In this issue:
The DDBIA All-Candidates Forum – submit your questions and attend next Monday!
City Square Tree Replacement Survey – vote NOW
Trick or Treating Downtown
Affordable Professional Office Space for Rent – $500/Month with FREE Wifi!
Station Street Common Update
Get Ready for the Christmas Window Decorating Contest!
Future Events
The DDBIA All-Candidates Forum – submit your questions and attend next Monday!
We’re excited to announce that the DDBIA is hosting an All-Candidates Forum ahead of the October 7th election. This forum, moderated by Katherine Devine, Executive Director of the DDBIA, will focus on small business issues and is a crucial opportunity for our downtown business community to engage directly with candidates.
We encourage you to submit your questions in advance to ddbia@downtownduncan.ca to ensure that the concerns of Downtown Duncan’s businesses are at the forefront of this important discussion.
The event will take place at
Duncan United Church on Monday, October 7th from 7 pm to 9 pm. Let’s make sure our voices are heard!
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City Square Tree Replacement Survey – vote NOW
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This is an opportunity for our downtown members to select the replacement trees in City Square. The American Sweetgum trees in City Square were planted in 2005 as part of the City Square upgrades. In the time since, it has become evident that these trees are unfortunately not suitable for the locations where they were planted and need to be removed and replaced.
The decision to remove the American Sweetgum trees is based on several factors. At full maturity, these trees reach heights of 60-70 feet with a spread of 40-50 feet. The trees on the west side of City Square are planted within 10 feet of buildings, while those in the center of the square are spaced just 10 feet apart. This limited space restricts the full expansion of their canopies. Additionally, the trees have a shallow root system that is sensitive to pollution and has caused multiple tripping hazards by lifting the brick paving stones.
Moreover, the species is susceptible to large branch failures due to weak branch attachments, a problem exacerbated during significant snowfall or in the spring when heavy seed pods form on the limbs. These issues are especially concerning given the high pedestrian and vehicular traffic beneath the trees through City Square. The seedpods shedding also creates an additional tripping and/or slipping hazard.Â
Please note that all of the trees that are shading the benches in City Square will remain in place. Only the five Sweetgum trees along the middle of the parking aisles are being removed and replaced.
Trick or Treating Downtown
Join us for the annual Downtown Duncan Trick-or-Treating event on Saturday, October 26, from 10 am to noon pm! If your business would like to participate and display a pumpkin decal in your window to show you're part of the fun, please let us know so we can distribute the pumpkin posters to you! We'll be promoting the event on social media, and kids will be on the lookout for the pumpkin posters to know which businesses are handing out treats. Let’s make this a spooktacular event for the community!
Affordable Professional Office Space for Rent – $500/Month with FREE Wifi!
Looking for the perfect office space in downtown Duncan? We have a great opportunity for you at 111 Station Street available November 1st!!
$500/month
Free Wi-Fi included
Access to shared kitchen and bathroom facilities
Convenient downtown location
Ideal for small businesses, freelancers, or anyone looking for an affordable and professional workspace. For more details or to book a viewing, contact us today at ddbia@downtownduncan.ca!
Station Street Common Update
Exciting news! The construction contract for the Station Street Placemaking Project has been awarded, and while we’re still awaiting a confirmed timeline for construction, we’ll keep you updated as soon as more information becomes available. Additionally, the process of finalizing the names for the area is underway, with further consultation planned to ensure accurate spellings and translations of the three name pairs selected in August. Once finalized, these name options will go out to the public for a vote—stay tuned for more details on how you can participate!
Reminder: Duncan Farmers Market Night Market – October 17!
The Duncan Farmers Market Night Market is just around the corner on October 17!
If your business will be staying open late during the event, please let us know by filling out our handy sign-up form. This helps us keep the community informed and ensures everyone has an updated list of open businesses. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to engage with the crowd—sign up today!
Get Ready for the Christmas Window Decorating Contest!
Our annual Christmas Window Decorating Contest is back, kicking off on November 22 at the Christmas Kick-Off event—and voting opens the same day!
This year’s contest offers two BIG prizes (Voters Choice and BOD Choice). Themes are:
The Christmas Sweater
West Coast Christmas
Voting will be done online, and all participating businesses will receive a special window poster with a QR code for easy voting access. Get creative and join in the festive fun! And the best part – we will be running several social media campaigns to promote your gorgeous windows and your business!
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Future Events
DDBIA All Candidates Forum – October 7th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm
DFM and downtown NIGHT MARKET – October 17th
Downtown Trick or Treating – October 26 from 10:00 to 12:00 pm (look for the pumpkin in the window!)
Sip and Shop – December 5 from 6:00 om to 9:00 pm
Member Social – December 12 location TDB
DFM and downtown NIGHT MARKET – November 21st
Christmas Kick-Off – November 22nd
Christmas Contest Window Themes (two BIG PRIZES this year): Â The Christmas Sweater AND / OR West Coast Christmas.