Downtown Halifax, Where the Maritimes Meet the World

Our Programs and Initiatives

Advocacy

The Downtown Halifax Business Commission is the voice and resource for over 1,800 businesses located within the Downtown core. These businesses range from small entrepreneurs to large multinational firms. All have a vested interest in the economic prosperity of the Downtown core. Ensuring that these members have a voice in critical issues that affect the Downtown is a priority of the DHBC. Back to top

Sidewalk Cafés

The Downtown Halifax Business Commission was an early leader in the implementation of sidewalk cafés, encouraging HRM to allow their licensing. Now, there are over 60 cafés in Downtown Halifax. The DHBC continues to work with HRM Right of Way department to ensure that all cafés meet current guidelines and acceptable aesthetic standards. The character of Argyle Street has been permanently affected by cafés and the DHBC will be working with HRM and the Argyle Street restaurateurs to see if a more permanent infrastructure solution is possible. Back to top

Barrington Street Historic District

Following two consultants' reports in 1998 and 2003, both of which recommended that the key to Barrington's economic revitalization lay in creating a special historic district, HRM Council formed a stakeholder committee to bring this about. Since January 2005, the DHBC has been a part of that committee and hosted the majority of the meetings. The committee's finished plan was presented to Council in January 2006. The plan has been rolled into HRMbyDesign and is expected to be adopted by Council in the spring, 2009. The DHBC has committed to marketing and retail recruitment efforts for the district. Visit Bring Barrington Back for more information. Back to top

HRMbyDesign

The Executive Director of the DHBC is the Vice-Chair of HRM's Urban Design Task Force, which is overseeing the 18-month HRMbyDesign project. To ensure public input, the DHBC has produced a brochure to promote the benefits of the plan and invite feedback. The HRMbyDesign project will be completed in winter 2009. Visit HRMbyDesign for more information. Back to top

FRED the bus (Free Rides Everywhere Downtown)

The DHBC runs the FRED (Free Rides Everywhere Downtown) program in partnership with Metro Transit. From the beginning of July to the end of October, FRED shuttles both Haligonians and visitors throughout the Downtown - seven days a week, from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm. An on-board tour guide provides commentary on historical highlights and other visitor information as well as records ridership counts for the season. This is the fourth season for FRED's new look, which has seen steadily increased ridership and corporate support. As HRM launches its environmentally-friendly shuttle fleet, we will coordinate this as an extension or replacement of the FRED service.

FRED in 2010

The new FRED look officially made its Downtown debut in July 2006 and is driving into his 15^th season better than ever! This year, Halifax’s favourite free shuttle will run everyday from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm on a 40-minute loop that includes Lower Water Street, Barrington Street, Spring Garden Road and the Halifax Citadel. Be sure to take a ride on the new and unmistakeable, FRED the bus as he cruises through the streets of Downtown Halifax until October 22, 2010.

Improving the urban experience, FRED the bus is a unique partnership between the Downtown Halifax Business Commission and its sponsors. With over 60,000 passengers last summer, FRED has become an essential link and a trusted service in Downtown Halifax. Tourists recognize FRED as a safe and welcoming way to tour the city, while residents hop on FRED as an efficient way to get around Downtown.

FRED 2010 Schedule (July 3 - October 22)

FRED's 2010 Route

Enjoy a free ride on Fred to all of your favourite destinations in Downtown Halifax. Starting from Pier 21; FRED runs along Lower Water Street to Ferry Boat Lane, then along the Halifax Waterfront, past Historic Properties to Barrington Street. FRED then heads south bound on Barrington Street; turning right on Spring Garden Road to Brunswick Street and then up Sackville Street, and to the top of the Halifax Citadel. FRED then turns left on South Park Street around the Public Gardens and down Spring Garden Road to Barrington Street. FRED follows Barrington Street until Cornwallis Park and turns left passing the Superstore, VIA Rail Station and the Westin Nova Scotian Hotel before proceeding back to Pier 21. Back to top

Grand Parade / Birks Site / Province House Lands Plan

The DHBC contributed to the public lands plan for this important area of Downtown. HRM Council accepted the report in principle in March 2007. The DHBC will actively promote implementation of the plan, which includes: removal of parking and better programming for Grand Parade; the creation of a skating rink for the winter months; clear design guidelines for a new development on the Birks site; an active green belt linking the waterfront and the Old Town Clock; restoration of the Dennis building; removal of parking and beautification of Province House lands. Back to top

Beautification

Downtown Halifax is the showroom of the Halifax Regional Municipality and it must be clean, safe and beautiful. The DHBC plays a role in planning, advocating for and undertaking maintenance and beautification efforts. Back to top

Enviro Team

The DHBC hires eight students to act as ambassadors in the Downtown during the months of June, July and August. The Enviro Team's responsibilities include maintaining and enhancing the Downtown sidewalks by removing graffiti and posters and painting public realm items such as garbage cans and lamp posts. The students also serve as a valuable resource for tourists and visitors looking for directions or wanting advice. This program has been fully integrated with HRM's summer student program (link to:  TBD) and civic pride campaigns. Back to top

Curbside Collection Service

The Curbside Collection Service program (link to: TBD) was the first completely user-pay service in North America and works as a cost-effective means for businesses to pay for the collection of only the solid waste they generate. This service is available to all businesses, institutions and apartment complexes (with more than six units) in the greater Halifax region. The program sells garbage, recyclable and organic tags and collection takes place once a week. Back to top

Clean Sweep

The annual Clean Sweep event will be held on June 3 this year, in Grand Parade. Over  the past 14 years, corporate and volunteer involvement has grown and many  Downtown businesses take part by entering their own teams and issuing  challenges to competitors and friends. Over 100 volunteers participate  annually in this long-standing DHBC event to make the Downtown litter-free. Contact us for more information for more. Back to top

Cooperative Maintenance Program

DHBC partners with HRM and the Waterfront Development Corporation to ensure that the maintenance of Downtown is well coordinated and that limited resources are maximized. The intention is this service will continue to be enhanced, with additional clean-up extending into the shoulder seasons. Private contractors may be brought on board for the fall maintenance season. Back to top

Street Banners

DHBC manages requests for hanging street banners in the Downtown to promote special events and programs. This year, the Atlantic Jazz Festival, World Hockey Championships, Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, Neptune Theatre, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Children's Wish Foundation, Tall Ships and Metro United Way are all expected to use the banner program to promote their activities and events. The DHBC also maintains pole banners for the Downtown, and Barrington Street Historic District. Back to top

Poster Kiosks

In response to the Mayor's SWAT initiative to address indiscriminate postering in Downtown Halifax, the DHBC constructed four poster kiosks and 10 pole collars for community advertising. This project provides an alternative space for posters within the public realm and is operated in conjunction with HRM By-law Enforcement efforts to clean up poster clutter in the Downtown. The DHBC is responsible for twice-monthly kiosk maintenance. With the signage by-law in place it is expected that the kiosks and pole collars will continue to be used frequently. The kiosks have weathered the past eight years well. This year, the cedar surfaces will be replaced with metal surfaces. Back to top

Graffiti Clean-up

The DHBC has engaged Atlantic Graffiti Busters to remove all graffiti on private and commercial buildings within its boundaries on an ongoing basis. This will be year 4 of the pilot program. Back to top

Flower Baskets

The DHBC has partnered with HRM to provide hanging flower baskets on George Street and Barrington Street. This year, HRM will be maintaining the baskets in order to provide a uniform look throughout the entire Central Business District. Back to top

Butt Stops

Cigarette butts are by far the single greatest source of litter on Downtown sidewalks and streets. The DHBC is taking a four-pronged approach to the problem of cigarette butts: removing them with the Enviro Team; encouraging Downtown building owners to put Butt Stop ashtrays at their building entrances, which are available free of charge from the DHBC; working with HRM to educate the public that cigarette butts are litter and distributing portable cigarette ashtray containers (this program is modeled after ones that have been implemented in Australia, USA and Windsor, ON). Back to top

Holiday Decorations

To help set the holiday mood, DHBC installs and maintains approximately 140 wreaths that light up at night on Barrington Street, Argyle Street, George Street, Lower Water Street and Chebucto Landing. Back to top

Marketing and Events

The DHBC promotes the Downtown core as a place to work, shop, dine, be entertained and live (link to: http://downtownhalifax.ca/index.php?/site/news_detail/new_brand/). Our marketing programs promote existing businesses and engage in new business recruitment. The DHBC also works with event coordinators to ensure all events held in the Downtown core are successful. Back to top

Event Promotion and Sponsorship

2009 will see several significant events in the Downtown, including the Buskers Festival, Shakespeare by the Sea, Atlantic Jazz Festival and Tall Ships. The DHBC will coordinate with all of these event organizers to assist in promoting the events and ensuring maximum resulting benefit for DHBC members. The DHBC is coordinating with the Spring Garden Area Business Association to create a new event in late August called Paint the Town. The DHBC will also work with the HRM Cultural Advisory Committee and its own newly formed sponsorship committee to establish a new sponsorship policy for the Commission. Back to top

Advertising Campaigns

The popular "retro propaganda" print campaign, created in 2004, by DHBC's Marketing Committee and the Extreme Group, is finishing its run. Following marketing research to gauge its effectiveness, a new "Tell a Better Story" ad campaign has been created by Extreme. The look of the new campaign will be used in all of the Business Commission's advertising and in all media. See the latest DHBC ad campaign. Back to top

Retail Recruitment

For many years the recruitment of retail in the Downtown core has been carried out by individual property owners and has lacked a cohesive strategy. Commercial leasing agents do not typically direct their retail clients to locate in the Downtown core. After the city abandoned Downtown pedestrian counts in 1995, the DHBC took on this task in 2004 and 2007. The DHBC Board has determined that we will assist in the process of Downtown revitalization by proactively approaching retailers and providing them with the information they require. In 2005, the first phase, creating an information package that makes a solid business case for the Downtown was completed. This year, a retail strategy will be drafted and implemented. Back to top

Community Involvement and Advocacy

We are constantly communicating with the rest of the HRM community to advocate for our members interests and to ensure we are not duplicating tasks that other organizations already cover. Back to top

Member Communication

The DHBC sends out a bi-weekly Update (link to: Update page) to all members, produces a Quarterly Newsletter, has an active website and coordinates Members' Meet & Greets to keep members informed and engaged. Some of the information shared includes: inside information on planning, articles on our membership and details about events in the area. Back to top

Business Directory

To help members communicate with each other and increase business-to-business transactions, the DHBC has produced a frequently updated online directory (link to: business directory page) of all its members. The Business Commission is also working with Global Document Technologies to create a business-to-business web portal. The online directory also provides listings for visitors looking for a unique shopping, dining or tourist experience. Back to top

Joint Initiatives

As part of its commitment to the HRM's central business district, the DHBC will continue to work on existing and new co-operative projects with the other business commissions and HRM. Back to top

Parking Strategy

The city is presently undertaking a much-needed long-term approach to parking and transportation issues. The DHBC sits as a member of the HRM Parking Strategy to ensure that the area's needs are represented. Download the Park Smart brochure here. Back to top