Noah Sloan is $1,500 richer thanks to a passion for video games and shopping locally.
Sloan won the grand prize in the annual Holiday Shopping Passport program of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).
Sloan’s winning passport was drawn last Wednesday (January 11) at The El (P), a restaurant at 380 George Street North in downtown Peterborough. He completed his passport at Iceman Video Games at 390 George Street North in downtown Peterborough, where he had purchased a new game console.
“I still can’t believe I won — it’s surreal,” says Sloan, who was presented with his grand prize by Iceman Video Games store manager Holly Butler on Saturday.
“I think now more than ever it’s important to support small businesses with the economy the way it is,” he adds. “I really appreciate our downtown and love that I can bring my dog along while shopping the stores. I’m still wrapping my head around winning and look forward to exploring all the new shops and restaurants with my gift card.”
The Holiday Shopping Passport program ran from November 14 to January 11. Throughout the program, shoppers were rewarded with a passport stamp for every $10 they spent at a participating downtown Peterborough location. Each completed passport (20 stamps) were entered into a draw, including three early bird draws of $500 Boro gift cards.
Heather Adey, Karen Scott, and Helen Lovick were the early bird draw winners. This year, winners also received a Peterborough Musicfest Diner’s Book, filled with coupons valued at $600 in savings at local restaurants, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going directly towards musician fees for the summer outdoor music festival.
According to the Peterborough DBIA, this season’s Holiday Shopping Passport program generated just over $2.3 million in local spending.
“What I love about this program is anyone can win when they shop downtown,” says Peterborough DBIA executive director Terry Guiel. “Some past winners filled out dozens of passports, while others completed just one.”
