Get rewarded for choosing local with Holiday Shopping Passports in downtown Peterborough

The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is once again rewarding residents and visitors for supporting locally owned downtown businesses and getting everyone in the festive spirit with the return of the annual Holiday Shopping Passport program and the Holiday Window contest.

Holiday Shopping Passports are now available at over 140 participating shops, boutiques, salons, restaurants, and cafes in ‘The Boro’ (see the list below). For every $10 you spend at participating businesses, you earn a passport stamp. Free stamps are available at the Peterborough Public Library, the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Visitors Centre, and the DBIA office.

When a passport is filled with 20 stamps, the completed passport becomes a ballot for one of three early bird draws on Wednesdays during December for a $500 Boro gift card and a grand prize draw for a $1,500 Boro gift card in January.

The early bird draws take place on December 6, 13, and 20, with the grand prize draw on January 10. Find out more about Holiday Shopping Passports at https://theboro.ca/holiday-shopping-passport-season/.

New this year, the DBIA will be hosting a holiday Boro gift card bonanza where 12 lucky shoppers will receive a $25 Boro gift card just for shopping downtown. Beginning the week of November 13, the DBIA will be randomly drawing 12 downtown business locations to host weekly Boro gift card giveaways.

Aside from winning Boro gift cards, making the conscious choice to shop at locally owned independent businesses means you are contributing to a healthy local economy. Last year’s Holiday Shopping Passport program saw shoppers stamp more than $2.3 million worth of passports. For every $100 shoppers spend locally, up to $48 stays in the community — compared to just $14 when you shop at big box stores and nothing at all when you shop at internet giants like Amazon.

“We understand that supporting local requires intention and effort, and this year we are finding new and delightful ways to attract and retain holiday shoppers,” says DBIA vibrancy manager Hillary Flood in a media release.

“Holiday shopping in The Boro offers a one-of-a-kind shopping experience filled with historic charm and hospitality that you just can’t replicate on Amazon. Now more than ever we need to shop with intent, because when you shop locally your money directly supports our community rather than a big corporation.”

The DBIA is also helping shoppers get in the festive spirit with the annual Holiday Window Contest, where downtown businesses are challenged to decorate their storefront windows in the theme ‘Aurora Borealis’, with this year’s Northern Lights predicted to be one of the most spectacular visual displays in 20 years.

From November 20 to December 30, you can vote online for your favourite storefront display. Visit theboro.ca to see this year’s holiday displays, with storefront window displays being added throughout November.

To make it easier and more affordable to shop in downtown Peterborough, the City of Peterborough will be providing free two-hour parking in the downtown beginning Black Friday (November 24) until the end of December, courtesy of Wolfe Lawyers.

For more information on businesses in downtown Peterborough, visit theboro.ca.

2023 Holiday Shopping Passport Locations