“What Makes Amherstburg Great” series launched

A local business owner is trying to promote the town and will be featuring several sites, businesses, non-profit organizations and more in his effort to do that.

“What Makes Amherstburg Great” is a series of 50 weekly write-ups from Richard Peddie, who has already launched the initiative through his River Bookshop website and digital newsletter.

“There’s a lot of pluses here,” he said. “There’s a lot to celebrate. I see constant examples of what makes the town great. I just think there’s so many people that don’t know about it.”

Peddie said he has been coming up with ideas which include highlighting non-profits, heritage building, local events, businesses and more.

“I talk about local,” he said. “It both shines a light and gives people support.”

Supporting businesses, particularly small business, is important he said as 20 per cent of new shops close in the first year and only 50 per cent make it past five years.

“These people are all taking risks,” he said.

Noting the block his businesses are on, Peddie added he and other business owners in that area all took risks. Some risks paid off, others didn’t work out, he noted.

“We had a vehicle just sitting there,” he said of the website. “I can use it to shine a light on Amherstburg.”

Peddie also plans to make it timely, using the “What Makes Amherstburg Great” initiative to feature events when they are happening to give them extra promotion.

When he and wife Colleen started their company Black Dog Entertainment six years ago, they did so with the goal of increasing the economic, social and cultural aspects of the town. He said the project features some social, some cultural and almost all economic aspects.

“I hope by the end of the year, we can look back and say it had a big impact on the town,” said Peddie.

“What Makes Amherstburg Great” series launched

By Ron Giofu