We’re takin’ it to the streets to celebrate ~ Saturday June 30th

Presented by your Downtown Simcoe merchants and Downtown Simcoe Business Improvement Area (BIA), this years festivities will be held on our newly completed block of Robinson Street; hence the name DigFest!

Be sure to check out – throughout our downtown – all of our merchants offering the most Sensational Seasonal Sidewalk Sale Savings to start your summer off right!

The street party fun begins with the Annual Simcoe Reformer charity lunch 11:30 – 1:30; funds raised will support Kids with Special Needs to attend Norfolk County Day Camps.

The Upper Deck Youth Centre joins the party; providing fun activities that include a free throw contest.

There will be live local performers on stage;

1PM – Ben Whitside

2PM – Autumn Epple

3PM – Barbershoppers Quartet, ‘Due South’

6PM - Opening Act for the evening’s entertainment line-up are:
Winners of the All-Norfolk Battle of the Bands

Then our headliners take the stage:

7PM – Dharma Road

8PM - Killer Beez

9PM - The Bay Buoys

10PM - Group JAM: ALL bands on stage wrap up this fantastic annual event.

Complete event coverage will be provided by Event Major Sponsor and Associate BIA member – CD98.9FM, Norfolk’s Perfect Music Mix.

Charity BBQ & Yard Sale raises spirits and funds.

The Charity BBQ and Yard Sale held by State Farm Denise Perrrin on Water Street on Saturday June 16th was a great community event that saw freindly faces, and warm hearts gather to help rasie funds for a special bike for a special young lady.

Brittany Hamelin (shown in photo, centre, in pink) attended the event that raised over $500.oo for the special equipment Brittany needs for her continued development. Donations can still be made at the State Farm office Water Street location, Army, Navy, Air Force Club also on Water Street and at the Downtown Simcoe branch of Scotiabank.

Help downtowners help Brittany.

Downtown Simcoe business; State Farm Insurance, Water Street is organizing a charity hot dog BBQ and a fundraising ‘garage sale’ to show support and raise funds to purchase a specialized bike for Brittany Hamelin of Simcoe.

Brittany requires this equipment for mobility, exercise and her continued development.

See you Downtown, Saturday, June 16th; at the State Farm Insurance office at 32 Water Street beside our Downtown Tim Hortons' location. Pictured: Brittany and the bike.

Fish Tale; Downtown Simcoe

Three friends; Shay Hutchinson, Zack Vroom, & Brady Barnard all 12 of Simcoe caught this nine pound 27 inch brown trout in the Lynn River in Downtown Simcoe near the Simcoe Composite School.

All three boys said they're looking forward to more fishing this summer.

Credit for photo and details courtesy of Downtown Simcoe BIA Associate Member: The Simcoe Reformer.

4th Annual DigFest Street Party

On Robinson Street, Saturday June 30th, 2007.

Join us Downtown Simcoe as we celebrate the completion of our latest re-construction project.

The first block of Robinson (between Norfolk & Kent Streets) looks fantastic and is the perfect setting for our annual street party event featuring local talent, great food, fun and friends all surrounded by Sensational Seasonal Sidewalk Sales to start your summer off right.

Robinson Street: (RE) OPEN for business.

It's been a very exciting project and your Downtown Simcoe shops and services are pleased to announce that the re-construction of Robinson Street is now complete.

Thank you for your patience and continued patronage throughout this project.

Final streetscape elements will now be incorporated to complete the project; with the installation of new benches, garbage cans, & lighting all provided by the Downtown merchants themselves through their Downtown Simcoe Business Improvement Area (BIA).

Simcoe Paint & Wallpaper supports Art Gallery.

The Downtown Simcoe Business Improvement Area (BIA) wishes to thank Benjamin Moore ~ Simcoe Paint & Wallpaper on Water Street in Downtown Simcoe for their generous support of the 2007 Downtown Simcoe Drive-Thru Art Gallery.

The 2007 campaign is in full swing with the 'art materials' now having been distributed by the BIA, at no charge, to participating Norfolk County residents/artists.

The creation of this year's gallery is particularly exciting because a number of 'new, soon to be discovered artists' are participating. It's going to be a banner year throughout Downtown Simcoe!

Pictured from left to right: Debbie Travale-McCleary & Ida Deruiter: some of the friendly staff at Benjamin Moore ~ Simcoe Paint & Wallpaper.

Robinson Street re-construction nears completion.

The Robinson Street re-construction project is nearing it's completion; the anticipated project finish date is June 1, 2007.

The Downtown Simcoe Business Improvement Area (BIA) wishes to thank all of our downtown businesses and our loyal patrons for their patience and unwavering support throughout this project.


The Robinson Street revitalization project continues in 2008 with the next block from Kent to Colborne Street and then again in 2009 with the block of Robinson Street from Colborne to Talbot Street.

Pictured; BIA Admin. Assistant, Sharlene Pimentel surveys the exciting work being done.

Hairport Hair Design Girls, Dig In

The staff and management of Hairport Hair Design on Robinson Street showed great spirit as they embraced the exciting re-construction project right outside their front door, this spring.

Hairport Hair Design is just one of many downtown businesses awaiting the final touches of the project that will bring a fresh streetscape, infrastructure and lighting to the core between Norfolk and Kent Streets.


Thank you to the ladies for their enthusiasm and all the downtown merchants and our loyal customers for their patience during this important revitalization project in Downtown Simcoe!

'Summer Gold' charity signing.

Simcoe Artist Vic Gibbons will be at the Downtown Simcoe Scotiabank location, Norfolk Street North, Thursday, May 24, 2007 ~ 1-3PM, to help to raise funds for Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion & The Bloorview Youth Rehabilitation Centre.

Vic will be signing 100 prints for each charity of 'Summer Gold' that will be on sale for $45.00 each.

George Jonescu of 740AM radio will be in attendance representing the Bloorview Youth Rehabilitation Centre.

Mixed Media Art Gallery ~ Downtown Simcoe

Norfolk County Tourism and Economic Development department recognized Jeff Bouck of Long Point with its 2007 Tourism Builder Award.

The stunning plaque presented is a mixed media piece created by local artist, Bob Andrews who has an art gallery and soap shop in Downtown Simcoe ~ Window 13 at 13 Norfolk Street North.

Photo courtesy of BIA Associate Member ~ Simcoe Reformer

Cuba Getaway Giveaway Winners

The Downtown Simcoe BIA in partnership with BIA member Marlin Travel, 15 Colborne Street North (formerly Thomas Cook Travel) is pleased to announce the grand prize winners of an All-Inclusive One Week Trip for 2 to beautiful Varadero, Cuba as the culmination of the BIA's 'Thank you for shopping with us' campaign. We hope our winners, Shirley & Edward Plyley of Simcoe have a wonderful time and send us some great photos of them; enjoying their trip. Thank you to the Plyley's and to everyone who entered for your patronage and support of Downtown Simcoe!

Shown in photo: L-R: Deb Murphy, BIA Executive Director, Winners Shirley & Edward Plyley & Kate Stratford, Marlin Travel.

Be Part of the ART in Downtown Simcoe!

Calling all Artists and Creative Spirits in Norfolk County.

We want you to be part of our Downtown Simcoe 2007 Drive-Thru Art Gallery by painting an art banner. Kits are supplied, free by the Downtown Simcoe BIA and are available NOW at our office.

The 2007 theme for the Gallery is GREEN. We hope you participate in this community seasonal outdoor art event, hung annually on our light standards throughout our core.

It's going to be a 'Banner' year, downtown!

Re-Constructing our Downtown!

Construction has begun on our Robinson Street between Norfolk & Kent Streets. We are very excited about this latest re-construction project in the core.

After the road work is done; streetscape elements will complete the project ~ refreshing the first block of Robinson Street with new lighting & street standards and vibrant landscaping components. Completion of the road works portion is anticipated for late May.