Tourism Winnipeg

58 58 e. Downtown Associations Established in 1989 by the City of Winnipeg, the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ is the oldest of Winnipeg's 16 business improvement zones. Directed by a management board of 15 business owners/leaders and a representative from city hall, the Downtown BIZ markets the city centre on behalf of 1,300 businesses, runs several programs and provides services that target downtown image, cleanliness, safety, transportation, and parking. The Downtown BIZ also hosts a number of large-scale events, including festivals such as ManyFest which attracts over 70,000 people to the downtown annually. Numerous other events throughout the year, such as The Downtown Farmers' Market, Fitness in the Park and Movies on Memorial are successfully run by the Downtown BIZ and continue to bring the community together to the heart of Winnipeg. In addition, the Downtown BIZ invests over $100,000 per year in festivals and events through their Host It Program which aims to solidify downtown Winnipeg as the premier destination for high quality entertainment and activities year-round. Through this program they provide individuals or organizations with opportunity for funding and event support, such as assistance with permits, street closures, liquor licensing, and marketing; creating new events and attracting existing events to the downtown. With over 50 festivals already run in the downtown, attracting well over 950,000 people – their hope is to build on this exciting energy and attract even more people downtown, with a focus on evening and winter. The Exchange District BIZ is a non-profit organization located in the Exchange District, a National Historic Site of Canada in downtown Winnipeg. They support and promote nearly 500 businesses in a 30-square-block radius. The BIZ is in charge of creating and maintaining a clean and safe place, as well as programming and sponsoring events which benefit their members and attract people to the area. The Exchange District BIZ also plays an advocacy roles for local businesses on issues of common concern. The Exchange District BIZ sponsored more community events than ever before in the history of the BIZ in 2016, then again in 2017. These range from small local events to some of the largest festivals in Winnipeg. They are a major partner of a grassroots event, First Fridays in the Exchange, which is the largest free monthly arts event in Winnipeg. They are also sponsors and partners of the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival and the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival. Both festivals see thousands of people, locals and tourists, descend on the Cube Stage at Old Market Square, the "hub" of the Exchange District, year after year. This outdoor green space in the middle of downtown is tucked in and among historic buildings, with numerous opportunities for people to experience entertainment, eat their lunch on the grass or picnic tables; or enjoy live music at the Cube, an award-winning architectural wonder. While the Cube is a City of Winnipeg asset, the Exchange BIZ manages its programming and maintenance. Other events and initiatives the Exchange District BIZ organizes, partners on or supports include Design Quarter Winnipeg, TEDxExchangeDistrict, Bike Week Winnipeg, the Wildwoodrose Vintage Market, Hot Beverage Week in the Exchange, summer lunchtime concerts at the Cube and finally Nuit Blanche Winnipeg. Nuit Blanche is one of the biggest downtown festivals in Winnipeg with the majority of the programming taking place in the Exchange District. From dusk to dawn, artists, galleries, cultural organizations and independent curators create and host their own events inside businesses and in public spaces. Mike Peters

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