Please note the City of St. Catharines will be providing Conflict of Interest and Code of Conduct Training on Monday, September 18 @ 6PM. Find further details below.
2023 Meeting Schedule
Please note working group and committee meetings are currently online. Our Board Meetings are in the process of transitioning to a hybrid meeting in-person and via zoom. If you are interested in attending any meetings please reach out to kat@mydowntown.ca for more information.
Board of Management Meetings
The St. Catharines Downtown Association is governed by a Board of Management approved by St. Catharines City Council for a four-year term, concurrent with the City of St. Catharines Councillors’ term of office. The Board of Management controls the Association’s activities and approves all policies.
The Board of Management meets a minimum of 10 times per year on a regular basis (monthly). Members of the public are welcome to attend. Please RSVP in advance to Rachel Braithwaite, Executive Director, phone 905-685-8424 or email rachel@mydowntown.ca
Meeting for Monday, September 25 @ 12:00pm
In-person at Silver Spire United Church (366 St. Paul Street)
Zoom option available, please email rachel@mydowntown.ca for zoom link.
A recording of this meeting will be available after.
2023 Meeting Minutes
2022 Meeting Minutes
Please request meeting minutes prior to 2022 by emailing kat@mydowntown.
Watch Past Meetings
A recording of our recent meetings can be found on YouTube.
Annual General Meeting
The St. Catharines Downtown Association conducts an Annual General Meeting (AGM) each year. The financial statements of the previous year along with the current fiscal budget are reviewed and voted on by the Association members present at the AGM.
The members of the St. Catharines Downtown Association, the designated Business Improvement Area (BIA), consist of persons who are assessed on the last returned assessment roll with respect to rateable property in the area that is in a prescribed business property class and tenants of such property.
The next Annual General Meeting will be held on March 8th, 2023
Committees/Working Groups
Events Working Group
Events bring people into our Downtown core and help us showcase our diverse community and businesses. The role of the Events Working Group is to plan events and activations throughout the year. Responsibilities of the Events Working Group members include:
- Regular attendance to bi-weekly meetings
- Represent whole BIA in consideration of all businesses & areas
Priority focuses of the Events Work
- Ensure diverse events to include all groups (i.e. BIPOC, international students, senior citizens, children, etc)
- Create an annual calendar of proposed events & budget
- Ensure opportunities for membership is included in planning
- Make sure funding is fair – RFP for funding and sponsorships that do not interfere with other businesses
- Submit marketing requests to Promotions & Marketing committee
- Provide staff with direction and support in planning event
Marketing & Communications Working Group
Promotions & Marketing of the Downtown core help to tell the story of our businesses while building awareness, support and engagement from our community. The role of the Promotions & Marketing Committee is to develop promotions and an overall strategy to communicate these messages. Responsibilities of the Promotions & Marketing Committee members include:
- Regular attendance to monthly meetings
- Represent whole BIA in consideration of all businesses & areas
- Ensure diverse representation for all groups
- Create an annual calendar of proposed marketing & promotional strategies along with budget
- Ensure opportunities for membership is included in planning
- Make sure funding is fair – RFP for funding and sponsorships that do not interfere with other businesses
Governance Committee
The governance committee is a Standing Committee of the Board. Its main purpose is to maximise Board effectiveness through the development and maintenance of appropriate governance principles and practices; and to advise the Board of Directors in fulfilling its governance oversight responsibilities;
Priorities for 2022 include:
- Creation of Social Media Policy
- Creation of Records Retention Policy
- Look into creating Memorandum of Understanding with the City of St Catharines
Streetscape & Sustainability Working Group
The Committee assists the Board in fulfilling the below mentioned Strategic Plan Priorities:
- Create seasonal horticultural plan
- Create partnership/sponsorship offer to support seasonal horticultural plan
- Create maintenance and cleanliness standards
- Work with culture committee, public arts committee, NAC… to create ‘art’ bike racks
- Expand public Art installations
- Add signage and plaques to recognize built heritage, indigenous, LGBTQ+ and black community
- Create and promote bike routes
- Stronger implementation of property standards
Other initiatives:
- Streetscape Improvements
- Improving Accessibility
- Beautification (planters, banners, lights, infrastructure maintenance)
- Increasing art downtown
- Sustainability Improvements
- Increasing the number of trees downtown
- Improving bike infrastructure and walkability
- Work with local organizations to improve storm water management, air quality and more
- Tactical Urbanism through initiatives like
- 100 in 1 day: https://www.100in1day.ca
- Better Block Program: https://www.betterblock.org
- Cigarette litter
- Look at these initiatives: https://www.agreenerfuture.ca/the-butt-blitz
- Create inventory of receptacles
- Request City to install and maintain
- Remove current broken infrastructure
- Garbage
- Containers are unsightly and move around to easily
- Create inventory of receptacles
- Look at other options/ideas used in other cities
- Request City to update and maintain infrastructure
More About Member Resources
Member ResourcesAbout SCDA
Created in 1973, the St. Catharines Downtown Association is a provincially legislated, not-for-profit Business Improvement Area (BIA).
More About SCDA & New Member WelcomeMember ResourcesOur Team Staff and Board of Management
The SCDA team is made up of our staff and board members.
More About Our Team, Committees, MeetingsMember ResourcesPrograms and Incentives
The City of St. Catharines provides a variety of financial incentive programs to the private sector.
More About Programs and IncentivesMember ResourcesGarbage and Recycling
Collection boundaries, schedules and important waste collection information.
More About Garbage and RecyclingMember ResourcesGraffiti
Any criminal activity should be reported to the police and to the Downtown Association.
More About GraffitiMember ResourcesCity and Government Resources
Useful links for members.
More About City and Government ResourcesMember ResourcesFiles, Reports & Downloads
Resources for members to download.
More About Files, Reports & DownloadsMember ResourcesMember Communications
Email communications for members
More About Member Communications