City's heart needs a strong pulse

By: Karen Campbell July 1, 2008 12:00 AM - As the heart of the city, downtown Brampton should be the place that people from all over the city come to gather, to celebrate and to have fun.
One of the strategic goals of the Brampton Downtown Development Corporation (BDDC) is to help create a vibrant downtown through the promotion of special events and attractions that draw people to the downtown.
Summer is a busy time for events in Downtown Brampton.  The opening day of the Brampton Farmers Market on June 21st got us off to a great start.  Every Saturday from mid-June to Thanksgiving weekend, Main Street is closed and the downtown transforms into a festival market place.  Live entertainment, the Inzola Pancake Breakfast for the Arts, the official opening of the Vivian Lane Chess Park and the Flower City Parade were some of the special activities that happened that day.  
It is estimated that 60,000 people visited the Brampton Farmers Market in 2007.  To take advantage of this marketing opportunity, the BDDC has a booth at the Market, which we are making available to downtown businesses to showcase their products and services.
The two premier summer events that the BDDC organizes and sponsors are the Thursday Night Concert Series and Classic Cars and Legendary Stars (CCLS).  CCLS is one of the biggest events held downtown, attracting 25,000 people over 3 days in mid-July.  The event showcases classic cars on downtown streets with classic Rock ‘n Roll tribute bands performing in Gage Park and Garden Square.  The Investors Group Thursday Night Concert Series, held every Thursday evening in the bandstand in Gage Park, is a long-standing tradition for family entertainment.
In addition to special events, downtowns need to offer unique experiences that will attract people on an on-going basis.  We’re fortunate to have a strong arts and culture scene in downtown with The Rose Theatre, Beaux-Arts Brampton and the Peel Heritage Complex, which includes a museum and art gallery, all of which host their own shows and exhibitions.
The Rose Theatre has ramped up its community programming this summer with lots of outdoor entertainment in the Garden Square.  The new fountain in the Square, which doubles as a stage, will be featuring jazz and folk concerts as well as theatrical performances.  This is a great way for employees and residents to relax and enjoy some entertainment at lunchtime and in the evenings.
The newest attraction in the downtown core is the Vivian Lane Chess Park, located in the laneway between Cyclepath and Beaux-Arts off Main Street North.  As part of phase one of the project, the City has installed six chess tables with seats and the Brampton Chess Club will be providing programming support.  Chess has become hugely popular with young people, so this will give our youth something fun to do in the downtown core.
Some downtown businesses and property owners may ask the question – how do special events serve or benefit them?  The basic premise is that people who come downtown for social activities will become familiar with what downtown businesses have to offer and will patronize them either at that time or return another day.  For business owners, having a place to work that is lively and attractive to employees and clients is another benefit.  On some level, everyone benefits from the community spirit and vitality that is created through special events and attractions that draw people downtown.
I encourage you to take a look at the list of events happening in Downtown Brampton, by visiting the BDDC website at  www.bramptondowntown.com.  We hope to see you downtown this summer!