Spring 2018
#dtt8n
Downtown
Experience Guide
Designers and creators of custom jewellery Amazing selection of estate jewellery Jewellery repair services
11B St. Anne Street, St. Albert (780) 458-7499 gemportjewellers.ca
Downtown
Experience Guide Spring 2018
Contents 6 Food & Dining
23 Health & Wellness
An ever-evolving palate
Providing peace for mind and body
9 Culture & Events
26 Professional Services
The life of the party
Advice from the specialists
13 New & Unique
Innovation and original thinking
29 Perron Street
18 The Year of Ultra Violet
Then & Now
The Pantone® influence on fashion
PUBLISHER
Rob Lightfoot rob@t8nmagazine.com 780 940 6212
PROUDLY PUBLISHED BY T8N Publishing Inc. #176, 311 Bellerose Drive St. Albert, Alberta T8N 5C9
ART DIRECTION/ DESIGN, PRODUCTION
Correna Saunders DESIGN
Kim Clarke dtt8n.com
WRITING
Robert Michon, Dawn Valentine COPY EDITING
Markwell Lyon, Jennie Drent
PHOTOGRAPHY
Brenda Lakeman VIOLET MODEL
Kierah Jorgensen
Copyright of T8N Publishing Inc. Reproduction of copyright material, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.
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Welcome to
Downtown EVERY TOWN AND SMALL CITY needs a vibrant downtown area. These downtowns are best filled with local businesses offering unique products and services all in an attractive setting. St. Albert is no exception to this rule. Fortunately, St. Albert has a downtown area that is steeped in history and beautifully situated. But, as much as St. Albert has to offer, we wonder if our downtown has achieved the level of engagement and degree of emotional connection that it deserves. While we hope that most St. Albertans can remember great times
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Downtown
they have experienced in our downtown core, we wish to share the stories of people, businesses and the history of the downtown area to enhance that connection. We offer you this publication in hopes we will inspire you to visit our downtown more often and to spend more time and money there. By doing this, we can help local businesses and the downtown community thrive, and this will only help our community as a whole to thrive. We hope you enjoy this publication, and hope to deliver a second volume to you soon. Rob Lightfoot, Publisher
Experience Guide
Cerdo Tacos & Tequila
Food
& Dining An ever-evolving palate
IN THE LAST few decades, downtown St. Albert has become a bit of a hotspot when it comes to locally owned, independent restaurants. No matter what you’re in the mood for, you’ll likely be able to find a menu to match your craving. It hasn’t always been that way. Gordon Gidora has owned and operated The Cajun House for 27 years now, and
he’s seen quite a few restaurants come and go over the years. From Gordon’s perspective, if you want to build a lasting restaurant, you have to know your customers and what it is they like. For The Cajun House, which serves many second or even third generation customers, maintaining the quality and value of its food is key.
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Experience Guide
Downtown
LOCAL TASTES St. Albert’s downtown may seem small, but it’s home to over a dozen independent restaurateurs who have made a life for themselves specializing in a wide variety of cuisines. Many other restaurants have also latched onto this simple truism. The people of St. Albert know what it is they love, and they like to get exactly what they’re expecting. Tu Le is the co-owner of three downtown restaurants: Jack’s Burger Shack, Ong Fried Chicken and Cerdo Tacos & Tequila. Keeping things simple has been somewhat of a mission statement since he first opened Jack’s five years ago. “Our restaurants really focus on one thing,” he says. “Whether it’s burgers, tacos or chicken, we try to do one thing, and we try to do it well. That’s what keeps our customers coming back.”
restaurant manager, credits much of their early success to being able to quickly identify the expectations of their customers. “This is actually the third restaurant that we’ve opened up,” she says. “And in many ways, Songkran is the perfect distillation of what we’ve learned at our other restaurants in Edmonton. We try to be very aware of where we are, and who our clientele is.” Songkran has quickly integrated itself into the local community, and has become a regular meeting spot for church groups, co-worker lunches and social groups of all kinds.
Songkran Thai Restaurant is a relative newcomer to the downtown restaurant scene, but Mimsong Rosche, the
But this idea of simplicity and meeting expectations may be changing. Just ask Kaylen Como of Privada. As the co-owner of a Tapas-style restaurant, his whole business model is based on constantly shifting menu items, culinary experiments and a plate-sharing system that doesn’t feel natural to a lot of North Americans. “We like to bring interesting and unique dishes to our customers, things that push them out of the comfort zone a bit.” When Privada first opened six years ago, Kaylen’s patrons were not sold on the idea, but things have been changing. “Their willingness to try more unique and exotic items is definitely evolving,” he says. While dining trends have centred around the idea of consistency, Privada is proof that there’s room in St. Albert for a little experimentation. z
DINNER AND A SHOW Downtown’s biggest dinner rushes always seem to happen right before a show at the Arden, so if you’re planning a night out, it’s a good idea to check the Arden’s listings first. And if you’re hoping to grab dinner before your evening entertainment starts, make sure you arrive early.
#dtt8n Food & Dining
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Helping families with their cycling adventures since 2001 24 Perron Street, St. Albert (780) 458 9181 crankys.ca
St. Albert Farmers’ Market: Clinton Richardson
St. Albert Public Library
The Arden
Art Gallery of St. Albert
Culture
&Events The life of the party
WITHOUT A VIBRANT cultural and recreational sector, it’s hard to imagine a downtown at all. The arts and other pastimes draw people downtown in a big way, and broaden people’s awareness of what is available to them in the core. “When the St. Albert Farmers’ Market first started in 1983, it was seen as a real opportunity to draw people downtown
and to stimulate business here,” says Jennifer McCurdy, President and CEO of the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce. And it certainly has achieved that goal many times over, increasing foot traffic to the area immensely. In addition to the standard fresh produce, the last few years have seen the market become a hotspot for less traditional vendors, like woodworkers, beekeepers and antique
#dtt8n Culture & Events
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The Arden
dealers. And now that the laws around alcohol sales have changed in Alberta, Jennifer expects to see a lot of craft brewers joining the community this season. But during the colder months, when the market isn’t in operation, the downtown scene is no less vibrant. All winter, the phones at the St. Albert Curling Club have been ringing off the hook with inquiries and requests for ice time. “We really are a destination for people,” says Nicole Bellamy, the club’s General Manager. “The club really draws people downtown to play, and it’s been vital in keeping people active and engaged in the community, especially when it comes to seniors.” The hottest new trend in curling should come as no surprise to those who tuned into the Winter Olympics: mixed Doubles is the game that everyone wants to try.
ARTISTIC RENAISSANCE There has never been a better time to be an artist in St. Albert. With a micro-grant program and a cultural cataloguing program in the works, local emerging artists will be able to secure funding from the city and find collaborators easier than ever before.
The St. Albert Public Library was the topic of much debate during last year’s
mayoral race, but whether a new branch is ever approved or not, CEO Peter Bailey sees downtown as a permanent home for the library. Like most libraries, St. Albert’s is undergoing a digital shift, but that doesn’t mean its main focus is electronic. “The future of libraries isn’t really digital,” Peter says. “It’s about people. One of the
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Experience Guide
Downtown
most important things we provide today is space, whether for public education or just as a meeting space for the community.” Sure enough, people still flock to the library every day. Last year, Peter’s staff logged 350, 000 unique visits to the space.
a focal point for the arts community, but the work doesn’t stop there. Kelly and her department work hard planning festivals, events, art installations and more to ensure that the downtown district remains a cultural hotspot. z
The Arden is another location that draws people into the core, night after night. “The whole intent behind St. Albert Place when it was built in 1984 was to be a centre for people to gather,” says Kelly Jerrott, the city’s Director of Cultural Services. The Arden has certainly been
St. Albert Farmers’ Market: Bodie Brothers Root Beer
DID YOU KNOW? The St. Albert Farmers’ Market is the largest outdoor market in Western Canada, and attracts 250 vendors each week during the summer months. #dtt8n Culture & Events
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Downtown
#dtt8n Share your Downtown T8N experience using the hashtag #dtt8n for a chance to win randomly drawn prizes!
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Downtown
Experience Guide
Cranky’s Bike Shop
New &
Unique Innovation and original thinking GENERALLY SPEAKING, it’s easy to take stock of the businesses downtown by sorting them into their various industries. But that doesn’t work with all the shops in the core. Some of St. Albert’s more unique businesses are old favourites that have been a presence in the community for years, while others are brand new and have an aura of excitement about them. But one thing that they all have in common is that they have no true rivals. They’re one of a kind. Cranky’s Bike Shop has been in operation in the downtown region for 17 years now,
and co-owner Andrew Phelps says that technology is rapidly changing the way we think about cycling. Just look at the emergence of e-bikes, bicycles with an electronic assist built into the frame. “When e-bikes were first getting started, they were aimed mostly at a commuter crowd,” co-owner Andrew Phelps explains. “They essentially give you an extra boost of power while you pedal, making the morning ride a little easier.” But all kinds of riders have adopted this technology, from mountain bikers to older, less mobile riders who don’t want to give up on their hobby just yet.
#dtt8n New & Unique Retail
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in downtown St. Albert has been a dream come true. “When we started out, Tupperware was really looking to open stores in trendy locations, where there are restaurants and cafés and other businesses where people gather, and this location has been perfect for that.” The Tupperware Studio isn’t a traditional shop, but rather a space where busy customers can learn more about the product line, and even attend meal prep classes at the same time. “Our customers come in and learn how to prep healthy meals for themselves, and at the same time, they can try out our products and learn how to use them best.” As the business continues to grow, these mealprep classes have expanded to include specialties like appetizers, Christmas baking and children’s parties.
JoAnn Wallace opened her Tupperware Studio on Perron Street two years ago, and she says that operating a business
If you’re looking to the future, perhaps the best place to look is The Collective, a youth support and business incubator program located in the core. Through their Marketplace program, The Collective helps young people give life to their own entrepreneurial ideas, teaching them about business ownership in the process. Connie Smigielski, the Manager of Community and Social Development for the city, has seen young people start businesses as woodworkers, photographers, artists and clothing designers. “The hope is that we can help some of our young people thrive here in St. Albert, and stay in our city, having found success as business owners,” she says. If you want to see what the future of downtown might look like, look no further than The Collective. z
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Experience Guide
The Collective
ENTREPRENEURIAL INCENTIVES The Collective’s Marketplace program is run in association with the Northern Alberta Business Incubator, a centre that helps Albertans start businesses with affordable space and services without as much of the usual financial risk.
Downtown
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21 PERRON STREET, ST. ALBERT
COLOUR OF THE YEAR 2018
PANTONE® Assorted bulk candy with Tootsie Pops, from Candy Bouquet
The Year of Cuccio Nail Polish, $11 each, from Gelous Nails Aesthetics and Hair
Ultra
Violet The Pantone® influence on fashion IF YOU’VE BEEN paying attention to the trends this year, you might already be aware of Pantone’s “Colour of the Year 2018.” It’s a shade that they’re calling Ultra Violet, or Pantone 18-3838 if you want to be really specific. What does this mean? Well, in terms of fashion, it means that you can expect to see a lot more violet on store shelves, including in the shops of downtown St. Albert.
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Gemport has been operating in St. Albert for 40 years now, and in that time, the business has seen its share of trends. But what allows Gemport to continue its success is their intentionally light adherence to the trend cycles. “We try to pair people with jewellery that’s going to be with them for a long time,” explains Luc Guillemette, one of Gemport’s owners. In the year of Ultra Violet, this means amethysts are being ordered faster than ever.
Amethyst set in gold or silver with optional diamond details, $320.00–$1925.00, from Gemport Jewellers
DID YOU KNOW? Madrid Violeta Minky Cuddle Robe, $179.99, from Cloud Nine Pajamas
The Pantone® Colour of the Year is chosen to reflect current trends and the cultural mood. Ultra Violet, according to Pantone, represents originality and visionary thinking that points towards the future.
Violet is also invading the bedrooms of St. Albert in the form of pajamas. Cloud Nine Pajamas is seeing a large uptick in the sales of stylish loungewear that people can wear to sleep, around the house or even to the grocery store. The most popular colour? You guessed it. Violet. Co-owner Miranda Zechel says that they’re loving the trend. dtt8n.com
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Solmate Socks, $26, from Modern Eyes Gallery and Gift
If it seems strange to you that a shade of purple could suddenly become so popular, Jody Reekie, the owner of Modern Eyes Gallery and Gift has a theory as to its recent success. “In the past, people have been hesitant to like purple,” she says. “There are a lot of strange, purple-loving people out in the world. But that perception is changing as the colour becomes more mainstream.” Modern Eyes itself was well-positioned to take advantage of the trend as many aspects of the business, from the walls in their shop to the colour of their advertising, were already the perfect shade of violet.
Hilborn Pottery Design, $28–$38, from Modern Eyes Gallery and Gift
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Red Hat Society Plush Bear, $31.95 and Ganz Leg A Longs Plush Bunny, $15.99, with assorted children’s books, $8.95–$22.00, from The Bookstore on Perron
When it comes to trends of the mind, Angela Chatwin, the sales manager of The Bookstore on Perron, says that their book sales are bouncing back from the initial e-book craze that swept the market a decade ago. Jigsaw puzzles have also been big this year, as people turn back to the old, pre-internet ways of relaxing their minds and testing their special reasoning skills. “Our goal here is to make sure that we’re not selling the same things as the box stores,” Angela says. Pantone or not, The Bookstore on Perron is managing to stay ahead of the trend.
Maria Bunderla, owner of Ennoja Clothing, has also noticed the purple trend. Since she first opened her shop in 2012, clothing that came in grey and black seemed to be all that her customers were interested in. But gradually, people have been branching out into brighter colours. If you want a sneak peek at next year’s trends, you might want to keep an eye on Ennoja. This year, the big sales have been clothing in lighter blush tones, like soft pinks. And Maria’s prediction for next winter’s trends is faux fur. z
Simply Soft Chakra Tunic, $155, from Ennoja Clothing
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Midtown Apothecary
Health
& Wellness Providing peace for mind and body
DOWNTOWN ST. ALBERT has been home to traditional medical clinics and doctors’ offices almost since the area’s founding. But more recently, it has become home to some local business owners who are reshaping the way we think about our health and wellness. These days, many of us think about pharmacies as little areas at the back of grocery stores where we get our prescriptions through narrow windows, barely seeing the person on the other side of the desk. When Karen Moak first opened Midtown Apothecary, she envisioned something different. For starters, you don’t even need a medical reason to visit Midtown. You can come in for ice cream, a coffee or just for a friendly chat.
Over the years, the business has turned into a social gathering spot for locals, and staff have a friendlier relationship than typically exists between pharmacists and their customers. Now, with prescribing pharmacists on staff to offer travel consultations, vaccinations and other advice, Midtown is redefining the role of the pharmacy. Just one street over from Midtown sits the St. Albert Naturopathic Clinic. But Dr. David Richmond, co-owner of the clinic, doesn’t see his business as being in competition with someone like Karen. “Awareness of natural medicine has really blossomed over the last decade,” he says. “People are realizing that naturopathic medicine works alongside the
#dtt8n Health & Wellness
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care from a medical doctor. You don’t have to choose one over the other.” In addition to a variety of traditional treatments, new injection techniques and intravenous therapy are allowing patients to really take control of their health in ways not widely offered elsewhere. Of course, not all healthcare is physical. In the last few years, awareness of the importance of mental health has skyrocketed, giving life to businesses like Float Remedy. At Float Remedy, you can spend an hour floating in a state of total sensory deprivation. As a mental relaxation technique, it’s not necessarily new, but co-owner Scott Sellsted says it’s something that is becoming popular as people embrace concepts like mental wellness and self-care. “For one hour,”
FROM FAR AND WIDE The St. Albert Naturopathic Clinic doesn’t just serve patients from St. Albert—it attracts people from all over the province to the downtown region to receive the specialized natural care that they can’t receive elsewhere. Scott says, “there is absolutely no pressure on you. No strain, no stress. Float tanks give you permission to shut off your mind and just relax.” Mental relaxation is also a topic that spas know well. The Rock Salon and Spa has been a staple in the downtown region for 18 years now, but as our perception of mental health changes, the relaxation techniques at The Rock are changing, too. Apart from old standards like botanical facials and other skincare techniques, The Rock is moving into dynamic cupping therapy, using suction to treat a wide variety of muscular and circulatory problems. z
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Downtown
Experience Guide
The St. Albert Curling Club offers modern banquet facilities for weddings, meetings, trade shows, parties and corporate gatherings. During the curling season, SACC offers ice rental options for practices, team building functions and Funspiels. During the off-season, our arena offers a unique space for concerts, tradeshows and larger events.
Contact us for more information: 3 Tache Street, St. Albert, Phone: 780-459-7007 Email: sacurl@shaw.ca Visit: stalbertcurling.com
dtt8n.com
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Professional
Services Advice from the specialists
NOT ALL BUSINESSES in the core are as visible as the restaurants and retail shops that line Perron and St. Thomas Streets, but the various professional services that operate downtown still form a vital part of the community. Downtown St. Albert has been home to lawyers, accountants, investors, realtors and insurance agents since the early days of settlement. Back then, if you wanted to open a business in St. Albert, downtown was quite literally the only option. But 26
Downtown
despite all the changes our city has seen, the central core continues to be a home for professionals of all kinds. One thing hasn’t changed: for St. Albert’s lawyers, downtown makes sense because it’s close to the city’s courthouse, a location that certainly won’t hurt a lawyer’s professional image. But not everything is business as usual for St. Albert’s lawyers. With the growing popularity of on-line legal aid, lawyers are dealing not only with Experience Guide
FUN FACT From the early days of St. Albert up until 1962, there was only a single bank in town, located in the current Art Gallery building. The large number of financial services located downtown are a holdover from when all financial transactions had to be done in the core. clients who are more informed of their rights than ever before, but also with many who are misinformed. Increasingly, law firms are having to balance the expectations of their clients and correct for the perils of poorly-managed internet legal forums. When it comes to real estate firms, it might come as a surprise to learn that the realtor’s location actually has little
impact on their business. A case in point, Bermont Realty has been in operation in downtown St. Albert for 55 years. When they started, the area was full of single family homes. Obviously, this isn’t the case anymore, but Bermont has stuck around, and continues to make the downtown region the headquarters of their business. According to Guy Hebert, owner of Bermont, current realty trends are shifting away from the ‘fixer-upper’ home that requires a bit of attention. Home buyers these days are looking for properties that can be moved into immediately and require little to no renovations. That’s good news for realtors like Guy though, as this trend, coupled with St. Albert’s fast rate of expansion, means that business will be booming in the new home market. In fact, the rapidly expanding housing market is set to benefit all of downtown St. Albert’s professionals, bringing in more clients, more investors and more people in need of some professional assistance. z
Open for Lunch and Dinner 7 St. Anne Street, St. Albert Call: (780) 460-8772 Visit: cajunhouse.net #dtt8n Professional Services
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Actual size of logo
101-5 PERRON STREET, ST. ALBERT CALL 780-458-6993 ENNOJACLOTHING.COM
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Downtown
Experience Guide
Perron Street
ARCHIVAL PHOTO CREDIT Provincial Archives of Alberta, PA190
Then & Now AT THE TURN of the century, St. Albert’s main street bursts forth with hotels, general stores, a post office, a bank and a butcher shop. Piron Street, as it was known then, was named after René Alexandre Piron, a canon in France, who donated a large bell to the Mission in 1874. The street’s namesake, however, soon met competition when Fleuri Perron moved from Montréal and opened a brickyard just east of St. Albert in the early 1900s. Perron became a successful businessman, served on the first town council and became the second Mayor of St. Albert in 1908. You can probably guess the rest. Here’s a look at the evolution of Perron Street.
1800s
In 1862, Father Lacombe arranged for a wooden bridge to be built over the Sturgeon River. This was the first permanent bridge west of the Great Lakes.
In 1885, the St. Albert Hotel opened on the south side of the river. It burned down in 1899 but was rebuilt with a larger footprint. A general store was opened on the north side of the river in 1892. Built by Edmond Brosseau, it was later bought by Fleuri Perron.
1900s
In 1906, the Dawson Block was constructed across from the St. Albert Hotel. It was a substantial two-storey commercial building that housed a bakery, bank, post office, millinery shop and drugstore on the ground level and a dance hall upstairs.
1910s
In 1913, the wooden bridge across the Sturgeon was replaced with a steel one. Fleuri Perron’s general store was destroyed by fire about this time but was rebuilt and lasted into the 1960s.
#dtt8n Then & Now
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1960s
In 1967, history was rewritten by Town Council when it decided the street name was originally misspelled. They claimed it was always meant to be named after Fleuri Perron, disregarding the fact that at the time of the original survey in 1885, he had not even arrived in St. Albert and had yet to make his mark.
1970s & 80s
The St. Albert Arena, once home to St. Albert Saint’s Mark Messier, opened in 1971 at the south end of Perron Street.
1990s
Perron Street
1920s
In 1920, the Banque d’Hochelaga relocated across the street to a new building built with bricks from the Royal Hotel. Still standing at 19 Perron Street, it was refashioned as the Rainbow Cafe in the 1940s. The building returned to its financial roots in 1956 when the Bank of Montreal moved in. The Art Gallery of St. Albert now occupies the site.
1930s
In 1939, the land next to the bank was cleared by horses for the Community Hall. Built largely by volunteers, it was to be the largest dance hall west of Winnipeg. It is still in use today.
1950s
The street was paved in 1958. 30
Downtown
The Perron Street Clock Tower was erected in 1995 and used as a research tool to measure variables in masonry. Some of the bricks are from Perron’s brickyard. The garden at the base of the tower was officially named Victor Post Park, after the accomplished local photographer.
2000s
In 2000, the aging Bruin Inn was torn down. The town was divided on whether the historic building should be saved. Now a look-alike commercial centre stands in its place.
Now
Today, a walk down Perron Street brings you back to a simpler time. It is home to many shops and eateries, the Bookstore, the Candy Bouquet and The Art Gallery. The ArtWalk is held here as well as the Snowflake Festival, and it is just around the corner from the St. Albert Farmers’ Market—the largest outdoor farmers’ market in western Canada. z Experience Guide
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