24/05/2024
After 22 years of operation, first as the Downtown Business Association, and later as the Downtown Business Council, our group has decided to disband.
Although the group has accomplished much, we have come to realize in recent years that we have too few active members to continue.
The changing nature of the downtown business community has always been a challenge to us. And while this organization has done its best to change with the times and reflect its community, the plain fact is that small business owners, stressed by the COVID pandemic and the disruptive and predatory nature of our current economy, are too busy just trying to survive to make time for volunteer activities.
Our group has not gone down without a fight. The past few years have seen the Downtown Business Council host a free community drive-in movie in 2020, a reverse Canada Day Parade in 2021, and a comedy night on the street in 2022.
But we have also struggled even to find quorum for our annual general meeting, needing to make multiple attempts each year just to do this.
The remaining executive have therefore decided to wind down our operations. Remaining funds are being distributed to various downtown charities, after which the Downtown Business Council will cease to be.
