Beautiful business storefronts make people want to spend their money and time downtown, boosting local economies.
Attractive and well-cared for businesses also provide a competitive advantage for communities competing to attract outside entrepreneurs and industries.
With this in mind, Carman and Dufferin Communities in Bloom have highlighted the efforts of three local businesses for their substantial efforts toward downtown beautification.
CIB volunteer Paula Learmond presented certificates of commendation to Robert Bryson with Newman Hand Insurance Ltd., Loan Phan, owner of Rose’s Beauty Salon, and Scott Johnston with the law firm MMJS.
Each of these owners have a business frontage that looks truly lovely and well-cared for.
Bryson has overseen the creation of a substantial pocket park next to Newman Hand, where trees and flowers now grow, hugely improving the appearance of what previously was a barren grassy area.
He told CIB he has other plans for the site, hoping to see more trees planted in the adjacent parking area, and possibly adding some sculptures depicting the history of Carman.
Loan, whose charming Rose’s Beauty Salon is located at 18 1st Ave. SW, moved her family to Carman in 2011 after coming to Canada from Vietnam in 2005.
She told CIB she thinks it’s very important to make the business section appealing to customers and potential other business owners.
Johnston agrees, and has devoted considerable time and effort to ensuring the frontage of the law offices are beautifully landscaped.
Standard photos by Lee Collingridge