Hi everyone,   [caption id="attachment_8796" align="alignright" width="400"] Image from Bluebird Cafe & Grill Facebook page[/caption] What an incredible heat wave we’ve been experiencing!  Shout out to all the servers and restaurant/café owners and staff working out on the patio in this heat! A lot of people have told me that just being able to sit out and enjoy a drink or meal on a patio in Downtown Orangeville has meant a chance to feel normal again, a small luxury in all of this, so please know that your hard work is very much appreciated! I encourage all of our members to take a walk Downtown and admire all the great new (or newly extended) patios!   We have some more good news along those same lines this week, this time for retailers!  

Retailers can now apply to extend their outdoor merchandise displays! 

  As part of the Town’s recovery plan from the COVID-19 pandemic, new temporary display of merchandise guidelines have been established for Business Improvement Area (BIA) businesses that will allow merchants to increase their outdoor display space on a temporary basis while encouraging physical distancing. No fees will apply.   An attractive display outside your store is an enticing invitation to shop and a clear signal to customers that you are open.    If done well, it can really boost your foot traffic!    I hope that all of our retailers will take advantage of this opportunity, be it now or in the future, and especially on Saturdays when Farmers’ Market shoppers are likely to walk directly in your path!  The OBIA has a few canopies that we could lend out by request, please get in touch with us if this is something that could be helpful to you! Special thanks to Ruth Phillips (Manager of Economic Development, Town of Orangeville) for helping us to expedite this process!   If you are interested in applying, please note the following requirements & refer to the Display of Merchandise By-Law (Attached):  
  1. Sidewalk/walking area of no less than 1.5 m (5’) wide is to be maintained;
  2. Retailers will be permitted to maintain their existing .75 m (2.5 ft) ft extension from their facades OR erect a canopy on the street side of the boulevard, but not on the roadway;
  3. Canopies need to be anchored/secured but not attached/embedded to the sidewalk (weights to be used);
  4. Canopies must be located on the boulevard and cannot be adjacent to the façade
  How to Apply:  
  1. Submit sketches (outlining tent location/size/anchors) and proof of Insurance to Ruth Phillips (rphillips@orangeville.ca)
  2. A liability insurance policy in an amount of no less than $2,000,000, with a cross liability clause naming the Town as an additional insured will be obtained and provided. The Certificate of Insurance will name the “Corporation of the Town of Orangeville” as additionally insured for no less than $2,000,000
  3. Ruth Phillips will share sketches with By-law for a review/quick measurement to ensure the 1.5 m (5 ft) walkway is maintained and will forward proof of insurance to Treasury.   Submissions will be reviewed and responses provided as quickly as possible
  Any questions?  Please contact Julia (ambassador@downtownorangeville.ca) or Ruth Phillips (rphillips@Orangeville.ca)   [pdf-embedder url="https://downtownorangeville.ca/wp-content/uploads/20-By-law-Display-of-Merchandise-By-law-Amendment-acc.pdf" title="20 By-law Display of Merchandise By-law Amendment - acc"]  

Business Hours Survey

You have until Friday July 10th to complete this important survey, thanks to all those who responded thus far!  We will share the results with you next week! Please click here.  

Reminder: Ready to Re-Open inDufferin

Don’t forget to sign up for this simple and free program!  Benefits include:
  • A feature in the inDufferin social media marketing campaign
  • Access to the Ready to Re-Open inDufferin logo to use on your website, social media and other promotional materials
  • Ready to Re-Open inDufferin window decal and pledge poster for your storefront window
  • Access to the Ready to Re-Open inDufferin Toolkit and sector-specific guidance documents
  • Increased customer confidence in entering your facility
Sign up for the 1 hour webinar and take the pledge – that’s it!  https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ready-to-re-open-dufferin-tickets-110008121252  

The Farmers’ Market is extending its hours!

The new time will be 8:30am to 12:30pm.   These hours and the location across from Town Hall are here to stay for the foreseeable future. Posters will be available next week so that you can post in your place of business and encourage people to come down! Thanks everyone!   [pdf-embedder url="https://downtownorangeville.ca/wp-content/uploads/OrangevilleFarmersMkt-Summer2020.pdf"]