Canada’s main streets are iconic symbols of urban life and belonging — where we go to shop and do business, eat, play and participate in civic life.
The harsh reality is that COVID-19 is having an unprecedented impact on our main streets. Many small businesses, for example, have already been lost, and more will continue to close permanently in the coming days, weeks, and months. We need bold action right now.
Bring Back Main Street is a nationally-coordinated research and action campaign to ensure the people, business and organizations that that call Canada’s main streets home can recover and emerge from the crisis more resilient than ever.
Sign up for any of the (free) deep-dive technical briefings and workshops to revitalize Canada’s main streets presented by the Canadian Urban Institute.
Operational Trends and Actions for Retail Recovery
Tuesday, October 13, 12–1PM (ET)
Co-presented with
J.C. Williams Group, authors of “Operational Trends and Potential Actions for Main Street Retail Recovery”
Moderator: Lisa Cavicchia, Canadian Urban Institute
Presenter: Lisa Hutcheson, J.C. Williams Group
Panel:
Louroz Mercader, York-Eglinton BIA
Dane Williams, Black Urbanism TO
Darryl Julott, Digital Main Street
Jennifer Rempel, Downtown Calgary BIA
Small-Business-Friendly Policies for Main Streets
Wednesday, October 14, 12–1PM (ET)
Co-presented with
360 Collective, authors of “Supporting Main Street Recovery Through Small-Business-Friendly Policy“
Moderator: Andre Cote, Canadian Urban Institute
Presenters:
John Archer, 360 Collective
Judy Morgan, 360 Collective
Panel:
Dr. Alexandra Flynn, University of British Columbia
Judy Lam, City of Hamilton
Chris Rickett, Municipal Property Assessment Corporation
Antoinette Rodrigue, Association des sociétés de développement commercial de Montréal
Rapid Placemaking to Bring Back Main Streets
Thursday, October 15, 12–1:30PM (ET)
Co-presented with
Happy City, authors of “Rapid Placemaking to Bring Back Main Street: A Pandemic Recovery Toolkit for Local Communities
Moderators:
Emma Jones, The Happy City
Mitchell Reardon, The Happy City
Panel:
Ebrahim Varachia, Bench Placemaking
Andrew Nazakawa, Downtown Vancouver BIA
Olivier Legault, WinterLab
Elora Wilkinson, Halifax Regional Municipality
Planning and Urban Design for Pandemic Recovery
Friday, October 16, 12–1PM (ET)
Co-presented with
Fathom Studio, authors of “Planning and Urban Design for Pandemic Recovery” (coming soon!)
Co-presented with Fathom Studio
Moderator: Ariana Holt, Canadian Urban Institute
Panel:
Jill Robertson, Dialog Design
Hazel Borys, PlaceMakers
Jason Syvixay, City of Edmonton
Eric Lucic, City of Halifax