Representing over ≈15,000 businesses in Atlantic Canada
We are a network that represents and advocates on behalf of BIAs across Atlantic Canada

Hold the Date:

Downtowns Atlantic Canada Conference

Downtown Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, May 28 - 30, 2025


Theme: Growing Forward

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DAC Awards Program

Applications for 2025 Now Open. The Downtown Atlantic Canada (DAC) Awards Program celebrates the outstanding work of BIA/BIDs in our communities. Learn more through the button below.

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The Future of Atlantic Canada’s Downtowns & Main Streets


This report contains the results of research carried out earlier this year with 4300 businesses in fifteen Business Improvement Districts [BIDs] or Business Improvement Areas [BIAs] in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Over 1700 businesses of these businesses completed an opinion survey about business challenges and opportunities. We invite you to read the report. 

What is Downtowns Atlantic Canada?

The downtown business improvement areas (BIAs) of Atlantic Canada, with representatives from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island, merged together and joined a Memorandum of Understanding to create Downtowns Atlantic Canada (DAC). Together, they represent over 15,000 businesses and are a network of advocates from BIAs across Atlantic Canada. DAC works to improve the positioning of the BIAs as unique, diverse, vibrant, and economically healthy urban cores. 

DAC’s mission is to be recognized as the collective voice of the downtown business improvement areas of Atlantic Canada. DAC’s goal is to increase partnerships with provincial and municipal governments, as well as with the federal government to achieve their goals of growth and investment in our urban cores. In addition, DAC members strive to bring the challenges of urban economic development to the attention of decision- makers and to facilitate actions that will result in prosperous and vibrant business improvement areas. 
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50

DOWNTOWN BUSINESS  ASSOCIATIONS 

≈5,178

SHOPS, BOUTIQUES
AND RESTAURANTS

1,000

VILLAGES,TOWNS AND CITIES

1,477,200

PERMANENT AND
SEASONAL RESIDENTS   
The Value of Investing in Canadian Downtowns
Downtown’s and business districts across Canada punch well above their weight with their economic, social, and cultural contributions to Canada’s economic prosperity.

This study is the first of its kind. Developed with the input of hundreds of city-builders from across the nation, it reports on the performance of 10 Canadian downtowns over the past decade and provides an extensive portrait of the contributions being made by downtown areas across Canada. (Downtowns Canada)
The Value of Investing in Canadian Downtowns
Ed. 2: October 2013
This study provides an extensive portrait of the contributions being made by downtown areas across Canada, highlighting innovative approaches to revitalization and efforts being applied across the nation. It builds on last year’s initial phase of the study examining 10 of those downtowns.
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The Value of Investing in Canadian Downtowns
Ed. 1: May 2012
This study is the first of its kind. Developed with the input of hundreds of city-builders from across the nation, it reports on the performance of 10 Canadian downtowns over the past decade (Halifax, Fredericton, Ottawa, Toronto, London, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria).

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Interested in starting a BIA?

Is a BIA in your community’s future? Downtowns Atlantic can help. We can provide information on the steps that need to be taken, attend meetings with your Municipality and/or speak to your community. 

 Contact Downtowns Atlantic



Learn More About 
Downtowns Atlantic

Downtowns Atlantic represents and supports local BIAs to increase their effectiveness and their contribution to the economic, cultural and social well-being of communities across Atlantic Canada.


SHARING BEST PRACTICES

Downtowns Atlantic understands that strength in numbers and a strong networking community can help communities find resolutions for common concerns. Working together individual Atlantic communities can be stronger. Our members share Best Practices through a Member Needs Assistance E-Blast. Members request a question to be sent out and the responses are posted in a Blog that members can access and/or print off reports. Samples templates and documents can also be uploaded through this system.