Our team welcomes the opportunity to meet with decision-makers downtown and share our wins, concerns and areas of opportunity to work together to move our downtown forward. Last week, our Board Chair, Amelia Laidlaw and members of our BIZ team hosted The Honourable Rechie Valdez, the federal Minister of Small Business, for a tour of our neighbourbood to visit some unique downtown small businesses. Stopping in at Hobbyism, Bison Books and Eldana Store – a key focus of the tour was to meet recipients of the Building Business grant program that was established as part of the Downtown Recovery Strategy to provide post-pandemic support for all types of downtown businesses.

The team also had the opportunity to share updates on key downtown projects, including SCO’s transformation of the former Bay building, the redevelopment of Portage Place and CentrePlan 2050. They discussed the importance of residential development to support a thriving downtown full of people and the minister recognized the positive momentum downtown, stressing the importance of ongoing collaboration between all levels of government.

Summer is here, and with it comes two exciting annual public art projects at the BIZ!

Downtown Murals: Last year, we were thrilled to unveil two stunning full-wall murals – one at Precision Movement & Therapies at 164 Fort Street, and the other adds a splash of colour to 254 Edmonton Street.

We’re on the lookout for our next canvas. If you have an exterior wall that's visible and think public art could enhance your business and our downtown community, we’d love to hear from you! Our Public Realm Team is excited to collaborate and discuss how we can bring more vibrancy to our downtown neighbourhood for everyone to enjoy.

Please email Ramy Penner, Public Realm Project Coordinator, at ramy@downtownwinnipegbiz.com.

Art for Property Damage: We're thrilled to collaborate with BIZ member Red Road Lodge to brighten up our neighbourhood with some local artwork!

This unique initiative will showcase artwork by a talented artist from Red Road Lodge, an Indigenous organization in our zone that provides transitional, supportive housing and support services.

The project will transform boarded-up spaces on private properties, often due to damage or construction, into beautiful works of art.

If your business would like to have these fantastic prints installed on your property, please reach out to us at info@downtownwinnipegbiz.com.

If you’re considering hosting an event downtown, now is the perfect time!

Apply for the last Host It Downtown grant intake of the year by July 31, 2024, for events between September 1 and December 31, 2024.

For questions, email us at events@downtownwinnipegbiz.com.

Thank you,

Kate Fenske, CEO
Downtown Winnipeg BIZ