Summerland’s Main Street is under consideration as one of the great places in Canada.
The second annual Great Places in Canada contest is now underway and Main Street is one of seven contenders in the Great Streets category.
Other streets include Queen Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper, Alta., High Street in Grand Falls Windsor, Nfld., Yonge Street in Toronto, Ont., Niagara River Parkway between Niagara-on-the-Lake and Fort Erie, Ont. and Portage Avenue and Main Street in Winnipeg.
There are also categories in the Great Public Spaces and Great Neighbourhoods categories.
While there is a people’s choice award this year, the three category winners will be selected by professional planners from the Canadian Institute of Planners.
Gary Noble, a planner from Nanaimo, said the judges are looking for things which make a place special, including special events, community gardens or other attractions.
“If you win, there are a lot of bragging rights which go with it,” he said. “This is an opportunity for people to tell Canada they’re the best place.”
He added that the contest also shows the work planners are doing to enhance and improve their communities.
Although Summerland’s Main Street is in the same category as streets in much bigger communities, Noble said the effort is to make the contest inclusive.
The initial submissions have had to include information on why a place was outstanding.
Mayor Janice Perrino said the nomination is good news for Summerland.
“The more we get our name out there the more people will come and visit us,” she said.
“We always need tourists and we always need new people considering moving here.”
She urges Summerlanders to vote for the community in the people’s choice section on the contest website.
“We have to get everyone to vote for us until Feb. 29.
The website is at www.GreatPlacesInCanada.com.