News from Main Street: December 2020

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December 11, 2020 / canurb.org New Block Studies show main streets in need of support during critical holiday season This week, we released the second round of Block Studies. These hyper-local portraits combine data and storytelling to present an in-depth analysis of 7 different blocks in Ontario and BC. The research reveals the extent to which main streets and small businesses are grappling with the effects of the pandemic, from extreme drops in foot traffic to reduced revenue for small businesses to an increase in safety issues. Read The Block Studies Reimagining the future of downtowns Downtowns are economic and cultural hubs for cities across Canada. But with employees working remotely, transit ridership being down, and people staying home the future of downtowns is uncertain. As part of Bring Back Main Street, we are launching Restore The Core, a new initiative that will bring together downtown stakeholders and urban leaders across the country to reimagine the future of downtowns. Learn More Retail Main Street Study released by City of Toronto The City of Toronto's Retail Main Streets Study, prepared by Three Sixty Collective, looks into the current economic, policy and regulatory environment these streets operate in, the key issues they're facing, and the types of supports that will be most helpful. Read Our Latest Memo Memo #18:  New BIZ Ambassador Team focuses on data and member connections By Joe Kornelsen, Executive Director, West End BIZ (Winnipeg) Do you have a great idea on how to reinvigorate main streets? Have an interesting insight into what's happening in downtowns? Let us know and share it by writing a Memo from Main Street! Contact Us Five Bright Ideas As the holidays approach, communities across the country are coming together to support local businesses this winter in innovative ways: Black Owned Manitoba is a directory that highlights Black businesses, artists, and creatives in Manitoba in order to promote and celebrate Black-owned businesses and Black entrepreneurs. Bag Of Toronto brings together local businesses in different neighbourhoods in Toronto to create local, unique, and specialty gift baskets. Think Local First released a Holiday Lookbook as a way for people to discover local businesses in Victoria and encourage holiday shopping in local neighbourhoods. Be Local is a network of Calgary-based and community-focused businesses that encourages shopping locally and responsibly, and promotes local businesses through their platform. Haligonians can find a collection of small businesses through Halifax ReTales's holiday shopping guide, including details on online shopping and delivery options. Find more bright ideas like these at CityShareCanada.ca. Thank You to Our Partners We are grateful to all of our partners for supporting us in building a stronger urban Canada. Donors and Program Funders Bring Back Main Street is supported by Business Improvement areas and Economic Development organizations across Canada, Vancity and Vancity Community Investment Bank Partners Beach Village BIA, BC LOCO, Black Business and Professionals Association, Bloor-Yorkville BIA, Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council, Canadian Business Resilience Network, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Canadian Institute of Planners, Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, CGLCC: Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, City of Calgary, City of Edmonton, City of Toronto, City of Vancouver, Council for Canadian Urbanism, Develop Nova Scotia, Downtown Halifax Business Commission, Downtown Hamilton BIA, Downtown London BIA, Downtown Victoria Business Association, Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, Downtown Yonge BIA, Fight Unemployment, Financial District BIA, Glebe BIA, ICOMOS Canada, Kamloops North Shore BIA, National Trust for Canada, Newtown BIA, OCAD University, Ontario Business Improvement Area Association, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Regina Downtown BID, Retail Council of Canada, Royal Architecture Institute of Canada, Rues principales, Save Canadian Small Business, St. Lawrence BIA, STEPS Initiative, Strathcona BIA, Tamarack Institute, Trinity Centres Foundation, The Waterfront BIA, Toronto Entertainment District BIA, Vancouver Economic Commission, Vancouver Island Regional Library, Wellington West BIA, West End BIZ, Wexford Heights BIA Main Street Design Challenge Partners Canadian Institute of Planners, Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, Council for Canadian Urbanism, ICOMOS Canada, National Trust for Canada, OCAD University, Rue principales, STEPS Initiative, Trinity Centres Foundation Research Team 360 Collective, Happy City, Simon Fraser University, Fathom Studio, JC Williams Group, Environics Analytics About CUI CUI is Canada's Urban Institute. We are the national platform that houses the best in Canadian city building – where policymakers, urban professionals, civic and business leaders, community activists and academics can learn, share and collaborate with one another from coast to coast to coast. Copyright © 2020 Canadian Urban Institute | Institut urbain du Canada Canadian Urban Institute | Institut urbain du Canada 30 St. Patrick Street, 5th Floor Toronto, ON  M5T 3A3  Canada Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.