BEYonD THE TIppING poInt 2006 ANNUAL REPORT 2006 ASSOCIatIon StaFF (Left to Right) Kathleen Ong, Communications Coordinator Adrienne Stewart, Marketing and Communications Manager Jim Taylor, Executive Director Christine Watson, Information Coordinator Mary Davies, Office Manager MISSIon Statement – OnlY Downtown ASSOCIatIon LEGal ProFIle Through its leadership in marketing and advocacy, the The Downtown Business Association of Edmonton Downtown Business Association will continually work Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ) was established by towards making Downtown Edmonton the preferred a City of Edmonton bylaw on November 26, 1985. place to live, work, shop, play and learn. The Association represents and services those assessed Goals for business tax located within the geographical boundaries of 111 Street to 95 Street and 105 Avenue As a non-profit organization funded by its members, the to 97 Avenue. The City’s official Downtown BRZ is Bylaw goals of the Downtown Business Association are to: #7968 (as amended). • Promote downtown Edmonton’s image and identity The members of the Board of Directors are appointed through events, promotions and marketing; by City Council. Board members represent large and • Encourage planning and environmental standards small businesses within the BRZ. The two City Councilors for new developments and promote beautification, who represent downtown are ex-officio members of safety, and mobility; the Board. • Provide leadership and communicate matters of The Board of Directors oversee all Association affairs, concern to members, government officials and the including the preparation of the annual budget. Upon public. budget approval by the members and City Council, a uniform rate is established for the levy to all businesses within the BRZ. Subject to minimum and maximum charge, the levy appears on the tax notice. Every Edmonton downtown business and citizen is encouraged to participate in this opportunity to promote downtown and further improve the quality of life for Edmontonians. table OF ContentS 1 Message from the Chair 5 Operations Committee 2 Message from the Executive Director 6–7 Marketing Committee 3 Executive Committee / Finance Committee 8–16 Financials 4 Business Recruitment Committee MESSAGE From THE CHAIR ON beHalF of the Board of Directors, the four financial position. We thank Sheldon Jacobs standing committees along with their chairs, and Mary Davies for their efforts. We also and all of the staff, I am pleased to present the recognize Jim MacDonald for his 12 years 21st Annual Report for the Downtown Business of service to the DBA. Association. • The second Downtown Security Summit was 2006 was another banner year for the held on April 4th, 2006 at City Hall. The Summit City of Edmonton and the Downtown was well attended by downtown business The energy and Business Association. owners and resulted in many resolutions excitement in the city which were discussed and put into action. The energy and excitement in the city is at an is at an all time high This initiative is championed by our as the downtown all time high as the downtown area continues Operations Committee. area continues to to experience growth in construction, business experience growth levels and cultural activities. The Association was • The downtown core welcomed the Pacific in construction, every bit prepared and enjoyed a successful 2006 Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) Annual business levels and led by new Board Members and the dedication of Summit which was attended by more than cultural activities. our volunteers. 400 key business and legislative leaders. The major focus of this high power Summit was The year started off with the excitement of economic and sustainable development, the Edmonton Oilers and their success in the healthcare, agriculture, border issues, high 2005/2006 Stanley Cup play-offs. The grit and tech, homeland security, water policy and determination displayed by the team was a workforce development. shining example of what makes the City of Edmonton and its downtown a great place to • The Association played a supporting role live, work, shop and play. in the 2006 Edmonton International Film Festival celebrating its 20th anniversary of It is my honour and privilege to provide an bringing international cinema to Edmonton overview of the many achievements and ongoing audiences. A record 430 films were submitted, progress in the efforts of our Association for the representing a 95% increase over last year. past year. The Downtown Business Association appreciates • Active participation in the Bus Rapid Transit your continued support and confidence as we Study affecting the downtown core. Among enter another exciting year. We welcome your many suggestions, the DBA communicated suggestions and feedback. the need for the plan to include viable and affordable transportation options to move Sincerely, people in and around the downtown core and its linkages to the LRT, member businesses and learning centers. • A tribute to our outgoing Board Member, Sheldon Jacobs, for his outstanding Richard Wong contribution to the Association. Serving Downtown Business Association Chair on the Executive Board of Directors and responsible for the Association’s finances, Mr. Jacobs steered the Association into a solid 1 THE Cake’S BakeD; Now Let’S WorrY About THE ICING WE’VE been talkING about revitalizing our Downtown, we now have the luxury of Downtown for over a decade now. The Capital concentrating on planning and design that City Downtown Plan was passed by City Council considers the uniqueness of Edmonton and in April of 1997 and is presently undergoing will make our Downtown different from all those a complete update. The positive changes we other Downtowns in major cities. The residential witnessed over this last decade have been highrises continue to be announced, older nothing short of dramatic as far as numbers office towers are, suddenly, being retrofitted as and statistics are concerned when we look at commercial buildings rather than residential It’s now time to residential and student populations and office projects and we know we’re on the verge of shape and manage tenancy. And, visually, the hundreds of millions seeing the first new, highrise office tower built what will be a continuing process of dollars of construction underway involving in the Downtown in about twenty years. the University of Alberta, MacEwan College, the of growth and The cake’s baked; what we’re experiencing changing dynamics YMCA and the Art Gallery of Alberta, combined now is all icing. How about a new arena in the as our revitalized with the explosion of new highrise condos and Downtown as a nucleus for a kick start of about Downtown finds its the street level façade improvement program, own unique place a billion dollars worth of north east edge, mixed are, cumulatively, changing the face of the among the important development? Now that’s the kind of frosting Downtown. In fact, we’ve passed the tipping cities in Canada that’ll have everyone licking their fingers! point; you couldn’t stop it now if you wanted to. So, what’s next? Where do we go from here? I think the answer’s clear; it’s now time to shape and manage what will be a continuing process of growth and changing dynamics as our revitalized Downtown finds its own unique place among the important cities in Canada. Because Jim Taylor we’re no longer faced with the desperation that Executive Director we felt a decade ago when we contemplated 2 THE people THat are SHapING Downtown EXECutIVE CommIttee FInanCE CommIttee The Executive Committee is within the The Finance Committee is established by the management function of the Association. Downtown Business Association’s Executive The Executive Its purpose is to recommend policy, monitor the Committee in January of each year. The Committee is within implementation of the Strategic Plan, review objectives of the Committee are to provide the management Committee Reports, make recommendations input on: function of the to the Board of Directors and provide input on Association. • Finances and financial procedures of overall staff operations. the Association The Finance Committee is Members • Staffing and staff operations established by the Chair, Richard Wong Downtown Business • The Annual Spring Luncheon Sutton Place Hotel Association’s • The Fall Annual General Meeting Executive Committee Vice Chair, John Frederickson and Luncheon in January of Oxford Properties Group each year. Members Treasurer, Brad Perkins KPMG LLP Chair, Brad Perkins KPMG LLP Secretary, Martha Jamieson DDB Canada Richard Wong Sutton Place Hotel Dr. Wayne Shillington NorQuest College John Frederickson Oxford Properties Group Ex-Officio, Ian MacLeod Qualico Developments Martha Jamieson DDB Canada Dr. Wayne Shillington NorQuest College 3 CommItteeS BUSIneSS RECruItment CommIttee Highlights: Originating as an initiative of the Capital City • A Business Owners’ Workshop for the Downtown Plan, the Business Recruitment The Business Recruitment Government district was held at the Inn on Committee’s purpose is to promote and Committee’s purpose is 107th. Participants included restaurant and to promote and encourage business development downtown by: food service business owners from the area as encourage business • Business Recruitment – To attract new well as representative consumers from major development downtown businesses into the downtown with an employers in the Government district. emphasis on storefront retail, restaurant and • Throughout the summer