Halifax/Kjipuktuk, N.S. – Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) has a new Board Chair and five new Directors, after a successful Annual General Meeting (AGM) held Thursday, June 26, 2025 at Neptune Theatre’s Scotiabank Stage.
DHBC’s AGM serves not only as a platform to highlight the not-for-profit’s annual successes, but also a place for membership to gather and vote in new board members, while saying goodbye to some.
Outgoing DHBC board members include (*years of service) :
Issmat Al-Akhali, Cameo Hotel & Suites (*5),
Trish Calder, Barrington Consulting Group (*2),
Erin Esiyok-Prime, Atlantic Economic Council (*7),
Ashwin Kutty, WeUsThem, Chair (*4), and
Christian Rankin, Obladee Wine Bar, past-Chair (*8).
Replacing Kutty as Chair is long-time DHBC member Marilisa Benigno, Benigno Group of Companies.
New Directors voted in include:
Faten Alshazly, WeUsThem and HealthEMe,
Darryl Bergman, High Liner Foods,
Glenn Bowie, Westin Nova Scotian Hotel,
Jeremy Smith, Freak Lunchbox and 328 Properties, and
Peter Wüensch, Breakhouse.
DHBC’s Board of Directors is a governance board, meant to oversee the organization at a strategic level, outlining and monitoring objectives, and providing financial oversight. DHBC’s Board oversees a $2 million budget and the CEO, and is comprised of (max) 15 members of the Downtown Halifax business community, as well as one Municipal representative.
DHBC 2025-2026 Board of Directors: *Executive
Faten Alshazly, WeUsThem and HealthEMe
Dana Beeler, Music Nova Scotia
*Marilisa Benigno, Benigno Group of Companies - Chair
Darryl Bergman, High Liner Foods
Glenn Bowie, Westin Nova Scotian Hotel
*Melissa Carey, RCR Hospitality Group – Member at Large
*Kristan Hines, NATIONAL Public Relations – Member at Large
Paul Johnston, Halifax Regional Municipality
Raeesa Lalani, Prismatic Arts Festival
Joyce Liu, Lumi Studios Media + Production
*Joe McGuinness, Platinum Group – Vice-Chair
*Blaise Morrison, The Armour Group Limited – Secretary/Treasurer
Courtney Ordway, Build Nova Scotia & Kind Bridal
Jacob Ritchie, United Gulf Developments Ltd.
Jeremy Smith, Freak Lunchbox and 328 Properties
Peter Wüensch, Breakhouse
DHBC also used the event to distribute the (now annual) 2025 State of the Downtown (SOTD) report.
DHBC’s 2024-2025 Annual Report was also handed out, and those in attendance got a sneak peek at DHBC’s upcoming marketing campaign, scheduled to hit the market by Fall 2025.
For more information on DHBC’s Board of Directors and the nomination process visit, downtownhalifax.ca/board
To view DHBC’s 2025 State of the Downtown, and 2024-2025 Annual Report visit, downtownhalifax.ca/dataandreporting
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