As Chair of the International Downtown Association Canada (IDA Canada) – the national coalition that supports 500 organizations representing and serving business districts across the country - I've been in Ottawa this week meeting with members of parliament to advocate for increased support for downtowns from coast to coast. Recognizing that we are all facing the same challenges, our group brought forward key priorities the federal government can and should take action on to support our communities.

We are calling on the federal government to dedicate additional funding focused on addressing homelessness, mental health and addictions in order build healthier communities and to better ensure our downtowns are safe and inclusive spaces.

We know that increasing housing density is critical for the growth of Winnipeg’s downtown, as well as downtown communities across the country. We encouraged the government to provide dedicated funding to municipalities to provide incentives for residential and commercial development.

We also know that crime and safety is a top priority for all Canadians, and as such we urged the government to make legislative changes to the bail system to protect residents and small businesses from crime.

I had the opportunity to join CBC’s Canada Tonight to discuss these complicated issues and how we can move forward together to create safer and healthier neighbourhoods for all Canadians.

WATCH the full interview here

While I’ve been in Ottawa, Rhiannon Hayes, recently appointed to Chief Operating Officer at the BIZ and Amelia Laidlaw, our Board Chair, attended the Business and Housing Summit, hosted yesterday by the Manitoba government, the City of Winnipeg and the Business Council of Manitoba and supported by End Homelessness Winnipeg. Over 50 partners from government, Indigenous leadership, business and the non-profit sector came together to better understand the gaps that still exist, and to identify collaborative opportunities to create affordable housing solutions.

Premier Kinew announced a $10 million provincial grant to support the creation of the Collaborative Housing Alliance Real Estate Investment Trust, to create more below-market affordable housing options. Developed and administered by the Business Council of Manitoba, the trust will utilize resources from private, public and non-profit organizations to create a scalable and sustainable investment platform for affordable housing that is protected from market forces. The province and its partners noted they expect to acquire or construct at least three new housing projects in the next year.

More information here

On Friday, September 27, I was honoured to emcee the announcement where True North Real Estate Development (TNRED), along with its partners at Southern Chiefs’ Organization, the City of Winnipeg and the provincial and federal governments, announced it is moving forward with the purchase and redevelopment of Portage Place. The mall will be transformed into a multi-use facility that includes housing, healthcare and community spaces.

This historic redevelopment project will support the continued transformation of our downtown neighborhood, adding vibrancy, economic activity and services to support those who live in our community.

This project is an inspiring example of economic reconciliation in action, and we commend TNRED and its partners for their investment and commitment to moving our downtown forward. We can’t wait to see this project come to life!

Two weeks ago, we launched our Choose Downtown Winnipeg campaign to provide our community with a platform to share their positive downtown experiences and celebrate what makes downtown unique and special today. As part of the campaign, we’re asking folks to record a video or submit a written story telling us why they choose to live, work, study or visit downtown Winnipeg for a chance to win $5,000!

Popping up at various downtown locations, our team has been collecting stories and engaging with our downtown community, and the response so far has been incredible. We've heard from first-generation Canadians –speaking in their native language- who now love and call downtown Winnipeg home. We’ve heard from folks who work downtown about how much they love the convivence of the skywalks and the variety of options to grab a coffee or a bite to eat during or after their workday. We’ve heard from families who love coming downtown to catch a Jets, Sea Bears or Goldeyes game, and the stories don’t stop there! We're excited to continue to share the positive stories that often go untold and help flip the narrative of our downtown neighbourhood.

I encourage you to share our campaign and contest with your friends, family, colleagues and community (forward this MEMO here). Let’s amplify and promote our vibrant and diverse downtown community, together.

Join the conversation!

Thank you,

Kate Fenske, CEO
Downtown Winnipeg BIZ