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Downtown Victoria 2020 What are the challenges and opportunities in our downtown? How do we create and implement a plan to restore downtown's lustre, economic vibrancy and social health? These were the central themes of the Downtown Victoria 2020 conference series. The first conference held on November 17th and 18th was entitled The Successful Downtown It brought together experts from a number of jurisdictions and citizens representing a wide range of interests. The conference was over subscribed with over 400 delegates. The public discussion continued after the conference and a temporary office was opened at an empty storefront location at 725 Yates Street. Over 2,500 people visited the “City Room” after the first conference to view the displays and submit their ideas. The second conference held on March 22nd and 23rd was entitled From Ideas To Action—Making The Future Happen. Our discussion focussed on three main topics: Residential Development Downtown, Transportation and Public Spaces & Connections, but the emphasis was on strategies for implementation. How do we turn some of the great ideas we are hearing into reality and build a beautiful, economically vibrant, socially responsible city? Following the first conference nine Work Groups were formed to gather the ideas from the conference. They addressed issues related to the following topics: Business Improvement Area, Public Spaces and Connections, Transportation, Downtown Safety & Cleanliness, Downtown – A Place of Learning, Rehabilitation of Heritage Buildings, Life Skills/Job Skills for the Homeless, and Economic Development. Several of these work groups then submitted action plans which are archived here on this site. Other work groups held public workshops or struck committees to get things done! The Downtown Victoria 2020 Conference Series was initiated and supported by the Downtown Victoria Community Alliance, a non- profit society formed in April 2003. The intiative proceeded with the active support and participation of the City of Victoria and literally hundreds of volunteers. The conference series was designed and organized by a steering committee that included representatives from virtually all the downtown constituencies and interest groups. Every effort was made to make the conference inclusive. A vision for a renewed, healthy, vibrant Downtown Victoria—- that is the easy part. The more formidable challenge is to marshall the human, strategic and financial resources necessary to turn this vision into reality. The response to the conference series was most encouraging. The engagement of the delegates, the commitment of the volunteers, the public discussion which followed, all indicate a level of awareness and interest that is vital to our ultimate success. Now it is up to us, the citizens of Downtown Victoria, to marshal the energy and resolve to make it happen and leave a positive legacy for the future.
info@dv2020.ca

Downtown Victoria 2020

What are the challenges and opportunities in our downtown?

How do we create and implement a plan to restore downtown's lustre, economic vibrancy and social health?

These were the central themes of the Downtown Victoria 2020 conference series.

The first conference held on November 17th and 18th was entitled The Successful Downtown It brought together experts from a number of jurisdictions and citizens representing a wide range of interests. The conference was over subscribed with over 400 delegates. The public discussion continued after the conference and a temporary office was opened at an empty storefront location at 725 Yates Street. Over 2,500 people visited the “City Room” after the first conference to view the displays and submit their ideas.

The second conference held on March 22nd and 23rd was entitled From Ideas To Action—Making The Future Happen. Our discussion focussed on three main topics: Residential Development Downtown, Transportation and Public Spaces & Connections, but the emphasis was on strategies for implementation. How do we turn some of the great ideas we are hearing into reality and build a beautiful, economically vibrant, socially responsible city?

Following the first conference nine Work Groups were formed to gather the ideas from the conference. They addressed issues related to the following topics: Business Improvement Area, Public Spaces and Connections, Transportation, Downtown Safety & Cleanliness, Downtown – A Place of Learning, Rehabilitation of Heritage Buildings, Life Skills/Job Skills for the Homeless, and Economic Development. Several of these work groups then submitted action plans which are archived here on this site. Other work groups held public workshops or struck committees to get things done!

The Downtown Victoria 2020 Conference Series was initiated and supported by the Downtown Victoria Community Alliance, a non- profit society formed in April 2003. The intiative proceeded with the active support and participation of the City of Victoria and literally hundreds of volunteers. The conference series was designed and organized by a steering committee that included representatives from virtually all the downtown constituencies and interest groups. Every effort was made to make the conference inclusive.

A vision for a renewed, healthy, vibrant Downtown Victoria—- that is the easy part. The more formidable challenge is to marshall the human, strategic and financial resources necessary to turn this vision into reality. The response to the conference series was most encouraging. The engagement of the delegates, the commitment of the volunteers, the public discussion which followed, all indicate a level of awareness and interest that is vital to our ultimate success. Now it is up to us, the citizens of Downtown Victoria, to marshal the energy and resolve to make it happen and leave a positive legacy for the future.