News media invited to meet all partners at 2:30 p.m. today

An innovative downtown clean-up program piloted by four prominent businesses in 2007 is being repeated this summer with five additional partners.

The ‘Beautification Ambassador’ program was initiated by Edmonton Economic Development Corp. (EEDC) last summer in co-operation with the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Fairmont Hotel Macdonald and the Westin Edmonton. The partners equally co-funded a full-time person last year to keep property perimeters clean.

The 2008 program has an expanded ‘clean zone’ with the addition of five new partners: ATB Financial, Citadel Theatre, Edmonton Public Library, Shaw Conference Centre and Telus. All nine partners equally co-fund two full-time street cleaners who began work on May 12. (Although not a cofunding partner, Promotional Wearhouse Inc. of Edmonton has also provided key services.)

“This partnership of like-minded business leaders is making a visible difference to the cleanliness of downtown Edmonton,” says Ron Gilbertson, President and CEO of EEDC. “We hope to show other Edmonton companies that ‘beautification partnerships’ are affordable, impactful and simple to start.”

Both summer cleaners this year are also available to assist anyone needing information about Edmonton’s downtown attractions.

News media are invited to a brief, no-speech photo event with all partners (and this year’s ‘Beautification Ambassadors’) on:

Date: Monday, June 16
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: Main Floor, World Trade Centre (9990 Jasper Ave.)

Here are the partner representatives expected to be in attendance at this 15-minute event: 

• Citadel Theatre – Penny Ritco, Executive Director 
• Edmonton Chamber of Commerce – Martin Salloum, President and CEO 
• Edmonton Economic Development Corp. – Ron Gilbertson, President and CEO 
• Edmonton Public Library – Linda Cook, Director 
• Fairmont Hotel Macdonald – Johanne Johnson, General Manager 
• Promotional Wearhouse Inc. – Larry Janssen, President 
• Shaw Conference Centre – Mike Fitzpatrick, Vice-President and General Manager 
• Westin Edmonton – Grant McCurdy, General Manager

Media Contact:
Cathy Ennis, EEDC Communications Manager
Phone: (780) 917-7894 / E-mail: cennis@edmonton.com