so so unforgettable. The very first place I went to eat the day I got out of foster care was Bluebird Café and Grill. That meal symbolized freedom, safety, and a fresh start. And their garlic bread was absolutely top notch haha

Downtown Orangeville is where I made lifelong friends, worked amazing jobs, and felt supported even during my hardest chapters. The community here shows up, always willing to help, always caring.

I’ll be 25 this year. March marks 8 years out of foster care and May marks 24 years in Orangeville. I am as successful as I am today because of the support this town offers, and I am endlessly grateful to call Downtown Orangeville home. ❤️

 

💌 Michelle Amanda

We absolutely love starting any downtown day at @piasonbroadway and the wonderful staff there know our order! (Extra balsamic on the veggie sandwich, hold the onion!). Then we stroll down the street visiting the perfect small shops.

A memory made in the summer was popping in to @aardvarkmusicculture where after some chit chatting about our toddler and her love for music, the amazing owner showed us a small acoustic guitar he just got in and it was a sign! He gave us a killer good price and we bought it for our daughter. She held it in her wagon the whole way home and plays it regularly. We'll never forget the genuine kindness the owner showed and will be sure to pop by again once our toddler becomes a famous musician one day, thanks to @aardvarkmusicculture ! We usually find ourselves at the Library childrens section and then grabbing a yummy cone for the way home from Mill Creek Gardens, or a fancy bevvie from @sgflowers.ca or @mochaberrycoffee ! Thank you Orangeville for the amazing community ❤️

💌 Grand Prize Winner: Katia Howatson 💌

First of all, I absolutely LOVE this idea of a post/contest. My love note is coming straight from the heart. ❤️
We moved to Orangeville just over a year ago, because the small town feel, food scene and live music were calling our names. We were looking for a town we can call home; a place where we will be growing old together. We found more than that, we found a community. One that has been nothing short of welcoming and amazing to us.
After moving here, we started exploring town, and quickly found ourselves falling in love with a few places; not only for the incredible food & drinks they serve, but for their hospitality and friendliness:
Bluebird Café and Grill is incredible. The owners take the time to come chat with us, the staff remembers us, and the food is so comforting to the soul it instantly melts our stress away. This place feels like family, and they always make us feel so special.
Greystones Restaurant & Lounge is where we go for fancy celebrations, because the food and drinks make me feel like I’m on vacation somewhere in France or Italy. We feel like we have gotten to know the staff because they take time to say hi and catch up with us, and they go above and beyond to make sure your time there is memorable. Love this place!
The Hatter is our go-to place for low key evenings when we don’t feel like cooking, when we want to watch a Blue Jays game, or want to enjoy local talented artists who come liven things up on a Thursday night.
Revival 1863, because every once in a while we want a good night of dancing, and they bring in bands that as soon as you sit back down to your table, you hear the next song and get back up again. The staff is fantastic, and the drinks are scrumptious.
Finally, I want to include in this love note the Saturday market and the Jazz Festival. Those events heavily contribute to making Orangeville an incredible community, and we feel so lucky to have that here right in town.
I’m going to tag my fiancé Dave Ramdas, who I’m marrying in a month and a half. He’s the person who comes with me to all these wonderful places we have in town, and his smile is infectious. 😁 So of course if I win, I’m taking him!