HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST 30 YEARS JANICE MANDERS Executive Director, 1992-1996

Janice was the organization’s first, full-time, professional leader. Looking back, she credits strong board leadership, in the form of people like Bill Perkins, Maurice Lloyd, Frank Schwartz, David Garrett, Bill Hardman, and others, as being instrumental in getting the organization running and ready for great things ahead.

Under Janice’s leadership, the fledgling DHBC, expanded their boundaries, were instrumental at working to have the Halifax Casino located Downtown, rather than Bayers Lake, and completed the first Downtown Strategic Plan. “It was the first time any organized group had ever come together to share their common visions and identify ways to make the vision for Downtown a reality,” Janice recalls. “It also allowed us to really identify the deficiencies and red tape at City Hall, while developing solutions that the business community could/ would support.”

Another highlight of Janice’s time was the successfully lobbying to have seasonal patios on – it’s hard to believe that before 1995, the city did not permit sidewalk cafés. Janice will, perhaps, be best remembered as steering the direction of Downtown, with the successful G7 Economic Summit. “The fact that we had a plan with wide-spread support made it easier for us to point out specific projects and focus for the provincial and federal money that poured into the city for the G7 Summit. The short-term improvement projects that would have been hard to fund were done, we were able to articulate and then implement a terrific marketing plan through the ‘Love the Way We Live’ campaign and the community – residents and business owners – all benefited tremendously.”

Janice now lives in Poquoson, Virginia; retired from the downtown world but maintaining her entrepreneurial spirit. She is a certified interior decorator with her own interior design business, Powell Home, and is a global skincare consultant with Rodan + Fields.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST 30 YEARS KATE CARMICHAEL Executive Director, 1996-2001

Kate Carmichael, former city councillor, was the obvious successor for Janice Manders because of her skill and drive, and she would soon make the role of Downtown leader all her own. Sadly, Kate’s all-too- short term as executive director of DHBC ended when she passed away in October 2001, from complications of leukemia. Though she was a force to be reckoned with for her entire time, it was in the final year of her life, when she used the extra attention being called to her, to continue to promote the importance of Downtown.

“Our customer base and our membership base were purely Downtown Halifax. So I felt that gave us an opportunity to be bullish on Downtown – without having to apologize to anybody,” said Kate. “I just love this place. I absolutely love Halifax. I really feel that we have to build pride in this city. We may be a well-kept secret, but we’re better and we have all the potential in the world if we develop some pride in ourselves and take some risks.”

Today, Kate Carmichael is remembered as an urban champion in Halifax and beyond. Regional Council named Carmichael Street after her, and The Carmichael Lecture is held annually in her honour. HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST 30 YEARS PAUL MACKINNON Executive Director, 2002-present

“As DHBC celebrates 30 years, it is awfully hard to believe that I have been the Executive Director for half of that time,” says Paul MacKinnon, the current Executive Director. In his previous role, with the Spring Garden Area Business Association, Paul was already very familiar with the organization and had worked with Kate Carmichael, when he was called to fill her shoes.

Starting the role, he inherited some work already underway, such as the Heritage Conservation District, and other planning initiatives, such as the studies, and Argyle Streetscape plan. “The main challenge facing Downtown in 2002 was that the city had seen decades of robust growth and development, but it was all happening outside of the core – at the same time that other cities were discovering densification and urban development. Things had to change, and yet there was little political will to do so. We had to make the case that Downtown needed to be an area of focus – and then we had to drive investment here.”

Where previously DHBC had been a lone voice in championing the Downtown, partnerships with other organizations became critical. Research, advocacy, and these partnerships began to create momentum where Downtown was broadly seen as critical to the region’s health and success. Working with stakeholders and the city’s planning department became a primary role, and eventually resulted in the adoption, in 2009, of HRM by Design and the Barrington Heritage Conservation District. What followed was a new era of development and government investment in the Downtown.

“Downtowns are always evolving. That’s their nature. Fifteen years ago, no one was concerned about construction disrupting their business, because we’d gone decades with no development at all. Now it’s a big concern and we have to figure out better ways to manage it. We need to figure out how to maintain a vibrant street life, when the retail industry is changing so rapidly. We need new solutions to the age-old challenges of parking and panhandling. But at the end of the day, our job has not changed. We are here to support our members, and keep Downtown Halifax a great place to be. It’s the best job in the world.”

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST 30 YEARS

30 YEARS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS In no particular order 1. Hosted G7 Economic Summit in Holiday Market, at Historic Properties, in Downtown Halifax, and promoted “Love 2015 and 2016. the Way We Live” (1995). 15. Co-founder of Our HRM Alliance, in 2. Successfully advocated for HRM to allow 2012, to advocate for improvements to seasonal sidewalk cafés (1995). the Regional Plan, create a greenbelt, and 3. Won awards from the International increase main street investment. Downtown Association for DHBC’s Strategic 16. Produced a TV show, “Downtown Now,” Plan (1994) and marketing campaigns on Eastlink TV that started in 1997. (2011 and 2015). 17. Produced the 12 episodes of the web 4. Co-founded, with Spring Garden Area series “Big Day Downtown” (2012). Business Association, the annual Holiday 18. Operated FRED (Free Rides Everywhere Parade of Lights. The event began in 1996, Downtown), a shuttle bus, from 1997 to 2010. and is still held every year, drawing 100,000 19. Had a representative on the Board of spectators. the International Downtown Association 5. Vice-Chaired the Urban Design Task from 2006 to 2012. Force, which oversaw the creation of a new 20. Have organized 23 consecutive (and Downtown Plan, “HRM by Design,” officially counting) Clean Sweep events (including adopted in 2009. a bonus one, following , 6. Conducted several studies of Barrington in 2003). Street (Lydon Lynch, Garrett Architects, 21. Created The Carmichael Lecture series Ekistics), culminating in it being designated in 2001, to honour the legacy of Kate as Halifax’s first Heritage Conservation Carmichael. Speakers have included Phyllis District (2009). Lambert, David Crombie, and Naheed 7. Produced “Festival ECMA” to coincide Nenshi. and expand the East Coast Music Awards, 22. Began advocating for the when they were held in Halifax in 1997. redevelopment of the Cogswell Interchange 8. Created the award-winning “Toward the in the 1990s. We’re still at it. Year 2000” strategic plan. 23. Created a Sunday market in Grand 9. Moved to a street-front location in 2015 Parade in the days when there was no to be more accessible to members and visitors. Sunday shopping in . 10. With HRM Planning, executed the 24. Helped organize the “Halifax Play Hard” “Mingle on Argyle” pilot project in 2015, festival, to coincide with the Juno Awards, to test the principles of a shared street in Halifax in 2006. and promote a new streetscape plan. 25. Organized the “Dog Days of Summer” The pilot paved the way for a permanent event, in Grand Parade, in 2013 and 2014. new streetscape, which was constructed 26. Brought coloured picnic tables to in 2017. Downtown in 2013. 11. Was a founding member of the 27. Created the Big Day Downtown Awards Strategic Urban Partnership, which brought to recognize businesses in Downtown a renewed focus to Downtown issues by Halifax. HRM and stakeholder groups. 28. DHBC’s Enviro Team has kept 12. With other BIDs, successfully advocated Downtown Halifax clean for the last for the province to make legislative 23 years. changes to improve commercial taxation in 29. Introduced and managed the Gritty to Halifax 2016. Pretty beatification grant program, which 13. Was one of the first 10 city participants has distributed $127,000 in grant money in the 2012 “Value of Canadian since 2015. Downtowns” research undertaken by the 30. Initiated the program and installed, Canadian Urban Institute. with the Mayor’s Office, the poster kiosks 14. Organized and ran the Halifax Lights and pole collars in 2002.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST 30 YEARS DHBC BOARD MEMBERS (PAST AND PRESENT)

Adriana Afford Krista Dempsey Al Graham Argyle Fine Art Halifax Port Authority Pork Pie Hat Patricia Aikens Peter Dickson Trevor Green Judith Anderson City Hall BMO Fireworks Gallery Harvey Doane Paul Greenhalgh Mary Jane Waterfront Development NSCAD University Andrews KPMG Jennie Dobbs Jacqueline Hamilton Jennifer Angel Morris East Restaurant City Hall Waterfront Development Peter Doig William Hardman Mike Ardenne Nova Scotia Power The Hardman Group Ardenne International Inc. Jim Donovan Charles Hardy Patty Baxter Halifax Regional Municipality Hardy Appraisals Metro Guide Publishing Terry Doran Christopher Huck Ralph Beal Halifax Developments Montgomerie, Huck & Co. Limited Rakesh Jain Stuart Blair Rick Emberley Atlantic Shopping Ctrs. Green Haley Jain & Pye Jeff Farwell Matthew Jarsky Dan Bourque Crombie REIT Murphy’s Fowler Bauld & Mitchell The Cable Wharf Architects Winston Bradley Scott Ferguson Alan Jeffers Chris Brown World Trade and Mobil Oil KPMG Convention Centre Sue Kapsalis Damian Byrne Alderman Fitzgerald Blowers Street Paper Split Crow Pub City Council Chase Charles Burchell Fiona Fitzgerald Mike Kennedy The Book Room Celtic Traditions Canadian Bacon Eric Burchill Sarah Flynn Cookhouse Southwest Properties Ltd. Colour Susan Kidney Bill Campbell Renée Fournier Landmark Development Waterfront Development Corporation Brien Fraser Jennie King Colin Campbell Fraser & Hoyt Travel UpCountry Royal Nova Scotia Rita Fraser International Tattoo Ross Cantwell City Hall Colliers International Rob Landry Austin French Starfish Properties Nicholas Carson City Hall Prince George John Lindsay Jr. Wendy Friedman Michel Lindthaler John Colwell Biscuit General Store Colwell Brothers Inc. Perks Restaurant David Garrett Maurice Lloyd Peter Conrod Architect National Bank of UMA Engineering Leila Gashus Robert Logan Liz Crocker The Paper Garden Woozles/P’lovers Trade Centre Limited David Godfrey Alderman William Lydon Perry Gordon Mary Ann Crowley Lydon Lynch City Council Architects Ltd. MPA Student Andy Lynch Anne Muecke Councillor Dawn Sloane Lydon Lynch Griffiths Muecke Bernie Smith Architects Ltd. Richard Murphy John Smith Margaret MacDonald Murphy’s On The Water Stewart McKelvey City Hall Wayne Myers Rob Sobey Sandy MacDonald Sue O’Grady Sobeys Inc Aliant Customer Service Doane Raymond Centre Paul Stackhouse Pino Pagnottella Cambridge Suites Hotel Fred MacGillivray Sterling Properties Trade Centre Limited Gordon Stevens Wendy Paquette The Uncommon Group of Sue MacMillan Aliant Telecom Companies Grant Thornton Jennifer Parker Simone Stewart Joanne Macrae Nova Scotia Power SAS Restaurants The Office of Andy Fillmore, MP William Perkins Richard Stinson Halifax Developments Cambridge Suites Hotel Jan Malone Ambience Mark Peyton Victor Syperek Sailor Bup’s Barbershop Economy Shoe Shop Tim Margolian Commercial Leasing and Marc Pinet Greg Taylor Brokerage Ltd. Freedom 55 Financial Colliers International Councillor Waye Mason Alyson Queen Chris Tzaneteas City Hall The Argyle Bar and Grill Karin McCaskill Geof Ralph Councillor Larry Uteck Stewart McKelvey Partners Global City Hall Scott McCrea Jeff Ransome Councillor Sue Uteck Armour Group Halifax Marriott City Hall Harbourfront Hotel Denise McDonald Virgina Veniot David Reardon Mountain Equipment Gerry Walsh McInnes Cooper & Co-op Gerald Walsh Robertson Scott McGaw Associates Inc. Bernard Riordan Meridia Recruitment Councillor Jennifer Watts Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Dr. Euan McGinty City Hall Suzanne Saul Ocean Optometry Fred Were Attica Furnishings Ltd. Joe McGuinness Waterfront Development Durty Nelly’s and Bradley Savoy Corporation The Stubborn Goat Urban Outfitters Glenn Whitehead George McLellan Frank Schwartz Mountain Equipment City Hall KPMG Consulting Co-op Simpson McLeod Dr. Sachin Seth Gordon Whittaker City Hall Bishop’s Landing Dental Oakport Limited Centre Cathy Merriman Peter Wünsch The Loop Craig Sievert Breakhouse Sieverts Ltd. Sean Mudge Robert Younker The Armour Group Allan Silverman

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST 30 YEARS DHBC STAFF (PAST AND PRESENT)

Sacha Anderson Allison Gillis Anna McCurdy Tracy Bennett Linda Goulard Robyn McIsaac Tommy Boutillier Doris Grant Marilyn Moore Rachel Brighton Deborah Grant Kuda Ndadzungira Lori Cadelli Colleen Henderson Holly Richardson Kate Carmichael Suzanne Hickey Rhonda Rogers Lorna Carrol Ivy Ho Myrna Shaw Tracy Chisholm Michael LeBlanc Brenden Sommerhalder Mary Cooley Heather MacEachern Jim Trites EJ Davis Paul MacKinnon Helen Wright Kimberly Dossett Janice Manders Renee Field

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