Port Moody’s St. Johns Street was jammed on Sunday — not by cars but with people.
More than 20,000 people filled the busy thoroughfare from Douglas to Moody streets to enjoy the city’s first car-free day.
Port Moody Mayor Mike Clay called the event “an unbelievable success.”
Visitors were able to enjoy displays from more than 100 local businesses and organizations, family activities like street hockey, entertainment from local musicians, a beer garden featuring libations from Brewers Row, with nary a speeding car, traffic signal or blaring horn to worry about.
Clay said it was “very humbling the residents responded in the most positive way.”
Besides getting people out of their cars for an afternoon, one of the event’s goals was exposing residents and visitors to businesses along St. Johns Street they might otherwise drive right by, said Celia Chiang, the president of Shop Local Port Moody.
That was exactly the experience of at least one resident. Allison Graham said on the event’s Facebook page, “we enjoyed sampling all the options and it was nice to pop into the shops that we don’t ever stop in.”
Clay said the event’s success, and the tireless efforts of volunteers and city staff who helped make it happen, are proof Port Moody hasn’t lost its “small town character” despite despite the growing pressure of urban life.
“People make the community, and our people are the greatest anywhere,” Clay said.
