Vintage cars and trucks lined Sparks Street during its first ever classic cars cruise night.
About 40 old-fashioned automobiles pulled into parking spots along Sparks Street earlier this month as the downtown retail district hosted a Classic Cars Cruise Night fundraiser for charity that was also aimed at attracting weekend shoppers.
The event was part of a strategy to organize events on the mall that support good causes while livening up the street, says Sparks Street Mall event co-ordinator Christina Clark. This event in particular raised money for Prostate cancer awareness.
Rows of colourful, immaculately restored vehicles, lined up between Elgin and Lyon streets, stood out on the grey, dreary day. Among them were an antique 1953 Nepean Township Police Cruiser and a bright blue 1960’s Mustang.
The People’s Choice Winner of the night was an antique 1939 Ford Sedan, its motor on display for passers-by to see. Prostate Cancer volunteers were on hand to park cars and help with activities, in exchange for a donation to the foundation.
“The PCCN Ottawa is grateful to receive money,” says Wilfrid Gilchrist, chairman of the Prostate Network’s Ottawa branch.
The organization is volunteer-based, and primarily offers support for men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The Sparks Street fundraiser “helps us with our program quite a bit,” says Gilchrist.
Although the car show was the first of its kind, this is far from being the mall’s first attempt at combining outdoor events with philanthropy.
The main focus, according to Clark, is to liven up the street and make Ottawa residents want to spend time in the downtown core, while promoting causes.
“Sparks Street is really involved in the community, and we try to help as many of the charities as possible,” says Clark.
“It’s really important,” she adds. “We like the fact that our festivals tie in well with different charities, so we like to join forces with many charities to raise funds.”
Between noon on Sept. 13 and noon on Sept. 14, for example, for every “Like” on the Sparks Street Facebook page, one dollar was donated to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.
Popular Sparks Street events, such as the annual summer Busker Festival, also combine animating activities with fundraising. Money raised during the Busker Festival goes towards supporting arts in Ottawa schools, Clark says.
That festival, held in August, also drew large crowds, according to Janelle Lee, an employee with Sparks Street jewelry store True Bijoux.
“It’s a great event for locals and tourists to attend,” says Lee. “I think that it did bring more life to Sparks Street. The show that I saw was very interactive and loud and fun. People were laughing along and kids were taking part in the show.”
While the Busker Festival and the Chicken and Rib Cook Off (held in late June) are popular events with tourists, the historical street has also struggled at times to attract shoppers on weekends and in evenings after downtown office workers head home.
The mall association has first-time initiatives in store for the future, says Clark.
These include a Window Winter Wonderland that will see stores decorate their windows for the holiday season.
A New Year’s Eve block party is also planned and aims to replicate the atmosphere in New York City’s Times Square.
“I’m hoping that these become annual events,” says Clark, referring to the planned holiday events and this month’s car show. “I’m hoping that we get the same guys here year after year, and the same cars here year after year.”
Ottawa resident Paige Runolfson, who attended the car show and is a regular at Sparks Street events, says he believes the street is the place to be.
“I understand that they’re trying to improve Sparks Street but really, in my heart, there’s nothing to improve because it’s amazing the way it is,” says Runolfson. “I love it. Rain, snow, sleet, or hail, I love coming down here.”