VICTORIA – The City of Victoria’s OUR DWTN revitalization program has been recognized by two awards of excellence: the International Downtown Association (IDA) Award of Excellence in Urban Place Management and the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Community Excellence Award in Service Delivery.
“We are honoured to receive not one, but two awards of excellence that recognize the exceptional quality and regional impact of the City’s OUR DWTN revitalization program,” said Mayor Marianne Alto. “Staff were tasked with exploring how to make Victoria’s downtown a destination for all to enjoy, year-round. Both awards recognize Council’s vision of intentional transformation and the creativity and collaboration demonstrated – and delivered – by the OUR DWTN team. Actions like these, show how cities can make positive change in our communities.”
The OUR DWTN revitalization program invests in Victoria’s downtown core with a focus on beautification, year-round activation and programming of downtown spaces, and enhanced cleaning and safety. Since the program was established in May 2023, Council has invested close to $2 million to activate and refresh downtown. The program is funded by the City’s parking revenue.
“Within a short time, we launched multiple interdepartmental OUR DWTN initiatives, often in partnership with community organizations and the arts sector, successfully revitalizing and attracting more people to come, stay and explore downtown as their own,” said Nichola Reddington, OUR DWTN Program Director and Manager of Arts, Culture and Events. “This model can be adapted for use by other municipalities in B.C.”
OUR DWTN initiatives have included two Scrub-Up events in partnership with the Downtown Victoria Business Association, pop-up indoor pickleball courts at Crystal Garden, free outdoor concerts, holiday craft workshops and the popular Sleigh the Day family-friendly event. A free, multi-day winter arts festival was held over the Family Day weekend, and significant infrastructure upgrades and recreational and cultural programming have been implemented at Ship Point.
The OUR DWTN Feet on the Street program has enabled City bylaw officers to engage with downtown businesses to proactively enforce bylaws and a designated downtown cleaning crew was formed to quickly respond to calls for service.
Additional OUR DWTN projects have included the Tam Kung Temple mural in Chinatown by artist Carolyn Wong, the installation of 400 OUR DWTN street banners, increased seasonal décor with 250 decorative winter hanging baskets and the illumination of more downtown trees, as well as new summer planters, Adirondack chairs and turf in public plazas and spaces. A comprehensive OUR DWTN marketing campaign invites residents and visitors to explore all that downtown has to offer.
IDA’s Award of Excellence in Urban Place Management recognizes unique organizational approaches and projects in the areas of clean, safety and hospitality, placemaking and activation, and facilities.
UBCM’s Community Excellence Award in Service Delivery is one of four annual awards that recognizes a local government that has implemented projects or programs that go above and beyond in meeting the purposes of local government in B.C.
Source: City of Victoria
