This memo outlines the differences in provincial commercial property tax approaches in Ontario and BC, and explores how the principle of 'highest and best use' affects small businesses.

This Memo highlights how using social media platforms and creating shop local initiatives can rally the community through concentrated local spending efforts.

This Memo outlines the concept of "meanwhile leases", and takes a look at a pilot project by a Toronto theatre group to turn temporarily vacant spaces into pop-up creative studios for artists.

This Memo looks at the launch of the Ambassador Program by the West End Business Improvement Zone in Winnipeg.

This Memo outlines some of the broad advantages and applications of pop-ups and takes a look at how they have been used to activate struggling main streets and neighbourhoods in different cities.

A pandemic winter could mean embracing the outdoors like never before, but for this to work a concerted effort is needed to ensure public spaces are safe and accessible for everyone.

The “Buy Local with Confidence” report and toolkit supports BIAs, local economic development organizations, and other community leaders to protect local businesses in pandemic situations and bolster activity in their main streets.

Municipalities around the world are rapidly adjusting policies to make it easy to reallocate main street space from parking or traffic to local business. This memo provides advice on designing with the needs and desires of diverse users at the core.

COVID-19 has put a strain on places of worship much in the same way as other place-based businesses or organizations. This memo looks at a number of emerging leaders, models and resources that are building momentum to reframe the context for churches and places of worship on Main Streets.

This memo takes the economic pulse of Main Street B.C. (before COVID) and provides insights from a sampling of real estate professionals in Canadian cities. Most believe the future of Main Street remains positive, but they caution that every main street is different, and all are dependent on the strength of the local economy.

Months of disruption and isolation due to COVID-19 are reshaping our attitudes, perhaps even in ways that we may not yet fully understand. This memo provides a summary of what we know today, based on a scan of available public opinion research about how Canadians’ attitudes have changed during this pandemic – and how this may affect our main streets.

When a secondary highway doubles as your community’s main street, what are the tools available and relationships needed to make it walkable and vibrant? What do placemaking and small business support look like in a rural main street context?

The global pandemic is shining a spotlight on community safety and inclusion. Perhaps more than ever, the sense of personal safety and a need for social inclusion are critical to the economic success of neighbourhoods and main streets.

As we look ahead, and consider how to develop effective re-opening plans and policies this memo asks the critical questions: what types of retail businesses will be most vulnerable to failure through the re-opening and recovery period? And how can we address these vulnerabilities?