Bradford West Gwillimbury’s Office of Economic Development, the Bradford Board of Trade (BBT), and BradfordToday teamed up this month to host the BWG Festive Window Decorating contest where businesses were encouraged to transform their store front windows for a chance to win a prize.
Seven local businesses signed up for the challenge – (Peter Dykie’s) Bradford Jewellery, Genesis Gymnastics, HearingLife Bradford, Holland Marsh Pop-Up Christmas Market, Mortgage Partners, Pet Valu, and Vin Bon.
The official judging panel included MP Scot Davidson, Mayor Rob Keffer, Deputy Mayor James Leduc and BradfordToday.ca Community Editor Natasha Philpott. Each entry was judged out of a score from one to five points and based on the following criteria: Uniqueness of Design (creative use of decorations/lighting, etc), Story Line (or Theme), Display and Placement of Decorations, Animated Objects, etc., and Overall Presentation.
No two entries were alike. All had a unique and different concept.
Mary Janssen, employee with the Holland Marsh Pop Up Market painted their window display by hand, capturing the Holland Marsh’s main source of nutrition - vegetables. Different vegetables were brought to life as characters with faces as they enjoyed a ‘snowball fight’. Janssen also made use of the store’s indoor tree which was used as a stencil outline for a painted tree on the outside window.
Pet Valu owner Liz Pegg constructed a replica of the scene “The Island of Misfit Toys” from the popular holiday movie “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. Pegg is also known for creating floats for the Bradford Santa Claus parade every year.
HearingLife Bradford had a couple of students from the Bradford District High School paint a mural on large brown paper which hung across the business’ window. Twins Brook and Mason Jeethan completed the wonderful painting and included a ‘play-on-words’ with the song lyrics ‘Do you hear what I hear?’.
Peter Dykie’s Bradford Jewellery Store purchased decorations and hired ‘A Bradford Christmas’ organizers Emily and Sarah Dahlgren to decorate Dykie’s entire store, complete with a stunning Christmas tree which proudly stands at the front window at the four-corners of downtown Bradford.
Genesis Gymnastics featured an outdoor 3D window display with white painted trees and the silhouette of small houses on the windows, along with giant white snowflakes and Christmas balls hanging from roof of their building. Owner Donna Katz credits local Interior Designer Denise Gasko for the design and construction.
Bradford’s Vin Bon (Wine Store) incorporated wine corks onto a wreath which hangs on their front door, along with colourful red tinsel and white snowflakes around their window frame.
Mortgage Partners displayed a decorated Christmas tree in their front window along with lights.
“It was hard to judge!” notes MP Scot Davidson who was one of the judges. “A lot of people put time and effort into bringing the Christmas spirit into Bradford West Gwillimbury."
But alas, the judges had to select a winner, one that Mayor Keffer said was ‘unanimous’ – the winner of this year’s Festive Window Decorating Contest was Genesis Gymnastics.
“I was so surprised, I had no idea who or how many people were judging, but I do this every year and I do this for the kids,” expresses Katz, who was also a second place winner from a previous years’ window decorating contest.
“They were all really well done,” adds Mayor Rob Keffer. “But this one just really sparkled and had that extra pizazz."
All seven businesses who entered the contest won a free listing with BradfordToday.ca (a $200 value), and Genesis Gymnastics won the main prize pack which included a generous contribution of $500 in digital advertising from BradfordToday as well as a $50 gift certificate donated from BBT member Canadian Tire (Bradford).
Congratulations to all entrants who participated!