As Montrealers prepare to welcome the Formula One teams and start the Canadian Grand Prix celebrations that will include the Bridgestone-sponsored Open House Day on June 22, the windows of downtown stores are already in F1 mode with the Bridgestone Decor Program.


It's the sixth consecutive year Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc. (BFCA) has staged the program.


BFCA provides stores, free of charge, racing items such as flags, pennants, shirts and caps, mounted images of the 2006 F1 teams and tires to decorate their windows.

"We are well aware that people in Montreal are tremendous motor-racing fans, and the city literally vibrates with excitement and enthusiasm as it plays host to the Canadian Grand Prix every year," said Michael Sigillito, Director, consumer tire marketing BFCA. "The idea behind the Bridgestone décor program is to provide stores with an opportunity to be involved in the festivities and feel a part of this major event in the city."

A fashion-industry personality, designer Kevin Allwood of Nevik, will be judging the displays of participating stores. The store with the most attractive window display will win a pair of three-day tickets in the F1 Restaurant's Elite loge for the 2006 Canadian Grand Prix. More than 25 stores, mainly on Saint Catherine Street between Crescent and University, are among this year's Bridgestone Décor Program participants.

"I'm sure it's going to be extremely hard to determine which store has the best décor, because all of them put a considerable amount of effort into the project," said Allwood. "I'm looking forward to seeing the creativity of these stores on display. It should attract a lot of attention from passers-by, and get people caught up in the euphoria of Canadian Grand Prix week in Montreal."

The 2006 Bridgestone Decor Program winner will be announced on Monday, June 19. The windows of the participating stores will be decorated with the 2006 Bridgestone Decor Program colours from June 12-25.

Follow up:

Other Bridgestone activities at the Canadian Grand Prix Open House Day


The Bridgestone brand is the official sponsor of Open House Day at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on Thursday, June 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Bridgestone display truck will be the first attraction racing fans see when they arrive at the site. A replica of Michael Schumacher's 2003 Ferrari will be on display. Employees from the Bridgestone Firestone factory in Joliette will be on hand in two Bridgestone tents next to the Bridgestone display truck to explain and demonstrate how a tire is made.


Bridgestone is the official tire of the Canadian Grand Prix, which is
being run this year on June 23-25 on Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.


Source: CNW Group