Board and Committee Meetings

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, March 27 @ 2:30pm

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82696003482?pwd=RWx2N0lZNHlhcWgzazhpOTBmdTFHdz09

Meeting ID: 826 9600 3482
Passcode: 845154

You can stream the meeting here: https://youtube.com/live/RRQyLBV15cA?feature=share

Meeting Minutes

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2022 Minutes

Please request meeting minutes prior to 2021 by emailing kat@mydowntown.

Past Meetings

Monday, February, 27th, 2023 – Board of Directors Meeting

Monday, January 23rd, 2023 – Board of Directors Meeting

Monday, November 28th, 2022 – Board of Directors Meeting

Monday, October 31st, 2022 – Board of Directors Meeting

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

2022 AGM – Video

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

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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

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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

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Streetscape & Sustainability Working Group

The Committee assists the Board in fulfilling the below mentioned Strategic Plan Priorities:

1. Create seasonal horticultural plan
2. Create partnership/sponsorship offer to support seasonal horticultural plan
3. Create maintenance and cleanliness standards
4. Work with culture committee, public arts committee, NAC… to create ‘art’ bike racks
5. Expand public Art installations
6. Add signage and plaques to recognize built heritage, indigenous, LGBTQ+ and black community 
7. Create and promote bike routes
8. 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