Start your day with a full breakfast and the chance to connect informally with fellow delegates before the day's programming gets underway.

This opening panel focuses on what makes our downtowns and main streets uniquely Atlantic Canadian. What are the roots of our city and town centres? What has kept them vibrant and vital — or reduced them to a former shadow of themselves? What are we doing to ensure our businesses within these centres are appealing and supported by residents and visitors alike?

Speakers: Dawn Alan, CEO of Downtown Charlottetown; Scott Cluney, Executive Director of Downtown St. John's; Tracy Jackson, Executive Director of North End Halifax; Patrick Richard, Executive Director of Downtown Moncton and President of Downtown New Brunswick.

Take a break, recharge, and continue networking with fellow delegates.

Respondents to DAC's annual membership survey continue to identify 'street issues' as their primary concern. While that number has dropped — from 38% in 2024 to 20% in 2025 — it remains unsatisfactorily addressed in most communities. This session focuses on key elements within a suite of critical actions needed to address this challenge.

In several Atlantic communities, security initiatives have been launched employing particular strategies to succeed, including Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). Another proactive step is providing accessible housing, where many communities are making positive strides.

Speakers: Jessy Cormier, GardaWorld, New Brunswick; Adam Peabody, Executive Director, Downtown Fredericton; Patrick Richard, Executive Director, Downtown Moncton & President of Downtowns New Brunswick.

In this rapidly changing world, Business Improvement Association leaders have a lot on their hands: tumultuous trade conditions trickling down to every community, changing shopping patterns and preferences, evolving workplace locations, street issues influencing perceptions of downtown appeal, and global warming — so important to our very future.

This workshop is an opportunity for leaders in our field to share their ideas of where we must go and how we must modify our thinking to lead our downtowns and main streets into the future.

Speakers: Kate Fenske, CEO of Downtown Winnipeg; Maureen O'Brien, Executive Director of Ambleside/Dunderave, West Vancouver; Andrea Steenbakkers, Executive Director of Barrhaven Business District, Ottawa.

Throughout Atlantic Canada, many of our downtowns and main streets border bodies of water — the ocean or a river. Over the past decades, our communities have been discovering that what might have been a fully industrial waterfront offers a remarkable opportunity to be redesigned for the public good.

Now, these areas do a great deal to define our downtowns and main streets. Learn how this transformation could happen in your community!

Speaker: Mike Cochrane, CEO, Port of Charlottetown.

Take a break and continue conversations with fellow delegates.

The mayors and councils of our communities have always had an important role in setting the tone for change. On the flip side, we have numerous organizations — including ours! — which play important roles in contributing to the overall health, vibrancy, and vitality of our communities. How can we all work together for the greater good?

Panelists are asked to focus on the conference theme — Strong Downtowns, Strong Communities — and what makes them so. How can we make our downtowns and main streets increasingly more appealing for investment, work, relaxation, and cultural activities?

Speakers: John Kiru, Executive Director, Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas; Waye Mason, President, ATN Strategies and former Deputy Mayor & Councillor of Halifax Regional Municipality; Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Burlington, Ontario.

Programming our respective jurisdictions seems to be an integral part of everyone's mandate. This year we are looking at programs and initiatives which are different, bold, and innovative. From identifying the event, to securing the critical elements which will make it a success, to finding the sponsors — our panelists will delve into each.

Speakers: Gaylynne Gulliver, Marketing, Special Events & Public Relations Manager, Downtown St. John's; Kathleen Rawson, President & CEO, Hollywood Partnership, Los Angeles; Tim Risessco, Executive Director of Downtown Dartmouth.

DAC members are always asking how they can do more to engage their members, interest the public in member businesses, and attract more people to their downtown or main street. This panel explores four powerful approaches:

a) Expanding & strengthening your social media  |  b) Developing new approaches to making your destination truly inclusive  |  c) Fully engaging the arts community to make your destination more vibrant and vital  |  d) How to work more effectively with the media in good times and challenging times.

Speakers: Melissa Drisdell, Membership Engagement Co-ordinator; David Pensato, Executive Director, The Exchange District, Winnipeg; Alison Policicchio, Marketing Manager, Burlington Downtown, Ontario; Jo-Ann Roberts, award-winning journalist and author.