A walk through time and tables

Nearly a dozen attentive residents huddled in a semi-circle and watch as Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp points to the Canada Building on Central Ave.

She reads from a notebook about the structures historic past. One man in the crowd recalls a past blueprint company in the basement he would frequent. Another points to the slate tiles that line the entry way and they swap stories.

This is just one of the many instances of interest that took place during a Downtown Walking Food Tour that snaked through the streets Saturday afternoon. It was the third rendition of the walk that grants residents an opportunity to learn of the central business districts historic past and landmarks and enjoy stops at nine local restaurants.

“I have been wanting to do these tours for years,” Lennox-Zepp, who hosts the tours in partnership with the Historical Museum said while the local sightseers stopped in at a local cafe for a coffee break.

“Part of the tours, for me, is meeting with restaurant proprietors, and learning about their life stories and where they come from…some of the restaurant proprietors have these rich histories and life stories,” she added, recalling restauranteurs who have brought their recipes form Nepal and Cambodia to the city.

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The idea was sparked for the Ward 2 councillor following her participating in a similar walk in Halifax. She figured running such an event in Prince Albert would be a great way to highlight what is downtown, more so with the city focusing efforts on downtown revitalization. She said this was an optimal way to take action over talk on the progress. 

“What does revitalizing downtown mean? It means people wanting to be here and to use what we have in the downtown,” Lennox-Zepp said. She added many downtown business people have relayed back to her some customers return to their outlets after the tours.  

“I think it has added a scene of community. To get to know people who work downtown on a different level.”

Saturday was Deborah Piggott’s second time on the tour. With a deep interest in history, architecture and food, she said there was no reason for her not to come along.

“You don’t really realize how interesting the Central Avenue culinary scene is. It is really very varied and quite interesting,” she said. “Things you think you have to go to Saskatoon or Winnipeg or New York…but you can get some of these things right here.”

Piggott said the tour was “very lovely” to have locally and acted as an excellent way to showcase what the central business district has to offer. The thirty-year resident encouraged others to join in on the event, saying they may “be very surprised about what there is down here.”

The next tour is set for October. Those interested can contact Lennox-Zepp or the Historical Museum.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr