30 YEARSHIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST

JANICE MANDERSExecutive Director, 1992-1996

Janice was the organization’s first, full-time, professional leader. Looking back, she credits

strong board leadership, in the form of people like Bill Perkins, Maurice Lloyd, Frank Schwartz, David Garrett, Bill Hardman, and others, as being instrumental in getting the organization running and ready for great things ahead.

Under Janice’s leadership, the fledgling DHBC, expanded their boundaries, were instrumental at working to have the Halifax Casino located Downtown, rather than Bayers Lake, and completed the first Downtown Strategic Plan. “It was the first time any organized group had ever come together to share their common visions and identify ways to make the vision for Downtown a reality,” Janice recalls. “It also allowed us to really identify the deficiencies and red tape at City Hall, while developing solutions that the business community could/would support.”

Another highlight of Janice’s time was the successfully lobbying to have seasonal patios on Argyle Street – it’s hard to believe that before 1995, the city did not permit sidewalk cafés. Janice will, perhaps, be best remembered as steering the direction of Downtown, with the successful G7 Economic Summit. “The fact that we had a plan with

wide-spread support made it easier for us to point out specific projects and focus for the provincial and federal money that poured into the city for the G7 Summit. The short-term improvement projects that would have been hard to fund were done, we were able to articulate and then implement a terrific marketing plan through the ‘Love the Way We Live’ campaign and the community – residents and business owners – all benefited tremendously.”

Janice now lives in Poquoson, Virginia; retired from the downtown world but maintaining her entrepreneurial spirit. She is a certified interior decorator with her own interior design business, Powell Home, and is a global skincare consultant with Rodan + Fields.

30 YEARSHIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST

KATE CARMICHAELExecutive Director, 1996-2001

Kate Carmichael, former city councillor, was the obvious successor for Janice Manders because of her

skill and drive, and she would soon make the role of Downtown leader all her own. Sadly, Kate’s all-too-short term as executive director of DHBC ended when she passed away in October 2001, from complications of leukemia. Though she was a force to be reckoned with for her entire time, it was in the final year of her life, when she used the extra attention being called to her, to continue to promote the importance of Downtown.

“Our customer base and our membership base were purely Downtown Halifax. So I felt that gave us an opportunity to be bullish on Downtown – without having to apologize to anybody,” said Kate. “I just love this place. I absolutely love Halifax. I really feel that we have to build pride in this city. We may be a well-kept secret, but we’re better and we have all the potential in the world if we develop some pride in ourselves and take some risks.”

Today, Kate Carmichael is remembered as an urban champion in Halifax and beyond. Regional Council named Carmichael Street after her, and The Carmichael Lecture is held annually in her honour.

30 YEARSHIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST

PAUL MACKINNONExecutive Director, 2002-present

“As DHBC celebrates 30 years, it is awfully hard to believe that I have been the Executive

Director for half of that time,” says Paul MacKinnon, the current Executive Director. In his previous role, with the Spring Garden Area Business Association, Paul was already very familiar with the organization and had worked with Kate Carmichael, when he was called to fill her shoes.

Starting the role, he inherited some work already underway, such as the Barrington Street Heritage Conservation District, and other planning initiatives, such as the Cogswell Interchange studies, and Argyle Streetscape plan. “The main challenge facing Downtown in 2002 was that the city had seen decades of robust growth and development, but it was all happening outside of the core – at the same time that other cities were discovering densification and urban development. Things had to change, and yet there was little political will to do so. We had to make the case that Downtown needed to be an area of focus – and then we had to drive investment here.”

Where previously DHBC had been a lone voice in championing the Downtown, partnerships with other organizations became critical. Research, advocacy, and

these partnerships began to create momentum where Downtown was broadly seen as critical to the region’s health and success. Working with stakeholders and the city’s planning department became a primary role, and eventually resulted in the adoption, in 2009, of HRM by Design and the Barrington Heritage Conservation District. What followed was a new era of development and government investment in the Downtown.

“Downtowns are always evolving. That’s their nature. Fifteen years ago, no one was concerned about construction disrupting their business, because we’d gone decades with no development at all. Now it’s a big concern and we have to figure out better ways to manage it. We need to figure out how to maintain a vibrant street life, when the retail industry is changing so rapidly. We need new solutions to the age-old challenges of parking and panhandling. But at the end of the day, our job has not changed. We are here to support our members, and keep Downtown Halifax a great place to be. It’s the best job in the world.”

30 YEARSHIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST

30 YEARSHIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST

1. Hosted G7 Economic Summit in Downtown Halifax, and promoted “Love the Way We Live” (1995).2. Successfully advocated for HRM to allow seasonal sidewalk cafés (1995).3. Won awards from the International Downtown Association for DHBC’s Strategic Plan (1994) and marketing campaigns (2011 and 2015).4. Co-founded, with Spring Garden Area Business Association, the annual Holiday Parade of Lights. The event began in 1996, and is still held every year, drawing 100,000 spectators.5. Vice-Chaired the Urban Design Task Force, which oversaw the creation of a new Downtown Plan, “HRM by Design,” officially adopted in 2009.6. Conducted several studies of Barrington Street (Lydon Lynch, Garrett Architects, Ekistics), culminating in it being designated as Halifax’s first Heritage Conservation District (2009).7. Produced “Festival ECMA” to coincide and expand the East Coast Music Awards, when they were held in Halifax in 1997.8. Created the award-winning “Toward the Year 2000” strategic plan.9. Moved to a street-front location in 2015 to be more accessible to members and visitors.10. With HRM Planning, executed the “Mingle on Argyle” pilot project in 2015, to test the principles of a shared street and promote a new streetscape plan. The pilot paved the way for a permanent new streetscape, which was constructed in 2017.11. Was a founding member of the Strategic Urban Partnership, which brought a renewed focus to Downtown issues by HRM and stakeholder groups.12. With other BIDs, successfully advocated for the province to make legislative changes to improve commercial taxation in Halifax 2016. 13. Was one of the first 10 city participants in the 2012 “Value of Canadian Downtowns” research undertaken by the Canadian Urban Institute.14. Organized and ran the Halifax Lights

Holiday Market, at Historic Properties, in 2015 and 2016.15. Co-founder of Our HRM Alliance, in 2012, to advocate for improvements to the Regional Plan, create a greenbelt, and increase main street investment.16. Produced a TV show, “Downtown Now,” on Eastlink TV that started in 1997.17. Produced the 12 episodes of the web series “Big Day Downtown” (2012).18. Operated FRED (Free Rides Everywhere Downtown), a shuttle bus, from 1997 to 2010.19. Had a representative on the Board of the International Downtown Association from 2006 to 2012.20. Have organized 23 consecutive (and counting) Clean Sweep events (including a bonus one, following Hurricane Juan, in 2003).21. Created The Carmichael Lecture series in 2001, to honour the legacy of Kate Carmichael. Speakers have included Phyllis Lambert, David Crombie, and Naheed Nenshi.22. Began advocating for the redevelopment of the Cogswell Interchange in the 1990s. We’re still at it.23. Created a Sunday market in Grand Parade in the days when there was no Sunday shopping in Nova Scotia.24. Helped organize the “Halifax Play Hard” festival, to coincide with the Juno Awards, in Halifax in 2006. 25. Organized the “Dog Days of Summer” event, in Grand Parade, in 2013 and 2014.26. Brought coloured picnic tables to Downtown in 2013.27. Created the Big Day Downtown Awards to recognize businesses in Downtown Halifax.28. DHBC’s Enviro Team has kept Downtown Halifax clean for the last 23 years.29. Introduced and managed the Gritty to Pretty beatification grant program, which has distributed $127,000 in grant money since 2015.30. Initiated the program and installed, with the Mayor’s Office, the poster kiosks and pole collars in 2002.

30 YEARS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS In no particular order

Adriana Afford Argyle Fine ArtPatricia Aikens Judith Anderson Fireworks GalleryMary Jane Andrews KPMGJennifer Angel Waterfront DevelopmentMike Ardenne Ardenne International Inc.Patty Baxter Metro Guide PublishingRalph Beal Stuart Blair Atlantic Shopping Ctrs.Dan Bourque Crombie REITWinston Bradley Chris Brown KPMGDamian Byrne Split Crow PubCharles Burchell The Book RoomEric Burchill Southwest Properties Ltd.Bill Campbell Waterfront DevelopmentColin Campbell UpCountryRoss Cantwell Colliers InternationalNicholas Carson Prince George HotelJohn Colwell Colwell Brothers Inc.Peter Conrod National Bank of CanadaLiz Crocker Woozles/P’loversAlderman Mary Ann Crowley City Council

Krista Dempsey Halifax Port AuthorityPeter Dickson City HallHarvey Doane Waterfront DevelopmentJennie Dobbs Morris East RestaurantPeter Doig Nova Scotia PowerJim Donovan Halifax Regional MunicipalityTerry Doran Halifax Developments LimitedRick Emberley Jeff Farwell Murphy’s The Cable WharfScott Ferguson World Trade and Convention CentreAlderman Fitzgerald City CouncilFiona Fitzgerald Celtic TraditionsSarah Flynn ColourRenée Fournier Brien Fraser Fraser & Hoyt TravelRita Fraser City HallAustin French City HallWendy Friedman Biscuit General StoreDavid Garrett ArchitectLeila Gashus The Paper GardenDavid Godfrey Perry Gordon Dalhousie University MPA Student

Al Graham Pork Pie HatTrevor Green BMOPaul Greenhalgh NSCAD UniversityJacqueline Hamilton City HallWilliam Hardman The Hardman GroupCharles Hardy Hardy AppraisalsChristopher Huck Montgomerie, Huck & Co.Rakesh Jain Green Haley Jain & PyeMatthew Jarsky Fowler Bauld & Mitchell ArchitectsAlan Jeffers Mobil OilSue Kapsalis Blowers Street Paper ChaseMike Kennedy Canadian Bacon CookhouseSusan Kidney Landmark Development CorporationJennie King Royal Nova Scotia International TattooRob Landry Starfish PropertiesJohn Lindsay Jr. Michel Lindthaler Perks RestaurantMaurice Lloyd UMA EngineeringRobert Logan Trade Centre LimitedWilliam Lydon Lydon Lynch Architects Ltd.

DHBC BOARD MEMBERS (PAST AND PRESENT)

Andy Lynch Lydon Lynch Architects Ltd.Margaret MacDonald City HallSandy MacDonald Aliant Customer Service CentreFred MacGillivray Trade Centre LimitedSue MacMillan Grant ThorntonJoanne Macrae The Office of Andy Fillmore, MPJan Malone AmbienceTim Margolian Commercial Leasing and Brokerage Ltd.Councillor Waye Mason City HallKarin McCaskill Stewart McKelvey Scott McCrea Armour GroupDenise McDonald Mountain Equipment Co-opScott McGaw Meridia RecruitmentDr. Euan McGinty Ocean OptometryJoe McGuinness Durty Nelly’s and The Stubborn GoatGeorge McLellan City HallSimpson McLeod City HallCathy Merriman The LoopSean Mudge The Armour Group

Anne Muecke Griffiths MueckeRichard Murphy Murphy’s On The WaterWayne Myers Sue O’Grady Doane RaymondPino Pagnottella Sterling PropertiesWendy Paquette Aliant TelecomJennifer Parker Nova Scotia PowerWilliam Perkins Halifax DevelopmentsMark Peyton Sailor Bup’s BarbershopMarc Pinet Freedom 55 FinancialAlyson Queen Bell AliantGeof Ralph Partners GlobalJeff Ransome Halifax Marriott Harbourfront HotelDavid Reardon McInnes Cooper & RobertsonBernard Riordan Art Gallery of Nova ScotiaSuzanne Saul Attica Furnishings Ltd.Bradley Savoy Urban OutfittersFrank Schwartz KPMG ConsultingDr. Sachin Seth Bishop’s Landing Dental CentreCraig Sievert Sieverts Ltd.Allan Silverman

Councillor Dawn SloaneBernie Smith John Smith Stewart McKelveyRob Sobey Sobeys IncPaul Stackhouse Cambridge Suites HotelGordon Stevens The Uncommon Group of CompaniesSimone Stewart SAS RestaurantsRichard Stinson Cambridge Suites HotelVictor Syperek Economy Shoe ShopGreg Taylor Colliers InternationalChris Tzaneteas The Argyle Bar and GrillCouncillor Larry Uteck City HallCouncillor Sue Uteck City HallVirgina Veniot Gerry Walsh Gerald Walsh Associates Inc.Councillor Jennifer Watts City HallFred Were Waterfront Development CorporationGlenn Whitehead Mountain Equipment Co-opGordon Whittaker Oakport LimitedPeter Wünsch BreakhouseRobert Younker

30 YEARSHIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST

www.downtownhalifax.ca

DHBC STAFF (PAST AND PRESENT)

Sacha Anderson

Tracy Bennett

Tommy Boutillier

Rachel Brighton

Lori Cadelli

Kate Carmichael

Lorna Carrol

Tracy Chisholm

Mary Cooley

EJ Davis

Kimberly Dossett

Renee Field

Allison Gillis

Linda Goulard

Doris Grant

Deborah Grant

Colleen Henderson

Suzanne Hickey

Ivy Ho

Michael LeBlanc

Heather MacEachern

Paul MacKinnon

Janice Manders

Anna McCurdy

Robyn McIsaac

Marilyn Moore

Kuda Ndadzungira

Holly Richardson

Rhonda Rogers

Myrna Shaw

Brenden Sommerhalder

Jim Trites

Helen Wright