Hope everyone’s enjoying the start of fall. I’m so happy to be back downtown after my recent trip with my niece. It was an adventure and always great to explore how other cities create vibrancy. From buskers and street vendors in Paris to trying to cross the street through a sea of bikes in Amsterdam, it all comes down to people! The green spaces in the Netherlands were inspiring and got me thinking about what Broadway could look like. My niece and I soaked in the architecture, shared bad jokes, and ate our way through the cities. Each stop sparked fresh ideas that we can use to move our downtown forward.

A big thank you for giving Greg Burnett Executive Director of the Downtown Community Safety Partnership (DCSP) and our Senior Management Team (SMT) a warm welcome for the August MEMOs. I’m glad you got to hear from them directly and learn more about the vital work our teams do to keep our neighbourhood healthy, safe, and vibrant.

This week, a few members of our SMT and I are in Seattle attending the International Downtown Association (IDA) annual conference. This event gathers leaders from around the globe to discuss industry trends, share best practices and learn from one another. It’s a great opportunity to connect with other downtown organizations and bring back fresh ideas and insights. I look forward to sharing what we learn and what we can incorporate into our operations as we continue our planning for the months and year ahead.

And speaking of exciting things—our fall campaign is just around the corner! You may have spotted our marketing team out and about, interviewing folks who live, work, study and visit downtown. Stay tuned for launch details and how you can get involved. It’s going to be an exciting fall downtown!

We are deeply saddened to hear about the sudden passing of Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick. Our deepest thoughts and condolences go out to her family, friends, and all Manitobans during this difficult time.

We are grateful for the wisdom and teachings she shared with our team and the Downtown BIZ community. We were fortunate to have her speak at our Downtown Speaker Series this past Spring, where she shared her personal story and challenged us to be better listeners, to understand people’s stories and where they come from.

Grand Chief Merrick was a fierce leader and advocate for her community. She was also incredibly kind, funny and gave the best hugs. She will be dearly missed.

Her work to create a better path forward for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Manitobans will forever inspire and guide us.

Last week, Rhiannon Hayes, Director of Policy and Economic Development, Amelia Laidlaw, Chair of our Board of Directors, and I met with Manitoba Justice Minister, Matt Weibe and his team to discuss downtown safety. It was reiterated that while the province continues to work on long-term solutions to address crime, poverty, homelessness, mental health and additions, short-term initiatives are also needed to improve safety for everyone. The minister noted they were pleased with the progress being made on the Downtown Safety Action Plan (DSAP) are committed to continuing to work together to build a safe and welcoming downtown.

On that note, I wanted to give you a quick update on how the DSAP has been progressing over the summer. Thanks to collaboration between the City, the Province, DCSP and our organization, we’ve been able to ramp up efforts in making downtown safer for everyone who works, lives, or visits here.

In July alone, they logged 868 additional hours of visible presence in our neighbourhood and nearly 100 well-being checks. By August 15, they had invested 1602 additional hours and conducted 424 well-being checks, with and without follow-ups, further strengthening our efforts. We will continue to provide regular updates as we know downtown safety continues to be top of mind for our members.

As part of our upcoming fall campaign, we’ll be giving away Downtown Winnipeg BIZ Gift Cards to participants. To keep transactions running smoothly, please ensure your staff are familiar with how the gift cards work (they function just like a Visa gift card!). If you and your team have any questions about the gift cards, are experiencing any challenges, or would like to join our gift card program, please reach out to Rita-Helen at ritahelen@downtownwinnipegbiz.com are committed to continuing to work together to build a safe and welcoming downtown.

Speaking of gift cards - what better way to spread some cheer than with a Downtown Winnipeg BIZ Gift Card! While it still feels like summer, we want to remind you the holiday season is right around the corner. Perfect for employees, families, and friends, our gift cards are a thoughtful and easy way to support downtown businesses while giving the gift of choice.

With bulk orders or smaller quantities available, these gift cards are a fantastic option for your holiday shopping list. They’re accepted at over 200 businesses in the Downtown Winnipeg Business Improvement Zone, from dining and shopping to services and entertainment.

Ready to place your order? Email us at info@downtownwinnipegbiz.com to get started. Happy gifting!

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Thank you,

Kate Fenske, CEO
Downtown Winnipeg BIZ