March 21, 2006

Signs of Juno Fever Sweep Downtown Halifax

With just over a week to go until the 2006 JUNO Awards touch down in Halifax, the city is kicking into celebration mode, with signs of an impending party appearing in city storefronts and spilling onto the streets!

Downtown Halifax launched its official countdown recently when 70 banners promoting the 2006 JUNO Awards and its local host committee, Halifax Play Hard, were raised over sidewalks in the downtown core. Businesses are also getting into the swing of things, pulling out all the stops for a welcome unlike anything the Maritimes have ever seen!

With decorating now underway, Halifax Play Hard is commemorating the JUNO Award’s first-ever stop in the Maritimes with Juno in a Box – a bouquet-style promotional kit containing event information and display items that will be distributed to120 businesses today. Many of these kits will be hand-delivered by The Blue Crew - the host committee's cheering squad, which brings to life the crowd of blue people that can be seen rallying in the Halifax Play Hard logo. The idea is to ensure local patrons, and the many visitors expected to make their way to Halifax for the biggest night in Canadian music are immersed in the complete Juno Awards experience!

At Carrefour Atlantic Emporium on the Historic Properties, owner Michel Levasseur is paying homage to the star-studded celebration with a window display that captures the rich cultural diversity of the Maritime music scene, including replicas of traditional Mi'kmaq instruments, miniture Acadian performers, and a showcase of CDs by some of the most notable names in local music. “If people are going to come here, we’ve got to show them how much it means to us,” he said. “We want them to leave with the feeling that here in this region, music is simply a part of life.”

Paul MacKinnon, executive director of the Halifax Downtown Business Commission said he is pleased by the wide range of retailers that have come on board to celebrate the 2006 JUNO Awards' visit to the city: “We want everyone to know that the JUNO Awards are happening in downtown Halifax - we have all caught Juno fever here!"

For Halifax Play Hard committee chair Stuart Jolliffe, seeing that level of enthusiasm reflected along the streets of Halifax exemplifies the city’s long history as a place that knows how to roll out the red carpet: "This is a world class celebration of music and culture; the banners are flying in the streets, shops are decorating their stores and windows, and restaurants are serving up new dishes inspired by their favourite Canadian musicians. The line-up of entertainment and festivities has something for everyone, so we hope everyone will come out and join in.