Photo of Downtown Halifax Crew taken in spring of 2019.
The Latest - DHBC News
25
June
2020
03
June
2020
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) has launched two grants to assist Downtown Halifax businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: the eCommerce Assistance Program and Back to Business Material Assistance Program. The deadline to apply for each grant is June 17, 2020, and businesses can apply online.
14
May
2020
04
May
2020
Photo of Downtown Halifax Crew taken in spring of 2019.
12
March
2020
Developer, building owner, and property manager Starfish Properties is pleased to announce that their latest project is now complete. Starfish Properties partnered with Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) to install LED façade lighting on the G.M.
16
November
2019
DHBC is pleased to launch the 3rd Annual Halifax Lights Festival, an eight-day celebration of the holiday season in Downtown Halifax, taking place November 30 to December 7.
30
September
2019
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) has launched a call for submissions for the Fall 2019 Gritty to Pretty Placemaking Program.
13
September
2019
12
August
2019
Due to the forecast of thundershowers, Downtown Halifax Picnic on the Hill, originally scheduled for tomorrow, has been postponed until Tuesday, August 20, 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm, at Citadel Hill beside The Old Town Clock on Brunswick Street.
11
August
2019
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) is pleased announce the grant recipients for the Gritty to Pretty beautification grant program. Gritty to Pretty includes three grant streams: Open Grant, Façade Lighting Grant, and the recently added, Mural Grant.
24
July
2019
Due to the weather forecast, the Tunes at Noon concert with Maura Whitman today in Grand Parade has been postponed. The rescheduled concert date will be announced once it is confirmed.
Upcoming concerts include:
25
June
2019
Downtown Halifax Business Commission Census Taker
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) was formed in 1987 through the voting of the businesses and landlords in the Downtown area (generally the area between Citadel Hill and the Waterfront). There are approximately 1,300 member businesses of DHBC.
18
June
2019
DHBC, in partnership with Music Nova Scotia and print media sponsor The Coast, is pleased to present the 12th Annual Tunes at Noon, an annual summer concert series featuring performers from a variety of musical genres.
04
June
2019
On Wednesday, June 5, Downtown Halifax will be filled with 37 teams, totalling 190 volunteers and representing 22 local businesses and organizations, sweeping the streets at the 25th Anniversary Clean Sweep.
09
May
2019
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC), in partnership with Music Nova Scotia and print media sponsor The Coast, will once again present Tunes at Noon, a summer concert series featuring Nova Scotian performers of all genres of music on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and
09
May
2019
On Wednesday, June 5, 2019, from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon, over 100 volunteers from local businesses and organizations will divided into teams to clean the streets of Downtown Halifax for the 25th Anniversary Clean Sweep.
16
April
2019
On Friday, April 26, 2019, Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) will host a Downtown Halifax City Nature Walk from 12:00 pm (sharp) to 1:00 pm, with participants meeting at the DHBC storefront at 1546 Barrington Street at 11:45 am.
10
April
2019
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC), in partnership with Quirk VR and eight organizations, has produced “Downtown Halifax 360” – an exciting six-minute, 360-degree, immersive virtual reality (VR) video that highlights some of the most popular attractions and points of interest i
05
February
2019
Since the spring of 2018, 27 organizations worked together to facilitate discussions around the redevelopment of the Cogswell District to ensure that Halifax advances with the best overall urban design vision possible for the project.
04
December
2018
DHBC's Halifax Lights Festival 2nd Annual Chilli Warm-Up held on Sunday, December 2, was a great success with hungry visitors enjoying hot chilli and cornbread outdoors on Argyle Street.
19
November
2018
Leading with Transit (LWT), a community-based initiative spearheaded by more than 20 public, private, institutional, and non-governmental organization partners, will be holding two community forums on November 27 and 29 in Dartmouth and Halifax to gather more feedback on the work that LWT has completed to date.
16
November
2018
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) is pleased to launch the 2nd Annual Halifax Lights Festival, a week-long celebration of the holiday season in Downtown Halifax, taking place December 1-8.
06
November
2018
The Coast's Best of Halifax 2018 Readers' Choice Awards were announced on November 1, and it's no surpirse that 106 Downtown Halifax businesses, public spaces, and events have once again been awarded bronze, silver, and gold awards for best food and drink, pu
24
October
2018
Twenty-six organizations are working together to facilitate discussions around the redevelopment of the Cogswell District to ensure that Halifax advances with the best overall urban design vision possible for the project, through a robust public
28
September
2018
Aegis Developments Inc. is pleased to announce the completion of a project in partnership with Downtown Halifax Business Commission’s (DHBC) Façade Lighting grant through the Gritty to Pretty program. LED lighting was recently installed on the Cabot Building, located at 1725-1727 Barrington Street.
27
June
2018
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) has launched a call for submissions for the 2018 Gritty to Pretty Beautification Program. Gritty to Pretty includes two grants: the Open Grant and the Façade Lighting Grant.
25
June
2018
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC), daVinci College, Music Nova Scotia, and The Coast are pleased to present the 11th Annual Tunes at Noon,
06
June
2018
Today, 28 teams with a total of 152 volunteers collected 38 bags of garbage, 18 bags of recycling, and 11 bags of compost plus many “interesting” objects throughout Downtown Halifax while participating in the 24th Annual Clean Sweep, presented by Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC).
23
May
2018
Downtowns Atlantic Canada (DAC) is hosting its annual conference in Halifax, May 27-29, 2018, attracting business improvement districts (BIDs), urban planners, small businesses, and municipal staff from the Atlantic provinces.
09
May
2018
On Wednesday, June 6, 2018, from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon, over 100 volunteers from local businesses and organizations will split into teams and clean the streets of Downtown Halifax for the 24th Annual Clean Sweep.
02
May
2018
As a proud supporter of the 2018 ECMAs, Downtown Halifax Business Commission is pleased to present the 2018 ECMAs Argyle Street Fest this Saturday, May 5, from 12 noon to 3:00 pm, on two blocks of Argyle Street, from Blowers Street to Prince Street.
27
April
2018
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) is a member-funded organization whose goal is to bring greater vitality to the downtown core of Halifax. It focuses on four areas: advocacy, beautification, marketing and communications, and membership engagement.
18
April
2018
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC), DaVinci College, and Music Nova Scotia will once again present Tunes at Noon, a summer concert series featuring Nova Scotian performers of all genres of music Wednesday to Friday, from July 4 to August 17, 2018.
10
April
2018
The recently formed coalition of transit advocates, Leading with Transit, will hold a series of public forums to discuss and gather feedback and recommendations on the future of transit and the city. A total of four forums will be held in Dartmouth, Spryfield, Sackville, and Halifax.
15
February
2018
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) announced today that Tamika Butler, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, will be speaking at the 16th Annual Carmichael Lecture taking place on Thursday, March 1, in the Nova Scotia Ballroom at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, 1919 Upper Water Street, 6:00-8:00 pm.
18
December
2017
Downtown Halifax Business Commission’s (DHBC) Halifax Lights Festival Chili Warm-Up and Family Fun Day held on Saturday, December 16, was a great success with visitors enjoying hot chili and cornbread outdoors in
24
November
2017
DHBC is pleased announce that four more Gritty to Pretty beautification grant projects are now complete in Downtown Halifax. Gritty to Pretty has two grant streams: Open Grant and Façade Lighting.
15
November
2017
DHBC is pleased to launch The Halifax Lights Festival, a month-long celebration of the holiday season in Downtown Halifax from November 17 to December 21. The Festival’s anchor attraction is a winter-themed, nightly interactive light show, called Splendour in the Park, which will take over Cornwallis Park.
07
November
2017
On Saturday, November 4, Downtown Halifax Business Commission’s Argyle Grafton Share the Street Party brought thousands of Haligonians together to celebrate the newly transformed pedestrian-friendly shared street and revitalized entertainment district.
31
October
2017
Come celebrate the newly transformed Argyle and Grafton Streets with the ultimate Share the Street Party from 11 am to 11 pm this Saturday, November 4!
26
October
2017
With the Argyle and Grafton Streetscape scheduled for completion on October 31, it’s time to celebrate the end of 21 weeks of construction, a beautiful new pedestrian-friendly shared street, and a revitalized entertainment district.
18
October
2017
To celebrate I Love Local’s City Harvest on October 21, Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) will be offering family-friendly activities in their “storefront” space at 1546 Barrington Street, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, to support the participating businesses in Downtown Halifax.
17
October
2017
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) and participating Downtown businesses are ready to celebrate Halloween a little earlier this year with "Haunt the Downtown." Instead of going door-to-door, locals and visitors are encouraged to visit Downtown Halifax and go store-to-store instead.
07
September
2017
If you’re a new or returning university or college student, stop by Grand Parade on September 8, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm, for a free “Welcome to Downtown” BBQ. If you’re a student of life, you’re welcome, too! The BBQ is hosted by DHBC and is free and open to the public, while supplies last.
23
August
2017
Due to inclement weather, today’s Tunes at Noon concert in Grand Parade with Jessie Brown has been postponed until September 8. Tunes at Noon is a free, outdoor concert series, featuring Nova Scotian performers from a wide range of musical genres. Concerts take place Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 12:00 Noon – 1:00 pm in Grand Parade, Halifax, until September 8.
18
July
2017
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) is pleased announce the grant recipients for the Gritty to Pretty beautification grant program.
26
June
2017
DHBC, daVinci College, Music Nova Scotia, and The Coast, are pleased to present the 10th Anniversary Tunes at Noon, an annual summer concert series featuring Nova Scotian performers from a variety of musical genres. The series will take place on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from July 5 to September 1, 12:00 Noon-1:00 pm in Grand Parade in Halifax.
23
June
2017
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) is pleased to announce the 2017-2018 Board of Directors. The new Board of Directors was voted in by DHBC members during its Annual General Meeting on June 22 in a packed room at The Discovery Centre.
07
June
2017
A record amount of garbage was collected by volunteers yesterday in Downtown Halifax. There were 35 teams with a total of 158 volunteers that collected 53 bags of garbage, 37 bags of recycling, and 16 bags of compost and many “interesting” objects throughout Downtown Halifax while participating in the 23rd Annual Clean Sweep, presented by Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC).
06
June
2017
On Wednesday, June 7, Downtown Halifax will be filled with 40 teams with a total of over 220 volunteers, representing 28 local businesses and organizations sweeping the streets and painting picnic tables for the 23rd Annual Clean Sweep. Four teams will also be painting four picnic tables that will be added to the 45 painted picnic tables already placed in Downtown Halifax.
26
May
2017
Pick up free books or drop off your extras at one of three Little Free Libraries built in Downtown Halifax recently, courtesy of The Word on the Street.
26
May
2017
Starfish Properties is pleased to announce one of their latest projects. Partnering with Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC), the installation of LED façade lighting to both 1549 Barrington Street and 1652-1656 Barrington Street is now complete.
27
April
2017
Do you have a unique, creative idea to make Downtown Halifax even more beautiful? Downtown Halifax Business Commission can give you money to make it happen.
19
April
2017
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC), in partnership with daVinci College and Music Nova Scotia, is once again seeking submissions from performers for the 10th Annual Tunes at Noon, a summer concert series featuring Nova Scotian performers of all genres of music on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from July 5 to September 1.
06
April
2017
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) recently launched “Eventful Year Downtown” – a celebration of all the big and small events taking place in Downtown Halifax.
03
April
2017
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) is celebrating 21 years of the Enviro Team program, a dedicated group of returning university students that keeps Downtown Halifax clean throughout the summer and provides tourist information to area visitors. The Enviro Team members, easily identified by a white question mark printed on the back of their red shirts.
16
February
2017
Andreas Røhl
26
January
2017
Downtown Halifax Business Commission has launched The Downtown Parking Pitch to address issues related to parking in Downtown Halifax.
18
January
2017
NSCAD University
13
December
2016
The second annual Halifax Lights Holiday Market will end this weekend at their three locations. Halifax Lights runs from November 23 to December 18. For a full schedule of Market events and list of vendors, visit www.downtownhalifax.ca/lights.
09
December
2016
The second annual Halifax Lights Holiday Market at Historic Properties, 1869 Upper Water Street, is a multi-weekend holiday market featuring: artisans, festive food and drink, holiday lights and décor, live performers, carollers, hands-on crafts, musicians, and much more. Each weekend includes free family events.
25
November
2016
The Coast’s Best of Halifax awards have become a badge of honour among businesses in Halifax and beyond. Those small but mighty little gold, silver, and bronze plaques signify that among The Coast’s large readership, you’re in.
23
November
2016
The second annual Halifax Lights Holiday Market in Downtown Halifax is a multi-day, multi-venue holiday market featuring: artisans, festive food and drink, pop-up shops, holiday lights and décor, a petting zoo, live performers, craft demonstrations, hands-on crafts, musicians, contests and giveaways, and much more.
30
September
2016
23
September
2016
Artist Miro Davis pausing on her new creation
19
September
2016
DHBC, in partnership with Armour Group and Historic Properties, is inviting local crafters and artisans to apply to the 2nd Annual Halifax Lights Holiday Market at Historic Properties, Privateer’s Wharf.
14
September
2016
Argyle Fine Art, through the Pretty to Gritty beautification grant, has commissioned artist Nick Brunt to create “Inspira
30
August
2016
Halifax is enjoying the sounds and experiences of spontaneous street music after #PlayMeHfx placed three painted pianos in Downtown Halifax and the Halifax Waterfront for everyone to play, experience, and enjoy until the end of October.
25
August
2016
Attention crafters and artisans: deadline for applications has been extended to Thursday, November 10, 2016. Apply today!
17
August
2016
August 17, 2016, Halifax, NS – Due to inclement weather, today’s Tunes at Noon concert in Grand Parade with Terry Kelleher has been postponed. Rescheduled date to be determined.
16
August
2016
DHBC is gearing up with events on Argyle Street for its outdoor party, Hey Man, Thanks: A Celebration of Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip in Downtown Halifax, on August 20 leading up to CBC’s free, live public screening in Grand Parade of The Tragically Hip’s final concert.
02
August
2016
Since January 2014, Downtown Halifax Business Commission, Spring Garden Area Business Association, and Waterfront Development have been collecting pedestrian count information at 10 locations, through 10 Eco-Counter electronic pedestrian devices.
27
July
2016
DHBC is pleased announce the grant recipients from two beautification grant programs, Gritty to Pretty and Façade Lighting. Out of 16 Gritty to Pretty applications, five were awarded.
18
July
2016
“The Barrington Benches,” located across from Grand Parade on Barrington Street, have brand-new lighting features thanks to a Gritty to Pretty Grant of $9,890 from DHBC.
14
July
2016
UPDATE (July 21, 2016): We are excited to confirm that all of Argyle Street will be closed to traffic from 1pm on August 20, 2016 to allow for on-street programming (a street party!) - more details to follow.
13
July
2016
In response to Feed Nova Scotia being critically low on food, DHBC and Spring Garden Area Business Association (SGABA) are partnering with Feed NS to become drop-off locations for non-perishable food donations until August 31.
07
July
2016
DHBC, Music Nova Scotia, and daVinci College, is pleased to present Tunes at Noon, an annual summer concert series featuring Nova Scotian performers from a variety of musical genres.
29
June
2016
DHBC is pleased to announce the 2016-2017 Board of Directors and 2016 Big Day Downtown Award winners. The new Board of Directors was voted in by DHBC members during the Annual General Meeting at a packed room in the Halifax Alehouse on June 28. Paul MacKinnon, DHBC Executive Director, welcomed three new board members and thanked the outgoing board members and those returning for another term.
23
June
2016
DHBC has added three new, brightly painted, wheelchair-accessible picnic tables at Purdy’s Wharf, the Halifax Waterfront, and across from Cabin Coffee at the corner of Salter Street and Hollis Street.
07
June
2016
02
June
2016
It was a beautiful, sunny day as nearly 100 volunteers swept through Downtown Halifax for the 22nd Annual Clean Sweep, presented by Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC), on June 1. In only one hour, the volunteer teams cleared Downtown of nearly 40 bags of litter -- 28 bags of garbage and 11 bags of recycling. The day served to raise awareness about the presence of litter Downtown.
31
May
2016
In 2015, Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) introduced a new program, Gritty to Pretty, to award a limited number of grants for beautification projects located in Downtown Halifax. These projects contributed to DHBC’s strategic beautification goals.
31
May
2016
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) has developed a new program, Façade Lighting Grant, to award a limited number of grants for exterior façade lighting projects located in Downtown Halifax.
24
May
2016
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Enviro Team program, a dedicated group of returning university students that keeps Downtown Halifax clean throughout the summer and provides tourist information to area visitors.
12
November
2015
If the recent commercial tax reform report from the city’s financial staff had been given an unofficial title, it would have been “Commercial Tax Reform: It’s Too Hard To Do”. The report, after much useful analysis, produced two simple recommendations.
05
November
2015
The Coast’s Best of Halifax awards have become a badge of honour among businesses in Halifax and beyond. Those small but mighty little gold, silver, and bronze plaques signify that among The Coast’s large readership, you’re in.
16
October
2015
The creative community of Downtown Halifax got iced yesterday. Of the 74 ICE Awards presented, 30 were awarded to agencies from Downtown Halifax.
15
October
2015
Over the summer, Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) launched our new website at downtownhalifax.ca with one purpose: To be the central hub for all things Downtown including news, events, specials, and a comprehensive directory of the businesses of Downtown Halifax.
01
October
2015
During its 61st Annual Conference and Tradeshow, the International Downtown Association (IDA) recognized Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) with a Downtown Pinnacle Award for its work and initiatives related to marketing and communications.
14
September
2015
As part of an initiative of Downtowns Canada, downtown organizations across the country will host forums with federal candidates from Sept. 14-22.
20
July
2015
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) is excited to collaborate with Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) on the Argyle Streetscaping Pilot Project this summer, in partnership with Planning Design Centre.
12
July
2015
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) is very excited to announce the launch of our brand new website at downtownhalifax.ca.
26
June
2015
Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) wants the public’s help in taking areas of Downtown Halifax from “Gritty to Pretty.” Today DHBC announced the launch of its new Gritty to Pretty beautification grant for individuals and businesses seeking funding to improve areas of Downtown Halifax.
18
May
2015
For those attenting our Annual General Meeting on June 24, 2015, the following administrative by-law amendments are proposed: