ST. LAURENT
“Our success is based on tapping into Ottawa’s talented creative community, including bloggers, social media, fashion, art, and design.” — BERNICE RACHKOWSKI
shopping experience: “There is always something going on at St. Laurent Centre! We are known for our one-ofa-kind special events, VIP customer experiences (like the Gatsby Lounge we created in May), unique fashion events (our Style Squad is well-known in the city) and engaging our customers in a unique digital experience. Our success is based on tapping into Ottawa’s talented creative community, including
In 1979, a relatively small shopping centre that included a Dominion store opened in Ottawa’s east end. It has since expanded twice to become the Place d’Orleans of today. The community was relatively undeveloped at the time of opening and there was no need for a largescale mall, but as the area grew, so did its shopping needs. The centre, which sits in the heart of the growing Orleans community, prides itself on servicing the entire family and makes a conscious effort to serve the neighbourhood in a variety of ways. Marketing manager Caroline Joanisse states that the mall is committed to east-end charities, which often extend to the community at large. “We help over 300 local organizations per year with a number of initiatives. The most current being a Movember Awareness program which will run during the entire month of
November with a mall-wide campaign that engages shoppers to offer them the chance to support the cause while shopping in the mall,” says the mother of two teenage sons, who believes in the importance of creating awareness for testicular cancer. Given that the surrounding area is a relatively affluent market, the selection of retailers includes The Bay Home Store, Aéropostale and Tommy Hilfiger Outlet, catering to meet the needs of young families with style. And now with the addition of Target the mall is well-positioned for success: “The first two weeks created a dramatic impact for the centre which we hope will continue to gain momentum,” states Caroline. The mall takes the familyfriendly experience to a greater level, with a playcare for children to escape from shopping parents, as well as a nursing room. The overall environment is inviting, with wide sunlit aisles,
a skylight and the mall’s trademark fountain to add a touch of elegance.
PLACE D’ORLEANS
In 1967, James Button, president of Simpsons-Sears Canada posed with a local beauty queen to launch the construction of Ottawa’s largest suburban mall. Promising convenience with free parking and easy access, St. Laurent Centre has progressed along a steady path and has grown into an 866,938 sq. ft. shopping centre. Marketing director Bernice Rachkowski describes St. Laurent as a
bloggers, social media, fashion, art, and design.” The Centre Court area has hosted grand events including Cirque de Soleil, Canadian Idol auditions and JUNO Fan Fare, and shoppers can expect an interactive Santa set during the holiday season. But retail still plays a leading role in the mall, with fashion being a focus. Ottawa’s Erica Wark has partnered with the mall to enhance its stylish image, showcasing accessible fashion like Joe Fresh and BCBG in a wildly successful advertising campaign. Progress continues with the mall, which is still reaping the success of a 1996 renovation and more recent additions, including all-access Wi-Fi and store openings such as Justice, Bench and American Eagle.
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