Trent University and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) have entered into a new partnership that will allow the Trent student card to be used at Black Honey, Natas Café, and The Whistle Stop in downtown Peterborough.
“This is an important step forward in our attempt to connect our students with Peterborough’s downtown,” says Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor at Trent University. “We’re keen to offer more options to our students with the support of the DBIA. With the DBIA, we are interested in working with downtown partners to encourage students to take advantage of the restaurants, businesses, and cultural activities in the City’s downtown core.”
As of May 27th, students, staff and faculty will have the ability to load money onto their TrentU Card and use their card to make purchases at Black Honey, Natas Café, and The Whistle Stop. These were the top three merchants selected by Trent students in a survey conducted in the spring of 2014.
When the TrentU Card program was originally launched in 2013, students could only use the card to pay for printing and photocopying. Since then, the program has grown to having 85 point-of-sale devices across campus including laundry, access to the Trent Athletics Centre, food outlets, and the Trent Bookstore.
The TrentU Card point-of-sale machine has now been installed at the three downtown merchants. It has a tap-reader, rather than a pin, chip or swipe, and includes the user’s photo printed on the front of the card for added purchase protection. Window decals have been placed in each of the three businesses, announcing to the Trent community they now accept the TrentU Card.
“Trent is a vital part of the health and vibrancy of the downtown,” says Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the DBIA. “A vibrant downtown is of critical interest to draw students. This unique program will be most welcome in the downtown and has the potential for immense economic and cultural spin-offs.”
Based on the success of the initial pilot project — which will run for one academic year — Trent plans to roll out additional machines with interested businesses across the city and is hopeful for a more wide-spread use and acceptance of the TrentU Card in Peterborough.
