Peninsula residents came together on Saturday, May 3, for a day filled with music, food and shopping in celebration of the grand reopening of Canadian Tire and the growing success of Sandown Park Shopping Centre.
The event, held in the Garden Centre parking lot, drew a crowd of about a thousand people, eager to experience the newly re-imagined store and enjoy the festivities.
"We love having this close by," said one resident, highlighting the convenience of having the shopping centre within walking distance.
The celebration kicked off with former Sidney town crier Kenny Podmore welcoming the crowd and inviting Canadian Tire owners John and Janet Cunningham to officially cut the ribbon, marking the store's grand reopening since taking over in 2018.
John enthusiastically shared details about the store's transformation, saying, "We re-merchandised the store, now with over 150,000 stock items. We touched every shelf and added 25 per cent more retail space. We’ve opened up the aisles for our valued customers."
Podmore echoed the sentiment, noting the accessibility improvements within the store, saying, "I can tell you that my wife is a wheelchair user and she just loves getting around this store.”
Attendees were treated to live music from young musician Chase Varnes, as well as radio stations 100.3 The Q! and The Zone @91-3.
The event also featured a variety of family-friendly activities, including a face painting booth, VRX racing simulator booths and a dunk tank.
Red Barn Market provided a barbecue, Victoria Humane Society brought puppies for adoption. Kats and Dogs also joined in the fun, as well as members of Torque Masters Car Club, who drove and parked their shiny vintage cars at the celebration.
The Peninsula Panthers even showcased their Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League championship cup.
Despite unpredictable weather that included a mix of sunshine, rain and hail, the celebration drew shoppers to other businesses within the Sandown Park Shopping Centre.
At least 2,000 shoppers visited the Canadian Tire store throughout the event.
"It’s been a great day, the parking lot was full," said John Cunningham, "Red Barn Market had a barbecue for our charity, Jumpstart, to help kids participate in sports.”
Ashley Bourque, owner and operator of Red Barn Market, praised the collaborative environment of the shopping centre.
“This is our best store because we’re in such a big parking lot,” he said. “We’ve got other stores that are complementing us, it’s amazing.”
The grand reopening of Canadian Tire and the success of the Sandown Park Shopping Centre signal a thriving hub for the Peninsula community.
