At the DVBA we are focused on supporting our members during this pandemic. Uncertainty has been, and continues to be, one of the most troubling elements of this crisis.
The DVBA’s initial response was to advocate for direct supports – not loans – for our businesses, and to share information about federal and provincial supports with our members as details became available. We have strongly called for commercial rent reliefs and property tax deferrals and reductions, and will continue to do so as the pandemic continues to impact businesses.
Through the lockdown and over the summer we have focused our marketing efforts on informing the public about how they can support downtown businesses and help their favourite businesses survive. We are still using social media, contesting, paid TV, video, and print media to encourage our audiences to shop locally, buy gift cards, order meals, and otherwise support the business community. As we enter the fall and winter, our marketing department is highlighting the impact local shopping can have, the owners and managers who run some of our downtown businesses, and safety measures businesses take to protect customers. We have also created a resource for shopping locally online.
We are a strong community. We are all in this together, and together we will get through this.
Jeff Bray
Executive Director
Watch a Victoria Buzz interview with Jeff Bray on the importance of supporting local businesses.
To see an archive of our letters of advocacy and member newsletters from Spring of 2020, please click here. If you are not on the member business email list and would like to be, please email alison@downtownvictoria.ca.