THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED! On Thursday, April 10th the DOMB voted to use the traditional five blocks for the sidewalk sale! Thanks to everyone who signed and comes to sign in the future without this knowledge. Your interest and passion are very important.

--Michael Simonds

Original text:
On April 9th, 2014, the Downtown Orillia Management Board (DOMB) voted to confine the first sidewalk sale of the year to a single block between Peter and Matchedash St. for reasons unknown to the general public, outside of a statement by DOMB member Pete Bowen to the Packet and Times stating, "The idea was when you do five blocks in the downtown, it’s difficult to fill up the five blocks and make them feel full and exciting."

Anyone who has lived in Orillia for any length of time is familiar with this tradition. It's something you can set your watch to, and it's always a blast. The sidewalk sale provides store owners an opportunity to show their wares beyond the glass doors of their businesses, and creates a temporarily thriving environment in our downtown, which severely needs the business with West Ridge continuing to develop big box stores.

The vote has not yet been finalized. It will be on Wednesday, April 16th, however. In the meantime, it's important for the citizens to have a voice in this matter -- to show the board that the expansive, 5-block version of the sidewalk sale is important to us. This petition is simply a friendly reminder, not an attack, and should not be used as such. It will be presented to the board members by email in hopes of changing their minds prior to the vote.

It's your chance to have a voice. Please sign today.