DOWNTOWN LETHBRIDGE

The Downtown Lethbridge Business Revitalization Zone, (BRZ), established in 1987, is a collective of business leaders who believe that the heart of the city beats in its core As a non-profit organization, the BRZ is funded by the 500+ businesses it represents through a tax levy. Membership in the Downtown BRZ is automatic; each business continues to be a member if it falls within the downtown commercial district. The BRZ is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who represent businesses within the zone. The BRZ serves its members by implementing programs to promote Downtown Lethbridge. It highlights downtown through beautification, marketing, public relations and street maintenance initiatives.

What is a BRZ?

Mission

Educate our members about resources, tools, and services Support the community with impactful and value-added services Advocate with a strong voice on policies, issues, and concerns Promote and champion the downtown as a destination to live, visit, shop, and invest

Pillars of the BRZ

Advocacy

Promotion & Marketing

Vibrancy & Beautification

Cleanliness & Safety

A Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ) is also known as a Business Improvement Area (BIA) These organizations are comprised of commercial owners and tenants in a certain geographic area. They often work with the cities they operate in and other community-focused organizations to create thriving, vibrant, and safe business zones that attract shoppers and new businesses. The perks of operating in a BRZ (or BIA) include access to support (such as grants), advocacy (power in numbers), activation of space (through events), and a collective marketing effort.

The past year has been one of stability and improvement In June 2021 the board, with the help of Economic Development Lethbridge, started developing a strategic plan to support and sustain a more effective organization. We now have policies and procedures in place that clarify the governance and operational frameworks for the board and BRZ

The Board of Directors wants to convey appreciation to our Executive Director, Sarah Amies, and her team, for their hard work throughout the year The countless meetings, reports, marketing, and funding initiatives are providing a valuable benefit to the downtown and the BRZ members

Some of our notable achievements include the opening of Festival Square, which is being hailed as a great success with many events taking place Notable among those was in August 2022, the celebrate downtown awards featured over 80 guests in a long table-style dinner Another great opportunity has been the Downtown Safety Education sessions covering relevant community topics. As well, we have seen the expansion of the Clean Sweep Program with more crews and a larger scope of work

We are always grateful for input and ideas from membership Open and honest lines of communication ensure we can serve you to the fullest By working together we will make our downtown a more vibrant, clean safe place to live, work and conduct business in. I thank each of you and ask for your continued support of your DBRZ.

The Board of the Downtown Lethbridge Business Revitalization Zone governs the DBRZ through established policies and protocols. The board provides strategic leadership, sets future goals, approves policies, selects its members, provides services on committees, hires and evaluates the Executive Director, and provides an active link between the board and community.

Lance Gilchrist Chair

Lethbridge Odd Fellows

Kendal Hachkowski

Sumus Properties Group

Cara Draffin Treasurer

Draffins Pharmasave

Vice-Chair

As we reflect on 2022, I am filled with gratitude for the dedication and hard work of our team, as well as the continued support of our downtown community and partners

Despite the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, the opioid crisis, and an anticipated economic slowdown, we have remained committed to our mission of positively impacting downtown. We continued to work on advocacy and promotions, implemented innovative solutions to the encampment and biohazard removal process, and strengthened our partnerships with other community organizations

The grand opening of Festival Square in June 2022 saw a provincial commitment to the vibrancy of our downtown come to fruition The addition of our lovely 18-foot Christmas tree and temporary ice rink added a new element of winter vibrancy

I am very proud of what we have accomplished together and recognize that a lot of what we have achieved has been with the support and trust of our stakeholders Your investment in our work is an investment in the future of our community, and we are grateful for your ongoing partnership. As we look ahead to the coming year, we are eager to build on our successes and pursue new opportunities to create positive change.

Sarah Amies Executive Director

Steven Foord Director

Owl Acoustic Lounge

Tony Fritz Director

Herbal Apothecary

Sheri Kain Director

RBC

Kim Overes Director Naturistas

Scott Warris Analog Books Director

Thank you to our outgoing Board Members:

Dean Wilson Director

King Of Trade/Serious Music Centre

$0$100,000$200,000$300,000$400,000

In April 2022, we launched a downtown wide eGift Card with AnyCard You can purchase eGift Cards online and spend the balance at any participating business. The goal is to faciliate more spending in downtown at local businesses.

$3,300 $3,300 in eGift cards were purchased in 2022.

In 2021, construction began to transform what was originally 16 parking spots into a vibrant and thriving event space in the heart of downtown. Opening in June 2022, Festival Square has become a year-round destination in downtown Lethbridge hosting markets, live music, public patios, and an outdoor ice rink. The Downtown Lethbridge BRZ plays an integral part in the maintenance and operations of the space, as well as manages all bookings

72 72 event Days in Festival Square

45% 45% of the available days had an event booked in Festival Square in 2022

150 150 hours of activity occurred in Festival Square in 2022

The Downtown Lethbridge BRZ was able to create 1 new fulltime position by taking over of Festival Square operations The Operations Coordinator position runs all Festival Square management and supports events and marketing

Event Highlights

Downtown Roller Jam

Hosted by the Roller Skate Lethbridge, skaters could visit Festival Square and enjoy a flat surface to skate on They also hosted an evening skate under the lights!

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest made its return to downtown in September. The event included beer drinking, food, dancing, entertainment, and good times! This multi-day event saw over 300 attendees.

Amazing Viewing Party

A large LED screen was brought to the square to show the Lethbridge episode of the Amazing Race Canada! Over 200 people came down to watch Lethbridge make its debut on the show which aired across Canada

Summer Fam Jam

Hosted by The Gate Church, the Summer Fam Jam included family friendly activities like a bouncy house and entertainment This celebration brought over 100 people to the square to enjoy the summer and spend time with their friends and families

How does the BRZ represent you?

The Downtown Lethbridge BRZ helps to ensure downtown is an attractive area for business and our community, advocates to the municipality, other organizations, and higher governments about issues affecting business, and promotes downtown Lethbridge as a destination to all of Lethbridge and beyond

International Downtown Association Annual Conference

The International Downtown Association Annual Conference gathers directors, marketing associates, program managers, and industry experts to discuss downtown-related issues and initiatives each year This opportunity allows attendees to connect with other BIAs, learn about innovative approaches to problems many downtowns face, and be a part of an organization advocating for downtowns across Canada at the federal level.

Team Lethbridge

Every two years, Team Lethbridge takes delegates from organizations around Lethbridge to the Alberta Legislature to talk to elected officials about all things Lethbridge The Downtown Lethbridge BRZ is proud to be able to attend and advocate to the Government of Alberta about important downtown issues, successes, and goals This event is key to showcasing the Downtown Lethbridge profile and building connections with our community and the government

Committees & Meetings

Employees and board members of the Downtown Lethbridge BRZ participate in and sit on a variety of committees This includes committees such as the coordinated Encampment Response Committee, Heart of Our City Committee, Outreach/Finding Solutions Committee, Social Health Equity Network of Lethbridge (SHENLA), Tourism Lethbridge Attractions Advisory Committee, and Tourism Lethbridge Business Events Advisory Committee. They also attend various meetings throughout the year with a variety of community organizations that focus on safety, parking, grants, the Clean Sweep Program, events, community building, and more.

January 2022 - December 2022

37 37

BRZ events in 2022 Event Highlights

The Downtown Lethbridge BRZ plans, executes, and hosts events and campaigns throughout the year. This includes both annual and one-time events. Events are held in various locations downtown with an emphasis on engaging the Festival Square space

Downtown Farmers' Market & Night Markets

The Downtown Farmers' Market hosts local vendors every Wednesday of the summer The market returned to Festival Square in 2022 The night markets were hosted in the fall in the evenings which had local vendors and music

Downtown Easter Egg Hunt

Eggs were hidden in downtown businesses. Community was encouraged to hunt down the eggs to be entered to win prizes.

Foodie Fest

Foodie Fest brought food trucks to downtown from lunch until sundown. Participating restaurants also offered free samples which attendees could find on a map. This event was held on the last Tuesday of each month in the summer and brought traffic to the core.

Lighting Up Festival Square (Grand Opening Event)

The Festival Square Grand Opening featured three days of music, family-friendly entertainment, food, and fun! A kick-off to a brand new event space.

Celebrate Downtown Awards

Hosted in Festival Square, the Celebrate Downtown awards included a sit-down dinner, drinks, and a celebration of the achievements of the downtown business community.

Christmas Tree Lighting Event

An event to celebrate our brand-new 18-foot Christmas Tree in Festival Square. This event included a lighting of the space, photos with Santa, musical performances, cookie decorating, and hot chocolate.

Festival Square Ice Rink

We brought a real ice rink to Festival Square in December which saw families and friends gather to skate in the square This activated the space at a time when event bookings are lower and created a winter destination in downtown Lethbridge

The Downtown Lethbridge BRZ focuses its marketing and promotional efforts heavily on social media and online engagement This is achieved by having a strong website and unique and diverse social media platforms Our goal is to grow the downtown Lethbridge profile and turn online searchers into real life visitors

Highlights

People of Downtown Feature eGift Card Launch (AnyCard)

Highlighting the people of downtown, this social media feature included in-depth interviews, turned into readable stories, of downtown employees, business owners, and visitors.

We launched an eGift card program where users buy a gift card online and they can be used at any participating downtown business Fees are covered by the Downtown Lethbridge BRZ

BRZBlog 49,381 49,381 blog posts 80 80 total blog views

Ambassador Statistics

The Ambassador Program is a fee-for-service contract funded by the City of Lethbridge that allows the Downtown Lethbridge BRZ to facilitate engagement activities that promote downtown Lethbridge and its businesses. The Ambassadors work year-round to promote downtown by attending events throughout the community, creating content for social media promotions, executing Downtown Lethbridge BRZ events, conducting surveys, and engaging with the downtown business community.

BRZ Newsletter subscribers 731 731

26 26 newsletters sent 35.25% 35.25% open rate

Highlights

34 34 videos created

First Whoop Up Days Pancake Breakfast & Parade

The Ambassadors planned and executed our first Whoop-Up Days Pancake Breakfast and hosted a float in the parade for the first time.

Treat Yo 'Elf Market

The Ambassadors had a booth at the Treat Yo 'Elf Market at the Enmax Center where they engaged with over 400 community members about downtown brz ambassadors

January 2022 - December 2022

The Clean Sweep Program (CSP) is part of the core operations of the Downtown Lethbridge BRZ The CSP team spends 2 hours each morning, 7 days a week cleaning the 27 blocks of the downtown core and surrounding community The CSP team contributes to leaf removal in the fall, snow removal in the winter, and general cleanliness and graffiti removal on private buildings year-round.

Clean Sweep Programs

Downtown Lethbridge

New in 2022: Added 2 more Foreperson positions for a total of 4 positions

Expanded operations with the addition of the Encampment and Biohazard program

Meet The Team

CleanSweepYQL

Hotspotting

The hotspotting program sweeps areas within the community for needles and debris. There are four zones that the city has designated as areas of high drug use which the CSP sweeps multiple times per week

Needle Debris Hotline

(403) 332-0722

The Needle Debris Hotline is a dedicated phone number that has been established for citizens to call and report needles and needle debris. A technician attended the calls and cleans up the debris.

Shelter Expansion

This project centers on the Lethbridge Homeless Shelter and the surrounding businesses. CSP participants pick up garbage and collect needles. This program began in September 2021.

Encampment & Biohazard

(825) 399-7233

This crew responds to and removes unoccupied encampments and cleans up biohazards They work in collaboration with Streets Alive, CMHA, and the Lethbridge Police service to help improve public safety and cleanliness.

Thank you CSP Crew!

Our crew members are here every day before we all show up to work cleaning and maintaining downtown and our community We appreciate every single crew member and the work they do! We could not do this without them Thank you CSP crew!

The Downtown Lethbridge BRZ had a significant year of growth in 2022 with the expansion of several contracts, completion of projects, and coming out of COVID-19 In 2023, we expect to continue this growth with an emphasis on Festival Square, strategic planning, and advocacy

The Downtown Lethbridge BRZ will continue to be a voice for the downtown community and strengthen the relationship between the BRZ, community, and City of Lethbridge

Festival Square

In the upcoming year, Festival Square will see more excitement than ever before! In June of 2023, we will see the first anniversary of the space and you can look forward to seeing more events, more engagement, and more fun throughout the year. Our goal is to see 200 or more event days in downtown with the hope to see many of these events take place in Festival Square.

Urban Core Collective - Strategic Planning

The Downtown Lethbridge BRZ is part of a larger group working towards the betterment of downtown and other urban areas of our city. Together, with the City of Lethbridge and the Heart of Our City Committee, we are building strategic plans that support the growth and development of Lethbridge. In 2023 and beyond, we will work to begin implementing parts of that plan alongside our partners.

A Focus on Advocacy

In 2023 you can expect a big emphasis on advocacy and creating positive changes and impressions The Downtown Lethbridge BRZ has strong leadership in place to facilitate these conversations with the membership, community, and administration Advocacy efforts will focus on strengthening the CSP, advocating for increased housing including mixed-use and affordable options (feet on the streets), and on city-related issues that affect businesses in the downtown core

The Downtown Lethbridge BRZ works with a wide range of community partners who have helped us build downtown into what it is today Our organization thrives on the expertise, knowledge, hard work, and creativity of our community. Partnerships strengthen our organization and our connection with the community

Herearejustafewofourpartners:

Accrual Accounting

Allied Arts Council

Avail CPA

Casa

Catwalk Salon & Spa

City of Lethbridge

CJOC & 2Day FM (Vista Radio)

Community Futures - Lethbridge Region

Cookie Crimes

Economic Development Lethbridge

Execuserv

Heart of Our City Committee

Herbal Apothecary

Lethbridge Exhibition Park

Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce

Lethbridge Historical Society

Logos Embroidery

Mocha Cabana

Mocha Local

North & Company LLP

Pixelboom Media

Prime Catering

Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta

Southern Alberta Art Gallery

Sumus Properties Group

Telegraph Taphouse

Tim Hortons (B1 Investments)

Tourism Lethbridge

Warwick Printing

Wingate by Wyndham

& many more