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On The Horizon

Downtown Duncan BIA Newsletter

October 17, 2024. 

There are plenty of events and activities "On The Horizon" Check out the articles below for up-to-date info about what the DDBIA currently has in the works.

On The Horizon - October 30th, 2024

In this issue:



Station Street Common Update – shovels in the ground in 26 days!

 Construction begins on Monday, November 25th.  As the traffic and equipment management plan is rolled out – we will keep you informed! 

 

A big SALE on Station Street Common planters and pots

 As soon as Christmas Kick-Off is tucked away for another year, construction on Station Street Common begins Monday, November 25th.  We have items in the park that are “ours” (the DDBIA has invested some significant dollars in that Park over the years) so the Board has provided us with direction on how to “give back” to our members (as all DDBIA owned items will need to be removed from the Park).

 

  • 11 cedar planter boxes (each $25 / comes with whatever plants are in them) See Item #1

  • 3 square cedar planter boxes (each $25 / comes with whatever plants are in them) See Item #2

  • 2 round planter pots (glazed ceramic / comes with whatever plants are in them - $30 each). See Items #3 and #4

  • 1 metal arbour ($100) See item #5

  • 1 round concrete pot (comes with whatever plant is in it - $30). See item #6

 

Please email us here ddbia@downtownduncan.ca and reserve your choice (first come, first served). See the pictures below and give us the number.   Please e-transfer the money to us at ddbia@downtownduncan.ca.  All items are final sale and MUST BE REMOVED BY November 17th.   




Get Ready for the Annual DDBIA Christmas Kick-Off Event!  NEW TIMES

Join us on Friday, November 22nd, for an evening full of holiday cheer and festive fun. With live entertainment, food trucks, and a visit from Santa, this year’s celebration promises to be unforgettable!


Event Details:

  • Start Time: 5:00 PM

  • Santa's Schedule: Arrives at 5:30 PM, departs at 8:30 PM

  • Event End Time: 9:00 PM


Street Closures:

  • Craig Street: From Station to Ingram

  • Kenneth Street: From approximately Fabrications to the Nha Trang parking lot (all Kenneth Street parking lots will remain open)

  • City Square: Including Lois Lane (from the corner of Belongings)

  • Station Street: Will remain open due to construction in Station Street Common


Highlights:

  • Fireworks at 8:45 PM in City Square

  • Enjoy roasted chestnuts, carolers, a dance stage, and a warming tent for the whole family!


Help Make the Christmas Kick-Off Event a Success!

We need your support to bring the magic to life. Whether you can volunteer for an hour or the whole evening, your help is invaluable—especially at the start and end of the night. If you’re interested in volunteering, please reach out and be a part of this festive community event!  Call Gill at 250.715.1700 or email us at ddbia@downtownduncan.ca .


Get Ready for the Christmas Window Decorating Contest!

Our annual Christmas Window Decorating Contest is back, kicking off on November 22 at the Christmas Kick-Off event—and voting opens same day!

This year’s contest offers two BIG prizes (Voters Choice and BOD Choice).  Themes are:

  • The Christmas Sweater

  • West Coast Christmas


Voting will be done online, and all participating businesses will receive a special window poster with a QR code for easy voting access. Get creative and join in the festive fun!  And the best part – we will be running several social media campaigns to promote your gorgeous windows and your business! If you plan to participate, please let us know so we can make sure you get a poster for your window and are added to the list of participating businesses. Pre-register now by contacting us via email, or hit the button below to fill out the opt in form!






Commercial Space Available for Lease!

Looking for the perfect spot to grow your business in downtown Duncan? A prime corner unit at 157 Trunk Road is now available for lease! Located in the well-known services building at the corner of Trunk Road and Brae Road—home to reputable tenants like Hearing Life, Diamond Eyecare, and Alert First-Aid—this 979 sq ft unit is ideal for retail, office, or service-based businesses.  To learn more and see photos, visit Fort Properties' website. Don’t miss this opportunity to secure a fantastic location for your business!



Sip and Shop on December 5 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm

PlentiFill and the DDBIA have joined forces once again to bring you "Sip and Shop", in an effort to bring shoppers downtown for an evening of extended shopping hours and libations! In years past we have been blessed with the participation of over 20 businesses - making this event a well-rounded (and attended) activity. We are still in the planning phase of this event, and at this point, we would like to formally extend an invitation to members to join in the fun by opting in! The event is slated to take place on December 5th. If you are interested in participating or have any questions about the event - get in touch with us by responding to this email directly, or clicking the opt-in/out button below. Let's get those jingle bells - and cash registers ringing!





 Future Events

  • Sip and Shop – December 5 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

  • Member Social – December 12 location TBD

  • DFM and downtown NIGHT MARKET – November 21st

  • Christmas Kick-Off – November 22nd

  • Christmas Contest Window Themes (two BIG PRIZES this year):  The Christmas Sweater AND / OR West Coast Christmas awarded on December 20th. 






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On The Horizon - October 17th, 2024

In this issue:

Trick or Treating Downtown

Join us for the annual Downtown Duncan Trick-or-Treating event on Saturday, October 26, from 10 am to noon!  If your business would like to participate and display a pumpkin poster in your window to show you're part of the fun, please let us know so we can distribute the pumpkin posters to you!  The pumpkin will have a QR code on it listing all the stores that will be participating in Trick or Treating so please let us know if we are adding you to the list! 

We'll be promoting the event on social media, and kids will be on the lookout for the pumpkin posters to know which businesses are handing out treats (and checking out the QR code on the Poster).  Let’s make this a spooktacular event for the community!


Get Ready for the Annual DDBIA Christmas Kick-Off Event!  NEW TIMES

Join us on Friday, November 22nd, for an evening full of holiday cheer and festive fun. With live entertainment, food trucks, and a visit from Santa, this year’s celebration promises to be unforgettable!


Event Details:

  • Start Time: 5:00 PM

  • Santa's Schedule: Arrives at 5:30 PM, departs at 8:30 PM

  • Event End Time: 9:00 PM

Street Closures:

  • Craig Street: From Station to Ingram

  • Kenneth Street: From approximately Fabrications to the Nha Trang parking lot (Kenneth Street parking lots will remain open)

  • City Square: Including Lois Lane

  • Station Street: Will remain open due to construction in Station Street Common

Highlights:

  • Fireworks at 8:45 PM in City Square

  • Enjoy roasted chestnuts, carolers, a dance stage, and a warming tent for the whole family!



Help Make the Christmas Kick-Off Event a Success!

We need your support to bring the magic to life. Whether you can volunteer for an hour or the whole evening, your help is invaluable—especially at the start and end of the night. If you’re interested in volunteering, please reach out and be a part of this festive community event!  Call Gill at 250.715.1700 or email us at ddbia@downtownduncan.ca 


Station Street Common Update

Exciting news! The construction contract for the Station Street Placemaking Project has been awarded to Echelon Creative Inc. from Nanaimo. The contractors have two weeks to complete the required documentation, which will finalize the contract and include an updated construction schedule. Discussions are underway regarding laydown space, sidewalk closures, and street closures.  There will be, from time to time, street closures on Station and Craig Streets (not guaranteed but likely) and the loss of two or so parking spots as well (again from time to time as large equipment is moving in and out) but we are committed to giving you as much advance notice as possible when these occur.  Additionally, the Nha Trang parking lot will be impacted most as the main construction equipment and trailers will be located there to avoid street closures.  As the contractor confirms their work schedule, the City will be in touch with businesses most impacted (temporary loss of parking stalls).  We ask for everyone’s patience on this and trust that the new park will drive greater visitation to us, and give our visitors and shoppers another opportunity to linger in our vibrant unique downtown (not to mention a great place for us to gather for our workday lunches and meetings and other gatherings)!  

Additionally, the process of finalizing the names for the new park is also underway, with further consultations planned to ensure accurate spellings and translations of the three name pairs selected in August. Once finalized, these name options will go out to the public for a vote—stay tuned for more details on how you can participate!


Reminder: Duncan Farmers Market Night Market – TONIGHT!

The Duncan Farmers Market Night Market is TONIGHT! If your business will be staying open late during the event, please let us know by filling out our handy sign-up form. This helps us keep the community informed and ensures everyone has an updated list of open businesses. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to engage with the crowd—sign up today!


Get Ready for the Christmas Window Decorating Contest!

Our annual Christmas Window Decorating Contest is back, kicking off on November 22 at the Christmas Kick-Off event—and voting opens same day!

This year’s contest offers two BIG prizes (Voters Choice and BOD Choice).  Themes are:

  • The Christmas Sweater

  • West Coast Christmas

Voting will be done online, and all participating businesses will receive a special window poster with a QR code for easy voting access. Get creative and join in the festive fun!  And the best part – we will be running several social media campaigns to promote your gorgeous windows and your business!

If you plan to participate, please let us know so we can make sure you get a poster for your window and are added to the list of participating businesses.


Laine Vintage Underground Mall

Laine Vintage is moving (and expanding) with the opening of the new Laine Vintage Underground Mall!

On November 1st, Laine Vintage will open a new retail location at 79 Station St. (aka the Hudson Block and the former home of the Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store). The new store will include a 1900 sq ft main-level retail space, and a 1400 sq ft Vintage Vendor Mall in the heart of downtown Duncan, right next door to Station Street Common.  If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, please visit their website at https://www.lainevintage.ca/laine-vintage-mall 

to fill out their online waitlist form to get on the list!   


Request for Proposal: Cowichan Women Against Violence Society (CWAVS)

CWAVS is seeking proposals from experienced professional services firms to develop a five-year strategic plan, guiding the organization through 2030. For more details, please see the attached RFP.





BIABC Election Update

Ahead of the upcoming election, BIABC sent six questions—developed from a June survey of small and medium-sized businesses—to the three main political parties. Responses have been received from the BC NDP and Conservative Party of BC, while the Green Party of BC did not respond by the deadline. The full responses are available on the BIABC website.

The questions addressed key issues including community safety, mental health, addictions, housing, sick leave policies, support for small businesses, and the potential creation of a stand-alone ministry for small business. Members are encouraged to review these questions and consider discussing them with local candidates. For more details, visit the BIABC website.


 Future Events

  • DFM and downtown NIGHT MARKET – October 17th

  • Downtown Trick or Treating – October 26 from 10:00 to 12:00 pm (look for the pumpkin in the window!)

  • Sip and Shop – December 5 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

  • Member Social – December 12 location TDB

  • DFM and downtown NIGHT MARKET – November 21st

  • Christmas Kick-Off – November 22nd

  • Christmas Contest Window Themes (two BIG PRIZES this year):  The Christmas Sweater AND / OR West Coast Christmas.



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On The Horizon - October 2nd, 2024

In this issue:

The DDBIA All-Candidates Forum – submit your questions and attend next Monday!

We’re excited to announce that the DDBIA is hosting an All-Candidates Forum ahead of the October 7th election. This forum, moderated by Katherine Devine, Executive Director of the DDBIA, will focus on small business issues and is a crucial opportunity for our downtown business community to engage directly with candidates.


We encourage you to submit your questions in advance to ddbia@downtownduncan.ca to ensure that the concerns of Downtown Duncan’s businesses are at the forefront of this important discussion.


The event will take place at

Duncan United Church on Monday, October 7th from 7 pm to 9 pm. Let’s make sure our voices are heard!

 

City Square Tree Replacement Survey – vote NOW

 

This is an opportunity for our downtown members to select the replacement trees in City Square. The American Sweetgum trees in City Square were planted in 2005 as part of the City Square upgrades. In the time since, it has become evident that these trees are unfortunately not suitable for the locations where they were planted and need to be removed and replaced.


The decision to remove the American Sweetgum trees is based on several factors. At full maturity, these trees reach heights of 60-70 feet with a spread of 40-50 feet. The trees on the west side of City Square are planted within 10 feet of buildings, while those in the center of the square are spaced just 10 feet apart. This limited space restricts the full expansion of their canopies. Additionally, the trees have a shallow root system that is sensitive to pollution and has caused multiple tripping hazards by lifting the brick paving stones.

Moreover, the species is susceptible to large branch failures due to weak branch attachments, a problem exacerbated during significant snowfall or in the spring when heavy seed pods form on the limbs. These issues are especially concerning given the high pedestrian and vehicular traffic beneath the trees through City Square. The seedpods shedding also creates an additional tripping and/or slipping hazard. 


Please note that all of the trees that are shading the benches in City Square will remain in place. Only the five Sweetgum trees along the middle of the parking aisles are being removed and replaced.



Trick or Treating Downtown

Join us for the annual Downtown Duncan Trick-or-Treating event on Saturday, October 26, from 10 am to noon pm!  If your business would like to participate and display a pumpkin decal in your window to show you're part of the fun, please let us know so we can distribute the pumpkin posters to you!  We'll be promoting the event on social media, and kids will be on the lookout for the pumpkin posters to know which businesses are handing out treats.  Let’s make this a spooktacular event for the community!



Affordable Professional Office Space for Rent – $500/Month with FREE Wifi!

Looking for the perfect office space in downtown Duncan? We have a great opportunity for you at 111 Station Street available November 1st!!

  • $500/month

  • Free Wi-Fi included

  • Access to shared kitchen and bathroom facilities

  • Convenient downtown location


Ideal for small businesses, freelancers, or anyone looking for an affordable and professional workspace.  For more details or to book a viewing, contact us today at ddbia@downtownduncan.ca!


Station Street Common Update

Exciting news! The construction contract for the Station Street Placemaking Project has been awarded, and while we’re still awaiting a confirmed timeline for construction, we’ll keep you updated as soon as more information becomes available. Additionally, the process of finalizing the names for the area is underway, with further consultation planned to ensure accurate spellings and translations of the three name pairs selected in August. Once finalized, these name options will go out to the public for a vote—stay tuned for more details on how you can participate!


Reminder: Duncan Farmers Market Night Market – October 17!

The Duncan Farmers Market Night Market is just around the corner on October 17!

If your business will be staying open late during the event, please let us know by filling out our handy sign-up form. This helps us keep the community informed and ensures everyone has an updated list of open businesses. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to engage with the crowd—sign up today!


Get Ready for the Christmas Window Decorating Contest!

Our annual Christmas Window Decorating Contest is back, kicking off on November 22 at the Christmas Kick-Off event—and voting opens the same day!


This year’s contest offers two BIG prizes (Voters Choice and BOD Choice).  Themes are:

  • The Christmas Sweater

  • West Coast Christmas


Voting will be done online, and all participating businesses will receive a special window poster with a QR code for easy voting access. Get creative and join in the festive fun!  And the best part – we will be running several social media campaigns to promote your gorgeous windows and your business!

 

Future Events

  • DDBIA All Candidates Forum – October 7th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm

  • DFM and downtown NIGHT MARKET – October 17th

  • Downtown Trick or Treating – October 26 from 10:00 to 12:00 pm (look for the pumpkin in the window!)

  • Sip and Shop – December 5 from 6:00 om to 9:00 pm

  • Member Social – December 12 location TDB

  • DFM and downtown NIGHT MARKET – November 21st

  • Christmas Kick-Off – November 22nd

  • Christmas Contest Window Themes (two BIG PRIZES this year):  The Christmas Sweater AND / OR West Coast Christmas.



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