🌊 NOT TO BE MISSED: 2026 DAC Conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador!

 


Join us June 3–5, 2026 for three unforgettable days of learning, inspiration, and East Coast hospitality with downtown leaders from across Canada and beyond!

 

📅 Key Dates to Remember:
• Early Bird Registration ($250): March 15 – May 1    
• Registration Opens: March 18
• Conference Dates: June 3–5
• Pre-Conference Tour: June 3 (10 AM – 2 PM)

 

💥 Registration Rates:
• Members: $350
• Early Bird: ONLY $250 (don’t miss out!)
• Non-Members: $500

 

🏨 Conference Hotels:
 Stay close to the action with special conference rates:


Delta St. John’s – $259/night    Reservation-Link

Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland – $279/night   Reservation-Link


🎶 Plus: Don’t miss our Pre-Conference Tour – “Streetscapes, Shorelines, and Sea Shanties!” exploring Signal Hill, Cape Spear & more!


From thought-provoking sessions and dynamic panels to immersive local experiences, this year’s conference promises energy, connection, and ideas you can take back to your community.

 

👉 Secure your spot, plan your stay, and get ready for an incredible experience in St. John’s!

2026 Downtowns Atlantic Canada Annual Conference June 3-5, 2026

 

Question? info@DowntownsAtlantic.com

DAC Awards of Excellence Program


We are delighted to announce our second year of the Downtowns Atlantic Canada’s


Awards of Excellence Program.


We were excited and impressed with the quality and number of applications we received last year and we can't wait to see what we receive this year!

 

We are maintaining the same four award categories this year and we know that each of you has something of great merit to submit.

 

  •  Leadership & Management – Recognizing excellence in strategic leadership and operational management.


  •  Economic Development – Highlighting business retention, recruitment, market research, historical preservation, tourism, nighttime economy, and incubator programs.


  •  Marketing & Promotions – Showcasing branding, public relations, marketing strategies, sponsorships, crisis communications, public engagement, and events.


  •  Public Realm – Celebrating placemaking, cleanliness, safety, and hospitality initiatives


Awards Program Parameters Application Form


We have made some very small changes to the program parameters, but for all intent and purpose, it remains the same terrific program for recognizing the incredible work you all do, year-round, throughout our region. The refinements are as follows:


Projects must have been completed or significantly implemented within the past two years. Multi-phase projects must have a major phase completed to quality. On-going programs must demonstrate a new or innovate element added within the eligibility period.


We ask that you submit a separate application for every project category you wish an initiative be considered. Last year, we received a number of applications in which the applicant asked for a particular initiative to be considered in multiple categories. This year, we are asking that you make a separate application per project category.  Multiple entries from any member organization can be

submitted in the same or different categories. A separate fee applies to each entry. Awards are not guaranteed in every category annually.

2025 Applicants and Winners

  • Downtown Halifax

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  • Downtown St. John's

    Newfoundland

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  • Downtown Shediac

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  • Downtown Charlottetown

    Prince Edward Island

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  • Downtown Dartmouth

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  • Downtown Woodstock

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  • Downtown Bathurst

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  • Downtown Moncton

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  • Quinpool Road

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  • Downtown Truro

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  • Downtown Fredericton

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

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. 
Join Now

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.
Read more
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).

Read more
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.