Downtown business association explores growing to encompass West Victoria corridor

“What we are going to do is look at it from a community safety perspective,” added Heighton. “When the new (executive director) comes in, our goal would be to ensure there is some micro safety plan for that specific corridor to deal with those issues.”

Sisters’ Sleep Gallery has been on the front lines of street disorder along West Victoria Street – even early this month seeing its cardboard bin set on fire.

“Joining the BIA is not necessarily, in my opinion, going to solve all problems most people face,” said owner Nina Sandhu. “I’m not sure how much it addresses what we currently go through because we get the brunt of it.”

Sandhu is open to conversations with the BIA about potentially joining, but said the focus needs to be on upper levels of government to come forward with real solutions.

“Just feeding people and putting a roof over their heads isn’t solving any street issues,” added Sundhu. “We need to find help for them, if they have drug issues, mental issues… what are we doing about that? Those are the issues we need to look at and an association isn’t going to address those issues.”

In the weeks ahead, the BIA will be consulting with local business owners.

“Expansion to me is a value proposition,” said Heighton. “If you are going to go in and talk to business owners and property owners about expanding the boundaries and bringing them in then what are the services that come with that. There is the fun side of services, events, marketing, public relations, forward facing. Then there is the backside – the Clean Team, CAP Team, community service, advocacy.”

by Michael Reeve

Downtown business association explores growing to encompass West Victoria corridor

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