Penetanguishene Celebrates Reopening of Main Street After Building Collapse

PENETANGUISHENE, ON -The Town of Penetanguishene is pleased to announce the reopening of the portion of Main Street that was closed following the 78 Main Street building collapse in early September. The section of Main Street between Robert Street West and Water Street is expected to be open to traffic and pedestrians, at 12:00 PM, Saturday November 4, 2023.

“The reopening marks a new beginning for our community, a testament to our resilience and determination to overcome adversity. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the first responders who responded to the emergency and ensured the safety of our residents, and to all the contractors, crews, and workers who worked tirelessly for weeks to clean up the site and structurally repair the building block, said Mayor Doug Rawson. We also want to thank our local businesses and residents for their patience and cooperation during this difficult time."

As part of the effort to support local businesses affected by the closure, the Town of Penetanguishene is encouraging residents to enjoy in the upcoming “Christmas on the Hill” event organized by our incredible downtown businesses taking place on the evening of November 16 from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm.  The event will include specials, discounts, treats and/or gifts from the participating businesses. You can pick up a “passport” at any participating business. Visit each one and get their logo stamped on your card. Once all stamps are all filled, drop off at any participating business. All completed passports will be collected and one lucky winner will be drawn to receive a shopping spree of $800+ of gift certificates donated by the businesses.

“This event is a fantastic opportunity to support our local businesses, many of which have faced challenges in recent months due to the closure of Main Street,” said Mayor Doug Rawson. “We encourage everyone to come out on November 16 to experience the best that Penetanguishene has to offer.”

For more information about the "Christmas on the Hill" event, please visit the Town of Penetanguishene's website.

The safety of our residents and visitors remains the top priority. As a reminder, please pay attention to any signage, barriers and fencing that has been put in place.