MEMBERS HANDBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Director’s Welcome ...... 1

Introduction ...... 2

District Boundary Map...... 4

Member Programs ...... 7

Member Events ...... 11

District Programming ...... 13

Advocacy ...... 17

District Events...... 19

Who to Contact ...... 21

Top left: Ocean Optometry | Middle left: Art Gallery of | Bottom left: Bistro Le Coq | Bottom middle: McInnes Cooper | Bottom right: Murphy’s The Cable Wharf Page 1 Bottom left: The Old Triangle | Bottom middle: Freak Lunchbox | Middle right: Verano Food Purveyors Bottom right: The Prince George Hotel

downtownhalifax.ca EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S WELCOME

Welcome to ! It is an exciting time to be here, where the Maritimes meets the world, and we are so glad you are a part of our family of 1,600 businesses. As a landlord, business owner, or employee in Downtown Halifax, you are automatically a member of your local Business Improvement District (BID), i.e. Downtown Halifax Business Commission. Your membership fee is included as a line item in your municipal commercial taxes, based as a percentage of your assessment.

A BID is a simple but powerful concept, started in Toronto 40 years ago, which has now spread around the world. It is a collective group of businesses, sometimes as small as a single street and sometimes as large as a whole downtown, which is funded by the businesses themselves in order to create the conditions for their own prosperity. In Downtown Halifax, we have many programs and initiatives for our members that we implement through the following four areas: Advocacy, Beautifi cation, Marketing & Paul MacKinnon Communications, and Membership Engagement. Executive Director

Please take some time to look through this Members Handbook. We would be happy to talk to you via phone, email, social media, or in person. Feel free to come see us in our storefront location at 1546 , Suite 104.

downtownhalifax.ca 1 INTRODUCTION

ABOUT DOWNTOWN HALIFAX Downtown Halifax is the heart of Atlantic ’s big city. It represents the true essence of a port city where a distinct history meets a new world. Downtown Halifax is a place where constant change lives hand-in-hand with a strong sense of history. It is a centre of activity from service and retail to industry and shipping, and everything in-between.

Downtown Halifax is not only the heart of the East Coast, but it is also the economic, cultural, and tourism hub of the Maritimes. As an A-list choice for national and international conventions, conferences, and sporting events, attendees and visitors are never disappointed with the variety of events. Home to the Halifax Convention Centre, Scotiabank Centre, Halifax Seaport Market, Canadian Museum of Immigration at , and many more key entities, Downtown Halifax is home to over 180 restaurants and bars and 250 retailers. Downtown Halifax is a go-to destination for tourists visiting Nova Scotia, and the pier attracts over 200,000 cruise ship passengers to our doorstep every year.

Every bustling and booming city comes with a number of business improvements districts (BIDs). A BID is simply a process where a group of businesses, often bound together by little more than a common neighbourhood, agree to self-fund an organization that can speak for

Top left: Urban Outfi tters | Middle left: Stillwell Beer Bar Bottom left: Argyle Fine Art | Bottom middle: The Harbour Hopper | Bottom right: Halifax City Hall Page 3: DHBC offi ce and storefront

2 downtownhalifax.ca them, market their area, beautify, and act in ways more fl exible and quality retailers, support eff orts to make Downtown business focused than their municipal government. a premier destination for events, and increase member satisfaction and participation in marketing programs. Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) is the largest business association on the East Coast. We represent over 1,600 • Beautifi cation – We aim to beautify Downtown businesses – with the largest membership, we can do the most for streetscapes, enhance public perception of cleanliness, our members and we are proud to be your BID. promote greater usability and accessibility of Downtown, improve opportunities for engagement with the Downtown community, and promote greater integration DOWNTOWN HALIFAX BUSINESS COMMISSION among Downtown maintenance stakeholders. (DHBC): WHAT WE DO Downtown Halifax Business Commission is the voice and resource • Advocacy – We aim to encourage positive policy of the businesses located in the central business district of outcomes for Downtown businesses, increase number Halifax, Nova Scotia. As a not-for-profi t organization, we run many of “feet on the street” and economic stability of the programs, events, and marketing initiatives to make Downtown Downtown core, stabilize and/or decrease vacancy rates, Halifax a better place to live, work, and play. and improve attitudes toward Downtown. We give members a voice in critical issues that aff ect the MISSION: At Downtown Halifax Business Commission, it is our Downtown. DHBC advocates to all who will listen and mission to improve business conditions, promote economic has particular interest at the municipal, provincial, and development, support the common business interests, and create a federal levels. positive image for Downtown Halifax.

DHBC provides the membership with a collective voice at the table on all major issues concerning Downtown Halifax, including development, heritage preservation, all levels of government, the media, and other stakeholders.

Our organization focuses on four pillars to better serve Downtown Halifax businesses and organizations:

• Membership Engagement – We aim to make members feel like part of the Downtown family, increase membership knowledge of and participation in DHBC programs and initiatives, and identify and celebrate new Downtown businesses.

• Marketing & Communications – We aim to encourage increased customer visitation and spending, attract

downtownhalifax.ca 3 If your business is located in Downtown DOWNTOWN HALIFAX Halifax, you are automatically a member of DHBC. DHBC represents all organizations, including property owners and tenants, BUSINESS COMMISSION located in the area between the Halifax Waterfront and the waterside of Brunswick BOUNDARY MAP Street, and between the Cogswell Interchange and the south end of Barrington Street.

4 downtownhalifax.ca Please refer to our boundary map to see where you are within the Downtown Halifax district. This handbook lists the resources and support that Downtown Halifax Business Commission provides to help organizations and businesses make the best of being located in Downtown Halifax. If you have questions along the way, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

For information, contact: [email protected] or (902) 423-6658, 1546 Barrington Street, Suite 104, www.downtownhalifax.ca.

downtownhalifax.ca 5 MEET THE DHBC STAFF The DHBC team is a small, but mighty, bunch that works on behalf of the members and Board of Directors. Our staff is dedicated to growing and promoting the Downtown core. To meet the crew, please visit: downtownhalifax.ca/about/our-team.

We encourage you to drop by for a chat at our offi ce, located at 1546 Barrington Street, Suite 104. Paul MacKinnon Kimberly Dossett Ivy Ho Executive Director Director of Operations Director of Communications

BOARD OF DIRECTORS The DHBC Board of Directors is the elected governing body of the organization made up of 16 passionate and highly involved business representatives of the Downtown core. They oversee, manage, and make decisions on the Commission’s programs and initiatives. Each member is involved with one of four Action Teams responsible for Membership Engagement, Marketing & Communications, Beautifi cation, and Advocacy. To fi nd out who is currently sitting on our Board of Directors, please visit downtownhalifax.ca/about/our-team. If you are interested in Allana MacDonald Mills Kuda Ndadzungira Sacha Curran becoming a Board Member, contact us at: Director of Marketing Membership Engagement Navigator Street Outreach [email protected]. Manager Program Coordinator

ACTION TEAMS & COMMITTEES DHBC’s action teams are made up of interested individuals from any business or organization within the Downtown Halifax district. These teams discuss various topics ranging from government policies, event sponsorship, welcoming new businesses, or street improvements that are relevant to Downtown Halifax. DHBC’s four Action Teams are: Membership Engagement Action Team, Marketing & Communications Action Team, Beautifi cation Action Team, and Advocacy Action Team. If you would like to fi nd out who is currently sitting on each DHBC Action Team, please visit downtownhalifax.ca/about/our-team. All members interested in becoming involved with our Action Teams are encouraged to email [email protected].

6 downtownhalifax.ca MEMBER PROGRAMS

As a Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) member, you are entitled to the many member programs run by DHBC and we strive to make it easy for you to access them. These programs include (but are not limited to):

• Member communications • Benefi ts of the DHBC website • The Featured Member program • Social media coverage • Pedestrian counter data • Eligibility for event sponsorship • The use of the Storefront Engagement Space • The Curbside Waste Management program • Graffi ti clean-up program • DHBC Holiday Party/Open House • Welcome package and new-business visits • Main membership survey and key indicators survey • Neighbourhood Captains

Bottom left: Theodore Tugboat | Bottom middle: Tree Lighting in Grand Parade | Bottom right: Maritime Chiropractic & Wellness Middle right: The Loop | Top right: St. Paul’s Anglican Church Page 6 Bottom: DHBC 2015 Annual General Meeting

downtownhalifax.ca 7 DHBC WEBSITE - DOWNTOWNHALIFAX.CA a Featured Member, your business or organization will appear on the Downtownhalifax.ca is the go-to resource for information on all website’s homepage, be shared via social media, and featured on one things Downtown. This includes information on retailers, restaurants, of our screens in the storefront engagement space. entertainment, accommodations, and professional services – just to mention a few. The website provides members with a profi le page to For more information, contact Kuda Ndadzungira, Membership present their business and provide information about their location, Engagement Manager, at [email protected] or hours of operation, contacts, events, and much more. Businesses and (902) 444-1510. organizations can upload a logo and cover photo to their “member profi le” to promote their products to the public, e.g. food, drink, comic books, sales, special services, promotions, or any information they BI-WEEKLY UPDATE & MEMBER want the public to be aware of. COMMUNICATION DHBC communicates with you, our members, on a regular basis The website is integrated with the member database of Downtown through bulletins, notices, invites, bi-weekly updates, and the annual businesses, and makes it easy for tourists and locals, alike, to fi nd out report. If you are not on our mailing list, please sign up what’s going on Downtown and where to fi nd it. The website allows by logging into your member account at downtownhalifax.ca those surfi ng to search by name or subject for anything Downtown to receive updates. related. Visitors can also build a list of their favourite Downtown businesses, events, and information with the Downtown Halifax “X For more information, contact Kuda Ndadzungira, Membership marks the spot” feature. Engagement Manager, at [email protected] or (902) 444-1510. Downtownhalifax.ca is also the defi nitive resource for events happening Downtown. The Downtown Happenings e-newsletter automatically lets our audience know what events are coming up STOREFRONT every single week. As you become more familiar with using the website and work it into your daily routine, this tool will enable your information to reach more of the public.

Sign up for a DHBC member account on the website by visiting downtownhalifax.ca/members and clicking on the “Request a DHBC Member Account” tab or contact Kuda Ndadzungira, Membership Engagement Manager, at [email protected] or (902) 444-1510.

FEATURED MEMBER The DHBC headquarters, located on Barrington Street, is not just an Interested in becoming a Downtown Halifax Featured Member? Fill offi ce. It is a storefront presence where visitors come and learn about out an “Apply to Be Featured” application form on our website and we the urban core; members can meet and interact with staff and one will boast and brag about you online and in person for two weeks. As another; pop-up retail can try out new concepts; and DHBC partners

8 downtownhalifax.ca can share their projects. Take advantage of the space! SOCIAL MEDIA

The DHBC Storefront Engagement Space includes: • Two 47-inch TV screens • Display tables and wall shelving • Mini fridge DHBC has a signifi cant social media presence and we use this to the • Magnetic map wall benefi t of our members. Visit our social media channels for our regular • Double-windowed doors facing Barrington Street posts and be sure to “like” and “follow” us and we will do the same. • Large windows facing south Also, be sure to also tag us in your posts so we can re-Tweet and repost • Outdoor sandwich boards your activities and events to our followers! • Bistro chair and table set • Telephone access • Stereo system Social Media Channel Website/Handle • Magazine, brochure, and rack card displays Facebook facebook.com/DowntownHalifax If you are a DHBC member and would like to use our storefront to Twitter @DowntownHalifax showcase your business, host a networking event, or organize a Instagram @DowntownHalifax special activity, visit downtownhalifax.ca/storefront to fi ll out the LinkedIn Downtown Halifax Business Commission application form and we will get in touch to help you make it happen. YouTube DHBC1

For more information, contact Kuda Ndadzungira, Membership For more information, contact Allana MacDonald Mills, Director of Engagement Manager, at [email protected] or Marketing, at [email protected] or (902) 407-5411. (902) 444-1510.

PROMOTIONS AND CAMPAIGNS NEIGHBOURHOOD CAPTAINS DHBC runs several promotions and campaigns throughout the year Neighbourhood Captains are Downtown Halifax business owners targeted toward key audiences. Recent programs include: Show Your and employees located in diff erent geographical areas of Downtown Downtown Love; Haunt the Downtown; Eventful Year Downtown; Halifax. Their role is to be local ambassadors of their respective student-focused promotions; Halifax Lights Festival; and a winter business area or offi ce building who welcome, celebrate, inform, campaign. As part of these promotions, DHBC develops materials such support, and create networks among the organizations and as: guides, maps, posters, brochures, and prize packages. DHBC also businesses around them. Visit downtownhalifax.ca/members to fi nd coordinates co-op advertising and general branding opportunities for out who your Neighbourhood Captain is. Downtown. As a member, you are able to take part in these initiatives. Be sure to stay connected through the website, downtownhalifax.ca, for updates on promotions and campaigns.

downtownhalifax.ca 9 PARKING INITIATIVES foot traffi c in several Downtown Halifax locations. Data is collected DHBC is focused on easy enhancements from the counters on an ongoing basis, and is made available to to mitigate the perception of parking members and the public. With this information, DHBC can: more problems in Downtown for the benefi t of accurately monitor trends; capture event attendance; and discover members and the public. DHBC tops up relationships between revenue and visitation. parking meters through the HotSpot mobile app to help visitors avoid getting tickets. The counters are located at the following locations: South Barrington DHBC also produced a Park Smart brochure, Street; North Barrington Street; ; George Street; Lower which outlines where to park, the costs, and Water Street South; and Upper Water Street North. other tips for easy parking Downtown. Park Smart can be found on the To see how much foot traffi c is on your street, visit: DHBC website for easy access at eco-public.com/ParcPublic/?id=4468 downtownhalifax.ca/parksmart. For more information, contact Ivy Ho, Director of Communications, at For more information, contact: [email protected] [email protected] or (902) 428-5433. or (902) 423-6658. GRAFFITI CLEAN-UP CURBSIDE WASTE MANAGEMENT If your building has been tagged by graffi ti, contact DHBC to have it The Curbside Waste Management program was designed to off er removed. It’s as simple as that. Please Note: this program is for private, recycling, organic, and solid waste disposal methods for Downtown commercial buildings within the Downtown Halifax boundaries only. Halifax businesses that want to pay for what they generate. As To report graffi ti, contact: (902) 423-6658 or [email protected]. members of DHBC, this program is for you and only takes four simple steps to sign up. MEMBER SURVEY Note: to maintain critical mass of participants, DHBC also provides the Downtown Halifax Business Commission conducts a comprehensive service to non-members at a higher non-member rate. online and phone survey every three years to measure attitudes, perceptions and awareness of Downtown programs and issues. A For more information, including current pricing, visit downtownhalifax. shorter key-indicators survey is conducted every other year. This ca/members or contact Kuda Ndadzungira, Membership Engagement information is used to help us better understand our membership Manager at [email protected] or (902) 444-1510. and to plan our programs. To view the most recent survey, visit downtownhalifax.ca/members.

PEDESTRIAN COUNTERS For more information, contact Ivy Ho, Director of Communications, at We work to get “feet on the street.” In order to measure that success, [email protected] or (902) 428-5433. six electronic pedestrian counters were installed to monitor the

10 downtownhalifax.ca MEMBER EVENTS

DHBC creates many diff erent opportunities for members to be engaged. We provide various networking and interaction opportunities, including retail roundtables and focus groups, an Annual General Meeting, Downtown Awards, Meet & Greets, development and construction sessions, landlord forums, developer forums, and a Holiday Party/Open House. DHBC also actively participates in events such as Open City, City Harvest, Blue Nose Marathon, Nocturne: Art at Night, and other festivals, and is a Founding Partner of the Chronicle Herald Holiday Parade of Lights.

Bottom left: Maps & More: The Travel Store Bottom middle: The Chronicle Herald Holiday Parade of Lights Bottom right: Halifax Mooseheads Shop | Middle right: DHBC marketing event with I Heart Bikes | Top right: Lower Water Street

downtownhalifax.ca 11 RETAIL ROUNDTABLES, FOCUS DOWNTOWN AWARDS GROUPS, AND MEET & GREETS DHBC organizes a roundtable for retail, hotels, bars, restaurants, and attractions in Downtown Halifax to participate in an informal marketing discussion. We encourage owners, managers, staff, and marketing representatives to give us feedback and recommendations on current and upcoming DHBC programs. The retail roundtables focus on break-out group discussions, brainstorming, focus groups, and are great resources for networking and meeting other Downtown businesses.

NEIGHBOURHOOD EVENTS Four times a year, DHBC hosts a neighbourhood event in Downtown Halifax. Recent events include Breakfast on Blowers and free coffee and treats at the corner of Barrington Street and Morris Street. Look for the next event in your neighbourhood!

The Downtown Awards night is when some of Downtown ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Halifax’s most involved businesses are rewarded. It is a chance The Annual General Meeting is a great time to showcase our to celebrate businesses’ hard work, get a trophy, and enjoy good accomplishments, acknowledge our shortcomings, and inform company. Nominations and voting criteria for awards change our members of the progress we have made in the previous year annually. and what we look forward to achieving. Members can expect to hear about DHBC’s financial review; vote on proposed by-law To find out more about the Downtown Awards, other campaigns, amendments; witness and participate in the appointment of and how you can get involved, contact our Allana MacDonald the Board of Directors; network with other DHBC members; and Mills, Director of Marketing, at [email protected] or meet and interact with DHBC’s Board of Directors and staff. (902) 407-5411.

SUMMER AND HOLIDAY PARTY Twice a year, we like to appreciate and thank our members for their involvment with DHBC by throwing a summer party and a holiday party for members.

For more information on the above member events, contact Kuda Ndadzungira, Membership Engagement Manager, at kuda@ downtownhalifax.ca or (902) 444-1510.

12 downtownhalifax.ca DISTRICT PROGRAMMING

We offer members more general programming that applies not only to individual members, but the Downtown district as a whole. From database information to beautification projects, DHBC pays attention to everything that relates to the Downtown and its members.

Bottom left: Segway Nova Scotia | Bottom middle: DHBC storefront during City Harvest | Bottom right: pet portraits with Santa during Halifax Light Holiday Market at Historic Properties Middle right: Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 Top right: The Carleton Music Bar & Grill

downtownhalifax.ca 13 EMAIL NEWSLETTER DOWNTOWN HALIFAX CREW The Downtown Happenings e-newsletter goes out twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. This newsletter automatically pulls events happening that week from our events calendar and sends it out to those on the subscriber list. As a member, you have the opportunity to add your event/special/promotion to our calendar and have it listed in the newsletter. To have access to uploading events on the DHBC website, simply create a DHBC member account by visiting downtownhalifax.ca/members and clicking the “Request a DHBC Member Account” tab or by contacting Kuda Ndadzungira, Membership Engagement Manager, at [email protected] or (902) 444-1510. Contact us if you also need help adding your events to the calendar. We are passionate about keeping Downtown Halifax clean and To sign up for the newsletter, visit downtownhalifax.ca, scroll to beautiful. DHBC partners with HRM on matters of maintenance the bottom of the page, and type in your email address. and ornamentation of the Downtown core. During the tourist season, May to September, DHBC summer students maintain and enhance the Downtown area by removing graffiti and EVENT SPONSORSHIP posters and painting public items such as garbage cans and Downtown Halifax Business Commission off ers a number of lamp posts. The Downtown Halifax Crew also serves as a valuable sponsorships for events that contribute to DHBC’s strategic resource for tourists and visitors looking for directions or goals. We have sponsorship criteria to establish the best way recommendations. to fi nancially support events happening in Downtown Halifax. DHBC’s Marketing Action Team, comprised of DHBC members, For more information on the Downtown Halifax Crew, contact evaluates all sponsorship opportunities against specifi c criteria. To [email protected] or (902) 423-6658. view the application form, visit downtownhalifax.ca/members.

Each project grant application will be measured against criteria SEASONAL DECORATIONS AND SIGNAGE including: event details, such as feasibility; event suitability, DHBC partners with Halifax Regional Municipality to provide measured by public perception and participation; and event hanging flower baskets on George Street and Barrington Street effectiveness, measured by impact and target audience reach. during the warmer months. During the winter season, DHBC is responsible for installing and maintaining the holiday wreaths For more information on event sponsorship, contact throughout Downtown Halifax. For more information on the Allana MacDonald Mills, Director of Marketing, at allana@ seasonal decorations and signage, contact downtownhalifax.ca or (902) 407-5411. [email protected] or (902) 423-6658.

14 downtownhalifax.ca POSTER KIOSKS 4. Once your banners are produced, our contractors will install them for you. DHBC manages 5. All salvageable banners will be returned to you. four poster kiosks and nine pole collars for To inquire about banner space for your event and community advertising. available locations, contact [email protected] This project provides or (902) 423-6658. an alternative space for posters in an effort to clean up clutter in PICNIC TABLES the Downtown. DHBC is responsible for kiosk maintenance on the 1st and 15th of every month. To the left is a map of where you can find the poster kiosks and pole collars.

For more information on poster kiosks, contact [email protected] or (902) 423-6658.

BANNER PROGRAM DHBC provides banner space on banner poles to promote events DHBC has picnic tables throughout Downtown to add animation and programs that take place in Downtown Halifax. The Halifax and seating options. Recently, DHBC added three wheelchair- Jazz Festival, World Hockey Championships, Royal Nova Scotia accessible tables. International Tattoo, Neptune Theatre, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Children’s Wish Foundation, Tall Ships, and Metro United Way Picnic tables are located in Cornwallis Park, Granville Mall, Sands have all used the banner program to raise awareness about their at Salter (next to Bishop’s Landing), Grafton Park, Purdy’s Wharf, events and programs. George and Hollis Street, and the corner of Duke and Hollis Street. HOW IT WORKS: To borrow the picnic tables for an event taking place in 1. Call us at (902) 423-6658 to discuss your event. Downtown Halifax or if you have any picnic table related 2. Get your banners designed. For more details on sizing questions, please contact [email protected] or (902) and design guidelines, visit downtownhalifax.ca/banners. 423-6658. 3. Submit your design proof to DHBC for approval.

downtownhalifax.ca 15 GRITTY TO PRETTY BEAUTIFICATION GRANTS DHBC’s Gritty to Pretty beautification grants are for individuals and businesses seeking funding to improve areas of Downtown Halifax. While beneficial to the entire Downtown, it allows citizens to take charge of their district, gets people involved in beautifying their neighbourhoods, and helps DHBC better understand what people want to see improved in Downtown Halifax.

Each project grant application will be measured against criteria compiled by the DHBC Beautification Action Team, including: project effectiveness, measured by priority and impact; project engagement, measured by public interaction and neighbour participation; project feasibility; investment effectiveness, measured by value and longevity

The Gritty to Pretty application form can be found at downtownhalifax.ca/members. In addition to the form, interested individuals or businesses will also require written support from neighbouring properties and the developers or property owners, a design plan, and a photo of the proposed project site in their application in order to be considered.

To view more examples of past successful Gritty to Pretty projects, go to downtownhalifax.ca/grittytopretty.

For more information or if you have questions, contact [email protected] or (902) 423-6658.

Top: Inspirational Rain Art, Barrington Bouquet| Middle: Starfi sh Properties Mural on Blowers Street | Bottom left: Word on the Street Little Free Library | Bottom Right: #PlayMeHFX painted piano

16 downtownhalifax.ca ADVOCACY

Downtown Halifax Business Commission represents the voices and opinions of over 1,600 individual business members and building owners within the Downtown core. All members have a vested interest in the economic prosperity of the Downtown core and ensuring that these members have a voice in critical issues that affect the Downtown will remain a priority of DHBC. DHBC advocates to all who will listen, and has particular interest at the municipal, provincial, and federal government levels.

Bottom left: Halifax Waterfront | Bottom middle: Sailor Bup’s Barbershop | Bottom right: The Board Room Game Café Middle right: Le French Fix Pâtisserie | Top right: Eastern Front Theatre (photo: Jennifer Harrison)

downtownhalifax.ca 17 Below are a few examples of the advocacy initiatives that DHBC DOWNTOWN WIFI does for its members: Free WiFi available in the city’s urban core is a welcome signal of openness and innovation for Downtown workers, residents, and tourists. It is also increasingly being used by cities to manage NAVIGATOR STREET OUTREACH on-street assets and provide valuable metrics. HRM has been Navigator Street Outreach offers direct support to homeless and committed to implementing such a system in the Downtown street-involved individuals on the streets of Downtown Halifax. core, but its horizon is still not defined. There is now free WiFi th The initiative, which is entering its 11 year, is a partnership in Grand Parade and the Halifax Waterfront with plans to between DHBC and Spring Garden Area Business Association and implement more hotspots in other parts of the Downtown core. also receives funding from HRM. 2015 marked the final months DHBC will continue working with HRM, encouraging them to of funding from the Homeless Partnering Strategy (HPS). The implement it in 2018. Navigator interacts with people face-to-face and assists them to address barriers to employment and housing. HPS funding allowed for the expansion of our Housing Support program. In TRANSIT STRATEGY 2014-2015, Navigator Street Outreach assisted 76 adults (plus 12 An effective intramodal and intermodal transit system is vital for children under 12) to secure or maintain housing. a thriving downtown. In 2013, Metro Transit undertook public participation and announced that they were undertaking a two- Navigator Street Outreach is but one essential component of a year overhaul of their system. DHBC will participate as an active comprehensive strategy to end homelessness in our community. stakeholder in the system review, through consultation with other cities and the transit advocates, It’s More Than Buses. In For more information, contact Sacha Curran, Navigator Street March 2016, the Moving Forward Together Plan, a Outreach Coordinator, at [email protected] or five-year service plan, was presented to HRM Council. (902) 209-6517.

DOWNTOWN PARKING MAIN STREET TAX PLAN The axiom that “every successful downtown has a parking The current municipal tax system inadvertently penalizes our problem” is very true. Whether it is a perception that there is city’s downtown and main streets. Working with the other no parking or the annoyance of paying for it, this will be an business improvement districts (BIDs), DHBC will establish a ongoing challenge for Downtown Halifax. DHBC is focused on framework for a new commercial tax plan, which will reduce the following: work with HRM to more nimbly implement their the unfair levels of taxation to the city’s traditional main streets, Downtown parking strategy; focus on the ability to pay multiple and act as a disincentive for continued commercial sprawl to ways for on-street parking; increase awareness of the availability business parks. This endeavor aligns DHBC with the work being of existing parking through signage and information, and elevate done in many towns across Nova Scotia. awareness of best practice parking solutions that have proven to work effectively in other cities.

For more information on advocacy, contact Ivy Ho, Director of Communications, at [email protected] or (902) 428-5433.

18 downtownhalifax.ca DISTRICT EVENTS

Downtown Halifax Business Commission hosts a number of annual events, as well as regular one-off events for members, to attract business and pedestrian traffi c Downtown. Downtown Halifax is made up of numerous unique and successful businesses that promote the district and attract the public.

Bottom left: Clean Sweep | Bottom middle: The Old Town Clock from Grand Parade | Bottom right: Historic Properties Middle right: Mingle on Argyle | Top right: Art Zone

downtownhalifax.ca 19 ONLINE CALENDAR CLEAN SWEEP Visit the online calendar on the DHBC website to fi nd out what Every year, DHBC fi lls Downtown Halifax with over 100 volunteers events are happening Downtown. The website is a great resource from corporate offi ces to sweep the streets for the Annual Clean to showcase member specials, promotions and events through the Sweep. The event also serves as an offi cial kick-off for DHBC’s events calendar. You and other website visitors can also custom- Enviro Team, a group of students that provide tourist information sort by day or event type. And if you tag your business to your and keep Downtown Halifax clean throughout the spring and event, it automatically appears on your Member Profi le. Here are summer. Clean Sweep teams meet in Grand Parade before a few examples of what you might add: percentage off , Burger dispersing to clean up their designated areas of Downtown Halifax Week, tax-free all day, free consultation, free tablet when you for one hour. It is a great opportunity for our members to get open an account. What you post to our online calendar will also outside and engage with one another while working towards a be shared via the DHBC Newsletter that goes out on Mondays and common goal – keeping Downtown Halifax clean and litter-free! Thursdays.

Need help adding your events to the calendar on our website? HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING Visit the Member Centre on downtownhalifax.ca/members DHBC produced the first Halifax Lights Holiday Market at Historic for “how to” steps. You can also contact Kuda Ndadzungira, Properties Privateer’s Wharf for the 2015 holiday season. We Membership Engagement Manager, at transformed the space into a winter wonderland and invited you, [email protected] or (902) 444-1510. our members, to be part of the festivities and sell or sample your products!

TUNES AT NOON In 2017, DHBC introduced a month-long holiday festival to feature a large-scale, interactive light display and show as well as family programming throughout Downtown Halifax. The new program is called The Halifax Lights Festival.

For more information, visit downtownhalifax.ca/events, or contact [email protected] or (902) 423-6658.

THE CARMICHAEL LECTURE The Carmichael Lecture was created to honour Downtown Halifax Tunes at Noon is a free summer music series in Grand Parade Business Commission’s former Executive Director, Kate Carmichael, brought to you by DHBC in collaboration with partners such as and her passion for urban revitalization. Invited lecturers speak on Music Nova Scotia and DaVinci College. Tunes at Noon takes place topics designed to inform and educate on key issues that create a over several lunch hours in July and August, from 12 noon to 1:00 thriving downtown. pm. What’s more enjoyable than free music and warm weather on your lunch break? For more information, visit downtownhalifax.ca/ For more information, contact [email protected] or (902) events, or contact [email protected] or (902) 423-6658. 423-6658.

20 downtownhalifax.ca WHO TO CONTACT

For any issues regarding Municipal services For any issues regarding Downtown Halifax and information such as those listed below, Business Commission programs, contact contact the Halifax Regional Municipality DHBC at: [email protected] or (HRM) at 311 or visit: www.halifax.ca/311 (902) 423-6658.

Examples of municipal services: DHBC program examples: • Halifax Transit • Pole banners • Street and sidewalk maintenance, • Picnic tables e.g. snow removal • Posters and poster kiosks • Construction information • Graffi ti clean-up • Garbage collection schedules • Pedestrian counters and services • Curbside waste management • Parking complaints, inquiries, and • Clean Sweep ticket payments • Downtown Halifax events • Traffi c and street lighting • Property tax information • Civic event information • By-law complaints

Bottom left: Halifax Lights Holiday Market at Historic Properties Bottom middle: harpist at Rousseau Chocolatier Bottom right: Twisted Willow | Middle right: Le French Fix Top right: Purdy’s Wharf

downtownhalifax.ca 21 DOWNTOWN HALIFAX BUSINESS COMMISSION 1546 Barrington Street, Suite 104 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3J 3X7 Tel: (902) 423-6658 | Fax: (902) 429-0865 Email: [email protected]

DOWNTOWNHALIFAX.CA

22 downtownhalifax.ca