On The Horizon - March 7th, 2025
- Downtown Duncan
- Mar 7
- 5 min read
What is on the Horizon for the Downtown Duncan Business Improvement Area? Read below to get caught up on the day-to-day, upcoming events, and news from Members.
In this issue:
Claim Your Business Listing
The Brand new DDBIA Website is up and running! If you haven’t had a chance to take a peek at it, navigate over to www.downtownduncan.ca We plan to do a more formal launch early next week, where we will speak more about the robust features and capabilities of the new site.
What we will announce today though, is the brand new business directory. When you visit the site, you will see that there is a searchable, and filtered directory. Member businesses are featured here with all of the most up-to-date info that we have. You may notice that some of the listings look incomplete or are missing profile pictures. That’s okay!
We are in the process of manually adding information and double-checking that what we have is accurate. We have over 300 members, and as you can imagine this is a lengthy process. This is where you come in Members have the option to create/update their own business listing. All you have to do is “claim your directory listing”. There is a link/button with detailed instructions on this process below.
If you decide to give it a try, please consider that your initial sign-up will need to be approved by a DDBIA staff member on our end of things. As it’s a Friday, your member request will likely not be addressed until Tuesday. Ally, our Creative Director is not in-office on Mondays, but her first order of business (On Tuesday) is to review member requests and ensure that all of the technical parts are talking to each other in the background of the new site. Once that step is taken care of, you will receive email instructions for the next step.
We would like to thank everyone for their ongoing patience as we worked on this new website over the past year or so. It’s been a long journey but it’s definitely been worth the wait! We hope you enjoy the new site! And of course, if you find any sticky points along the way with navigation or user-friendliness – let us know. Our goal is for the site to be a helpful tool and asset to members and visitors alike. Thanks again.
Welcome new DDBIA Board Members
We’re excited to welcome four new directors to the DDBIA Board! At our March meeting, the board voted in:
Kortnee Smith – Cowichan Green Community
Francis Brady – Expedia Cruises
Barb Stevens – Hair at 60 Queens
Casey Thompson – The Garage Café
Each of these new directors brings valuable experience, passion, and fresh perspectives to our team. We look forward to working together to support and strengthen our downtown business community. Welcome aboard!
Join Our Exclusive Private Facebook Group for DDBIA Members!
We’re excited to invite you to our private Facebook group — a dedicated space for Downtown Duncan BIA member businesses to connect, share updates, and stay informed about opportunities, events, and promotions.
Because Facebook's invite links expire after 48 hours or 20 uses, we’re streamlining the process! Fill out the sign-up form below, and we’ll send you a dedicated invite link to ensure you get access.
🔹 How It Works:
Complete the short form with your business details.
We’ll email you a unique invite link within a few days.
Use the link to join the group with your business page (or personal profile if needed).
Need Help? If you have trouble joining, get in touch with us via email (ddbia@downtownduncan.ca), or call the office at 250-715-1700 and we’ll assist you!
Let’s build a stronger, more connected downtown community — sign up below to get started!
Coming Soon: Road & Bike Lane Upgrades on Coronation Avenue
The City of Duncan is breaking ground on a major east-west cycling corridor, adding protected bike lanes in both directions along Coronation Avenue, Ypres Street, and Queens Road between the Trans Canada Highway and Duncan Street. This project enhances safety for cyclists while improving overall transportation flow.
Key Road Changes:
For Bicycles: Protected bike lanes will be installed along the corridor. Bikes can travel in both directions on Queens Road and Ypres Street.
For Vehicles:
Westbound traffic on Coronation Avenue will be diverted to Ypres Street and Queens Road to access downtown.
Queens Road will become a one-way street westbound, with new boulevards and trees added.
Parking changes: Parking on the south side of Queens Road will be removed, while most parking on the north side will remain. Additional parking spaces will be available on the east side of Ypres Street.
Coronation Avenue will remain open to eastbound traffic and retain two-way local access between Ypres Street and Duncan Street.
This project is expected to be completed by May 2025. Learn more at bigconversations.duncan.ca/coronation-avenue-bike-lanes.
Steeped Leaf DDBIA Members Offer
This Friday, March 7th, The Steeped Leaf is offering London Fogs to DDBIA members for $2.00. Just mention that you are part of DDBIA when you visit. They will be open at 9:30 to serve you. Thanks Steeped Leaf!
Get Involved: Attend Our Monthly Board Meetings!
Did you know that as a DDBIA member, you’re welcome to attend our monthly Board of Directors meetings? While non-board members don’t have voting rights, this is a great opportunity to share your thoughts on events and programs, learn more about how we operate, and even consider joining the board for a future voting role.
📅 When: First Wednesday of every month
⏰ Time: 8:30 AM
📍 Where: DDBIA Office – 201-111 Station Street
☕ Coffee is always on!
We’d love to see you there!
CWAV Hiring: Executive Director
CWAV (Cowichan Women Against Violence) is currently seeking a Director of Finance to join their team. This is a great opportunity for a skilled financial professional looking to make a meaningful impact in the community.
For full details on the position and application process, please see the PDF attachment.
Digital Billboard Sales
The DDBIA offers members an exclusive opportunity to advertise in a high-traffic area at a deep discount! We sell advertising space on a digital LED billboard located Northbound on
Highway 1. This incredible deal is an easy and affordable access point for members.
Enjoy a two-week cycle of exclusive advertising for only $150
– a discount of over 50%!
We are booking spaces several weeks ahead, so if you have a date in mind, or would like to see upcoming availability - Click the learn more button below, or contact our Creative Director, Ally Easterbrook via email at: easterbrook@downtownduncan.ca.
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