Downtown Buzz News from the Downtown Winnipeg Business Improvement Zone


Winnipeg Police working at downtown safety R


ecently, the BIZ was honoured to be invited a press conference held by the Winnipeg Police Services, who an- nounced the new Downtown Safety Strategy, Centre- line. I joined WPS Inspector Jim An- derson and Cen- treVenture CEO Angela Mathie- son. What a perfect


Downtown Stefano Grande


set t ing for this press conference – the Downtown Farmers Market in our SHED Dis- trict. Tis setting is reflective of our v ibrant down- town which now


attracts over 100,000 people per day: resi- dents, workers, students, visitors, shoppers and entertainment crowds in the evening. Downtown Winnipeg is the size of a small


city. We are becoming more and more a 24-hour vibrant neighborhood, too. Conse- quently, downtown deserves a greater focus on safety for everyone. Te new safety strategy released at the


press conference very much reflects the needs of our downtown. On behalf of my BIZ Board, I’d like to give thanks to past Police Chief Clunis and our current Chief, Danny Smyth. It is because of their vision and ac- tions that the Centreline plan has recommit- ted to a healthier and safer downtown. I also add a huge thanks to all members of the WPS team who have been involved in creating this refreshed strategy. Tere is much that is unique about this


plan. Te approach to building it has been authentic. Te survey created metrics based on the needs of our community. Te high level of community engagement – in par- ticular the engagement and involvement of the BIZes Safety and Outreach Department by our director Shawn – has been instru- mental in championing the needs of our community. We feel that there has been an honest and


open reflection of what is working and what is not and a recommitment to downtown safety, created in a strategic manner. And most importantly we sense an emo-


tional buy-in to the plan by WPS. Emotional buy-in for me, at least, is the in- gredient which sustains collaboration, com-


mitment and success. Tis emotional buy-in goes beyond management; it penetrates right down to the front line foot patrols. I would like to particularly acknowledge


our WPS foot patrols who have been work- ing with our Watch and CHAT program over the last several years, making a difference, building community. We also feel that this new WPS plan has


been validated by downtowners. We con- ducted many interviews over the summer as part of our own reflection on our internal overall strategic plan. What we heard from more than 2,000 downtowners is that they are no longer talking about crime, but they are talking about social challenges and safety perceptions. Tey feel the downtown


Host an event downtown H


Over $150,000 in grants available in 2017 and 2018 to event organizers


urry. Time is running out to ap- ply for a grant to host an event downtown.


For the third year in a row, the Down-


town Winnipeg BIZ is formally reaching out to local event planners to invite them to host their events downtown. Te Host It Downtown program is an


initiative that offers individual event planners and organizations the oppor- tunity to apply for grant funding to hold their events in the City’s downtown. Successful applicants also receive edu- cation, expert advice, and a wide range of supports and resources to make their event a success. The goal of the Host It Downtown


program is to encourage activity in the city center and help reinforce the area as Winnipeg’s most entertaining, exciting and vibrant year-round meeting spot and playground. Te program helps reduce the risk inherent in developing or relocat- ing an event downtown, while simultane- ously providing an incentive to develop or move an event downtown. “Host It Downtown came about in 2015


as we saw a need to assist event planners and organizations with their events in terms of funding options, liaising with partners including the City of Winnipeg, and providing creative support,” explains Stefano Grande, the Downtown Winni- peg BIZ CEO.


highly successful Interstellar Rodeo, the Winnipeg BBQ and Blues Festival which took over Smith Street near the Burton Cummings Teatre, and the brand new Manitoba Filipino Street Festival. In keeping with the Host It Downtown


criteria, all 21 of last year’s funded events were held outdoors or had a significant outdoor component, and most were held in the winter, evenings, or weekends. Te program’s criteria are the same this


year. Events must take place outdoors, and should, ideally, be planned for the winter, an evening or weekend. Tey can be relocated, recurring, one-time only or completely original, and must be sustain- able and have a minimal environmental impact. Beyond that, anything goes. Te events


“Te BIZ loves seeing events happen


throughout the year,” Grande adds, “and we believe that we can be the catalyst to help drive more events, creating great ex- periences for our guests and showcasing our downtown. Activating our downtown is a strategic goal developed as part of our eight point strategy in the 2017-2019 Stra-


tegic Plan. Host It Downtown continues to give more opportunities to invite guests to experience downtown Winnipeg.” In 2016,the Host It Downtown Commit-


tee approved $48,000 in funding for 21 new or relocated festivals, parades, con- cert sand showcases. Tese included the very green St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the


downtownwinnipegbiz.com (204) 958-4640


info@downtownwinnipegbiz.com 426 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0C9 February 2017 www.smartbizwpg.com Smart Biz 9


can be fun, or they can be serious. Tey can be educational or purely entertain- ing. Events can run for a few hours or for several days. Tey can feature local talent or imported artists and they can celebrate a single culture or rejoice in our City’s remarkable diversity. Applications for the 2017 Host It Down-


town program can be found now at http://downtownwinnipegbiz.com/wp- content/uploads/2015/05/Feb-2017-Host- It-Application.pdf. Completed applications must be sub- mitted by February 1, 2017.


is safe, but we need to move the needle more in the evening. Tey feel social intervention is the key to making our downtown safer and healthier for everyone. And the WPS plan hits on all of these im-


portant reflections and again acknowledges that safety in general can only be improved when crime prevention is applied through a social lens and in a collaborative manner. I’d like to thank the support of WPS and


our Police Chief to improve our city, the commitment of City Hall, the Police Board and our Mayor for their commitment to a downtown that is safe and healthy for everyone. Stefano Grande is CEO of the Downtown


Winnipeg Biz.


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