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On The Horizon - December 20th, 2024


Wishing you and yours a season full of joy, peace, and all the things that make the holidays special. From all of us at the Downtown Duncan BIA, Happy Holidays!


In this issue:


 

Window Decorating Content Winners

The DDBIA is please to announce the winners of this years Holiday Window Decorating Contest. Voter's Choice was awarded to The Fort Game Cafe, and the Board of Directors Choice was awarded to V.I.T.A.L. Society! to see pictures of the winners and their windows, pop over to our facebook page!


see it on facebook here


Big thanks to all of the businesses who participated this year, and helped to make our little Downtown so festive!


 

Important: GST/HST Holiday Tax Break Information for DDBIA Members

We wanted to share important information about the recently announced GST/HST holiday, a temporary measure to support Canadians during the holiday season. From December 14, 2024, to February 15, 2025, GST/HST will not be charged on a range of goods and services, providing a significant opportunity for both businesses and customers.

 

This tax break can impact your business operations and offers a chance to promote savings to your customers. Below, we’ve outlined the key details to help you navigate this change.

 

What You Need to Know

  • Qualifying Items:

    • Children’s clothing, footwear, diapers, and car seats

    • Books, newspapers, and jigsaw puzzles

    • Christmas trees (natural or artificial)

    • Food and beverages (including prepared meals and snacks)

    • Video game consoles, controllers, and physical games


  • Eligibility Requirements:

    • Items must be paid in full and delivered between December 14, 2024, and February 15, 2025.

    • Imported goods qualify if they meet these conditions.


  • For Your Business:

    • Ensure your point-of-sale systems are updated to reflect zero-rated GST/HST items.

    • Claim input tax credits for zero-rated supplies as usual.


Resources

Visit the CRA’s official page for full details: CRA GST/HST Holiday Tax Break.For specific questions, you can call the CRA at 1-800-959-8287.

 

 

Holiday Cheer: Food Donations In Place of Parking Fines!

This holiday season, the City of Duncan is offering a special way to give back!

From December 15 to December 31, parking tickets issued for select bylaw

violations can be paid with food donations instead of fines.

 

Simply donate new, unopened non-perishable food items worth at least half the value of your fine (or a minimum of three items) within 14 days of your ticket date—or by January 15 at the latest. Donations can be dropped off at City Hall, where staff will verify your contribution and reverse the penalty.

 

Items always in need include:

  • Proteins: Canned tuna, chicken, ham, turkey

  • Pantry Staples: Peanut butter, jam, breakfast cereal, pancake mix, syrup

  • Meals: Soups, canned chilli or stews, Sidekicks, macaroni & cheese, rice, pasta

  • Snacks & Drinks: Juice (1 litre & drink boxes), granola bars, children’s lunch snacks, bottled water

  • Produce: Canned vegetables and fruits

  • Essentials: Sugar, coffee, condiments (mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, relish)

  • Pet Care: Cat and dog food

  • Hygiene & Bags: Laundry soap, travel soaps and shampoo, reusable grocery bags

  • Specialty: Gluten-free food

 

This initiative applies to specific parking violations like overstaying time limits, improper parking, and others listed in the program. Help us support local food banks while clearing your parking tickets—it's a win-win for everyone!

 

See below for a list of the Applicable parking violations:

47.1 (b)

  • Permit to stand or park against any traffic control device regulating parking time limits

  • 1st offence and 2 nd offence only

47.1 (c)

  • Permit to stand or park against any traffic control device regulating Micro Car parking spaces

47.1 (e)

  • Permit to stand or park over 30 centimetres from any curb

47.1 (f)

  • Permit to stand or park outside of the painted lines indicating a parallel parking space

47.1 (g)

  • Permit to stand or park outside of the painted lines indicating an angle parking space

47.1 (n)

  • Permit to stand or park in any commercial vehicle loading zone by a commercial vehicle for longer than the posted time limit

47.1 (n)

  • Permit to stand or park in any City block controlled by a parking time limit regulation, cause that vehicle to be returned to the same block within a 10-hour time period after the expiration of the original permitted time limit.

47.1 (p)

  • Permit to stand or park facing oncoming traffic

47.1 (r)

  • Permit to stand or park in a lane

47.1 (u)

  • Permit to stand or park on any highway for a continuous period exceeding 24 hours

47.1 (cc)

  • Permit to stand or park on a highway in a residential area contrary to a traffic control device unless such person has acquired an authorized Residential Parking Permit, and such permit being visible through the vehicle front windshield, and the vehicle being is parked in accordance with the conditions of the permit


 

News from the City of Duncan

The City of Duncan has received approval to adjust parking rates from $2 to $3 per hour. This change will help support ongoing improvements and services in our downtown core. Stay tuned—more details will be shared soon as we prepare to roll out the updated rates in the new year. More info to come!


 

Penelakut; Returning to the Healing Circle: January 8, 2025

Mark your calendars for the rescheduled film screening in recognition of the Every Child Matters march for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.


📽 Film: Penelakut; Returning to the Healing Circle📍 Location: Cowichan Performing Arts Centre📅 Date: January 8, 2025🎟 Admission: Free (first come, first served)


This powerful film is open to the community, it is a 16+ event and cedar brushing and emotional support will be available on site.




 

Digital Billboard Sales

Did you know that the DDBIA has subsidized co-advertising opportunities for our members? We sell spaces on an illuminated digital LED billboard. The billboard is located on the left-hand side of Highway 1 (headed northbound).


Ads run for 2 weeks, and each space is displayed for 6 seconds, at 1-minute intervals on a 24 hour loop. The result is approximately 720 impressions per 24-hour period and — 10,080 impressions per 14-day period (2 weeks) All of this for only $125!

 

Members have the choice to provide their own artwork, as long as it follows the design specifications and includes the DDBIA logo, and bi-line “a proud member of”. I am happy to assist member’s in setting up artwork, or answer any questions along the way. Members also have the option to pay an additional fee of $125, and I will take care of the design and production on their behalf. If you are interested in booking one of these spaces or would like more information, send me an email! easterbrook@downtownduncan.ca


*Spaces are sold on a first come first served basis


Upcoming available spaces - request yours today!


Jan 13 - 26

2 spaces Available

Jan 27 - Feb 9

3 spaces Available

Feb 10 -23

3 spaces Available

Feb 24 - Mar 9

3 spaces Available

Mar 10 - Mar 23

3 spaces Available

Mar 24 - Apr 6

3 spaces Available

Apr 7 - Apr 20

3 spaces Available

Apr 21 - May 4

3 spaces Available

May 5 - 18

3 spaces Available

May 19 - Jun 1

3 spaces Available


 

DDBIA Website Testing

As many of you may be aware, the DDBIA has been working on a new website for quite some time now. There have been a few road bumps along the way – but we are almost there! As we get closer to the time of the official launch, I would like to extend an invitation to a small sampling of the membership to join me in beta testing the new site.

 

I’m looking for a group of 20 or so people at this time with the aim to capture members from a variety of demographics, ages and web-based experience levels. The goal is to test a few of the new features, note issues in accessibility and navigation, and explore the general flow and usability. Feedback from this test will inform the next phase before we launch, and ensure that our site is good to launch!

 

Once any bugs are worked out, and the design is finalized we will formally launch the new website and invite the membership as a whole to join in. If you are interested in taking part in this preliminary test, please use link below to sign up. I’ll follow-up with you in the new year to confirm your participation and send an information package with more details and instructions.

 

Thanks everyone! – Ally, Creative Director.





 

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