Best in the West Awards 2021
At the 2021 Conference the following Best in the West Awards were announced. Where entries exceeded the criteria and shone as examples of strategic excellence in their respective categories, Awards of Excellence were presented. Where entries met the criteria, Awards of merit were given.
Downtown Leadership & Management
Merit
Ambleside Dundarave BIA - Imagine Ambleside
Video encouraging residents of West Vancouver to shop the villages of Ambleside and Dundarave. With the re-branding of the ADBIA, the video was created to show the importance of the mom and pop shops, supporting local business, and how it takes a village to make a village. With the support of the community over this past year, businesses have managed to keep their doors open and continue to provide their services. https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/65258556/imagine-ambleside-final-report-january-2021
Economic & Business Development
Excellence
Downtown Vancouver BIA - Then & Now: Analysis of Downtown Retail
The the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association’s (DVBIA) two-part report series, “Then and Now: An Analysis of Downtown Retail”, quantifies and benchmarks retail in the DVBIA’s 90-block catchment between 2012 and 2018. Part 1 examines non-edible goods and services, while Part 2 examines the food and beverage sector.
Marketing & Communications
Excellence
Downtown Langley Business Association - Social Media Strategy
The social media strategy filled a need to safely reconnect customers and businesses and to reestablish the downtown Langley community. An extensive social media marketing campaign was launched to rally the community and business owners with messages of hope and encouragement, acknowledgement of the benefits of supporting local businesses and several contests to encourage customers to choose to support local. The Downtown Langley Ambassadors Program was launched, inviting established local influencers to be a part of the ‘support local’ message, and they jumped at the opportunity.
Downtown Vancouver BIA - Theft-From-Auto
With the knowledge that theft-from-autos (TFAs) increase over the holiday months, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association set out to create a campaign that would help raise awareness of the traditional seasonal uptick in theft-from-autos, and to promote behaviours that would help reduce the likelihood of a TFA from occurring.
Downtown Victoria Business Association - Save the Sales
The Save the Sales was an 80s-themed summer campaign focused on encouraging Victorians to support downtown businesses through the pandemic. The campaign included an online Support-O-Meter, where anyone could input their purchases from downtown businesses to be entered to win weekly prizes and the final prize of $5,000, and a 30-minute faux-telethon, complete with 80s-style commercials, guest entertainers (including David Foster!), and appearances from various downtown business owners.
South Granville BIA - Trick or Treat Yourself
Together with its member businesses, the South Granville Business Improvement Association (SGBIA) hosted a special, pandemic-compliant event in October 2020. Trick or Treat Yourself invited adults to indulge in trick or treating nostalgia while exploring their neighbourhood businesses.
Merit
Downtown Langley Business Association - Downtown Dollars
Downtown Dollars are DLBA branded gift certificates that are redeemable at over 100 local businesses in downtown Langley. Over the past 8 years this simple and yet highly effective program has grown to be one of DLBA's most successful marketing campaigns to date. Between direct sales to the public and giveaways to market DLBA-hosted events and to expand social media reach, over $42,000 in Downtown Dollars was put into circulation in 2020 alone. It is anticipated these will generate over $70,000 in spending to support the participating businesses within the BIA.
South Quesnel Business Association - Back in Your Pocket
South Quesnel businesses are putting money back in the pockets of shoppers to encourage shopping in the district area and to thank customers for choosing South Quesnel.
White Rock BIA - Welcome to White Rock
The Welcome to White Rock project is a welcome package to the new residents of the seven condo towers in White Rock that will increase the population of the community by 15%. The Welcome Package includes a glossy, oversized brochure highlighting the business district, promotional items, discounts to members' businesses, and a dedicated website highlighting ongoing offerings in the community.
Programming & Partnerships
Excellence
Downtown Victoria Business Association - Downtown Delivers
Downtown Delivers is a program that makes local deliveries from restaurants and retailers in downtown Victoria free for both the businesses and their customers.
Merit
Downtown Langley Business Association - Mural Walk
The Downtown Langley Mural Walk is the result of local artists seeking an opportunity to express their creativity on their own
terms, and the DLBA seeking an opportunity to bring art, life and colour to the downtown core. When the two came together
they created an incredible partnership. While the first murals in downtown Langley were painted as part of a beautification
project, the success of the project uncovered the further opportunity to grow the murals into something more.
Downtown New West BIA - Public Space Activation
The Downtown New West BIA invited individuals, businesses and not-for-profits to submit proposals for unique and innovative activations in Downtown New West public spaces. We were able to support 3 projects with $3500 each in cash, and staff support in terms of making connections, navigating bureaucracy at City Hall to aid in permitting, and by providing logistical and marketing support.
Special Events
Excellence
Downtown New West BIA - Shine Bright Downtown
The Downtown New West BIA launched a brand-new initiative called Shine Bright Downtown in place of the winter night market. The BIA was able to secure sponsorship from the Port of Vancouver and Warner Brothers to execute several lighting installations throughout the Downtown, creating a magical experience for locals to enjoy the outdoors safely in the darkest part of winter. Shine Bright highlighted the existing lights in Downtown New West and introduced three new installations: Candycombs in Hyack Square, Selfie Stations at Begbie and McKenzie streets and SHINE at Army & Navy.
Merit
Kamloops Central BIA - Downtown Story Book Village
2020 was a year of challenges and innovation. The KCBIA was able to pivot the Santa Parade - one of the most significant annual outdoor events - into one that allowed for a safe community event during a global pandemic.