Dance the Boro

The City of Peterborough is pleased to announce that Dance the Boro was selected for the My Main Street Community Activator stream and has received support to host free community dance classes and provide additional park enhancement at Quaker Foods City Square.

The City hosted eight Dance the Boro events this fall which engaged the community and brought locals and visitors to the Downtown. The project also included the installation of additional park amenities which will add vibrancy to this beautiful public park which is located in the heart of the downtown. The park enhancements include a portable stage, benches, planters, removeable bollards, bike racks and outdoor speakers which will help animate the urban square in 2024 and beyond. Dance the Boro saw community member who live, work and play in the downtown participating in various dance classes including line dance, Zumba, Bollywood and Salsa. This project would not have been possible without the support of the My Main Street Grant. This grant made this year’s event possible while also contributing to park enhancements that will support future events at Quaker Foods City Square. Community events in the heart of our downtown are a great way to engage with local residents and encourage those who live and work in the City to explore all our downtown has to offer, contributing to both the social and economic prosperity of the City.

Event Details

Friday, September 27 - Line Dancing
Saturday, September 28 - Line Dancing
Friday, October 4 - Zumba
Saturday, October 5 - Zumba
Friday, October 11 - Zumba
Saturday, October 12 - Bollywood
Friday, October 18 - Zumba
Saturday, October 19 - Salsa

Park Enhancements

It is anticipated that the additional park enhancements will be installed in late fall. The park enhancements will help animate the space and support future community events.

The park enhancements include the following:

• installation of four picnic tables including two accessible tables to provide additional seating opportunities
• safety enhancements including removeable safety bollards
• supporting active transportation users by incorporating bike racks
• beautify the space through large planters
• an outdoor sounds system which will support future events including winter skating
• new portable stage

Supported By

This project is supported by the My Main Street program, the Canadian Urban Institute, and the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

My Main Street is funded by a Government of Canada investment through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to foster the stabilization and revitalization of main streets across southern Ontario. The My Main Street Community Activator will provide support across southern Ontario for local community placemaking projects, including festivals and events, community enhancements, and streetscape improvements designed to draw visitors and increase local vibrancy.

Placemaking is an approach that asks people to collectively reimagine and reshape public space to maximize its shared value. Placemaking can take the form of events that draw people into a community, murals that brighten neglected streetscapes and celebrate local artists, seating and temporary patios that allow people to gather safely outdoors, new uses for neglected or empty spaces, and more.