Peterborough DBIA Holiday Shopping Passport Initiative Shows Thousands of Dollars Spent Locally

The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) has announced the prize winners of its 2025/2026 Holiday Shopping Passport draw and the Holiday Window Contest, celebrating a season of community connection, local spending and support for downtown Peterborough businesses.

Grand prize winner Katy Shufelt. photo courtesy of the peterborough dbia.

The Holiday Shopping Passport program encourages residents to keep their holiday spending local. Shoppers earn a stamp for every $10 spent at participating businesses and can enter completed passports for a chance to win one of three $500 early bird prizes or the $1,500 grand prize in Boro Gift Cards; “downtown dollars” accepted at over 100 locations throughout downtown Peterborough. 

Katy Shufelt has been named the grand prize winner of the Holiday Shopping Passport draw. Three early bird winners were also drawn throughout the season: Wayne Jackson, Gail Edlinger and Kim McWilliams.

The grand prize draw took place on Wednesday at GRVTY Studio in East City, where Shufelt’s completed passport was selected. She has won a $1,500 downtown shopping spree in Boro Gift Cards.

“I absolutely love shopping downtown, there are so many great stores,” she said. “My kids laugh at me because every year I say I’m going to win, and after 20 years, I finally did.”

In the spirit of giving back, Shufelt has chosen to donate a portion of her prize to Wild Rock’s ComPassion Project, a community-driven initiative that supports local organizations working at the intersection of outdoor recreation, social justice and equity in Peterborough.

“The program continues to foster community spirit, increase foot traffic and local spending and strengthen relationships between local businesses and their customers during the busy holiday season,” said the Peterborough DBIA in a press release. “With participation from over 200 downtown businesses, the Holiday Shopping Passport program continues to be one of the DBIA’s most widely supported seasonal initiatives.”

Beyond shopping, the DBIA’s Holiday Window Contest transformed downtown into a festive, walkable winter experience. This year’s theme “Snowglobe Come to Life” inspired businesses to showcase their creativity through elaborate window displays.

First place winner Lavender Moon with their Holiday Window display. All photos courtesy of the Peterborough DBIA.

First place winner Kingan Home Hardware with their Holiday Window display. All photos courtesy of the Peterborough DBIA.

Second place winner Brants Basics with their Holiday Window display. All photos courtesy of the Peterborough DBIA.

The contest was judged by members of Peterborough’s arts community, including a representative from the Art Gallery of Peterborough: Briar Sutherland, Josh Morley (Miskopwagan Asin) and Ashley Hall.

The 2025/2026 Holiday Window Contest Winners included a tie for first between Lavender Moon and Kingan Home Hardware, and second place going to Brants Basics.

Winners received Boro Gift Cards, continuing the cycle of local support.

“We know people are being more intentional about where and how they spend, especially during the holidays,” said Nour Mazloum, Executive Director of the Peterborough DBIA. “Choosing to shop local is a meaningful decision, and the Holiday Shopping Passport makes it even easier. Every local purchase has a ripple effect by supporting jobs, small business owners, and a downtown that continues to serve as a gathering place for our City.”

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Peterborough Downtown Holiday Shopping Passport Season Begins

You can now downtown with your seasonal Holiday Shopping Passport for your chance to win up to $3,000 Downtown Dollars. 

Starting Monday, November 9th, shop at nearly 150 downtown businesses with your Holiday Shopping Passport and get a stamp for every $10 you spend. When your passport is filled (20 stamps), complete the form and drop it off at a ballot box at one of the participating businesses. Each completed passport is a ballot for a draw to win downtown dollars.

“The Holiday Shopping Passports are always a favourite for our downtown shoppers,” says Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the Downtown Business Improvement Area. “It has been a difficult year for many people and many of our downtown businesses. The passports are a great way to reward people for shopping local this holiday season.”

Whitney Inacio, Mike Hall and Lindsay Barr show off the Downtown Dollars being given away to the winners of the Holiday Shopping Passport draws. (Photo courtesy DBIA)

Holiday Shopping Passport draws will be:

• December 2 — $500

• December 9 — $500

• December 16 — $500

• January 13 — $1,500

The DBIA and participating businesses are working to minimize physical contact with Holiday Shopping Passports. When getting your passport stamped, place it open on the counter of the business so that it can be stamped without being picked up by the business owner or employee.

Last year’s program saw shoppers stamp more than $2.3 million worth of local purchases on their Holiday Shopping Passports. 

In addition, a reminder that parking is free for two hours in downtown Peterborough from Black Friday (November 27th) through to the end of December, courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

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Holiday Shopping Passports Are Now Available For Downtown Shopping

Make sure to shop downtown with your Holiday Shopping Passport over the holiday season for your chance to win up to $3,000 in downtown money.

There are more than 140 places to collect stamps this holiday season in downtown. The passports feature three early bird prizes of $500 in downtown money to be drawn December 5th, 12th and 19th with the grand prize of $1,500 in downtown money to be drawn January 9th.

The Holiday Shopping Passports program rewards people for supporting local businesses by shopping, dining and enjoying downtown. Last year’s program saw shoppers stamp a whopping $1.9 million worth of Holiday Shopping Passports.

Left to right: Joel Wiebe, Terry Guiel, Theresa Foley, Jonathan Moreno, James Wallwork and Lena Wallwork

HOW THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING PASSPORT PROGRAM WORKS

-> Every time you spend $10 at a participating business, a box on your passport will be stamped.

-> When your passport is filled (20 stamps), complete the form and drop it off at a ballot box at one of the participating businesses.

-> Each completed passport is a ballot for a draw to win downtown money. There are more than 100 participating businesses downtown.

-> Bring your Holiday Shopping Passport downtown on November 23rd for Black Friday as more than 100 downtown businesses put on some of the biggest sales of the year.

FREE PARKING DOWNTOWN

Also, the DBIA’s annual promotion of two hours free street parking starts on Black Friday and runs until the end of December thanks to the City of Peterborough Parking Division.

Check out downtownptbo.ca for the full list of participating passport locations.

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