#Downtown Winnipeg BIz
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Christmas at Eaton’s: Remembrances of an Elf
Christmas in Retail can be magical time. Especially if you’re one of the elves. But planning starts in July. Checking and ordering lights. Relighting trees, garland, and wreaths. Making sure you have enough boxes, ribbon, wrapping paper. Dusting off poinsettias and velvet bows. By the time the season actually arrives you may be less than jolly.
There were years where after decorating up to 36 trees, installing acres of underlit fake snow and wrapping hundreds of presents I just didn’t have the will to decorate at home. That was before kids of course. After that, wussing out is not an option. But at least you have minions.
Then once it’s all done, the magic comes back. Especially as you watch customers enjoy the fruits of your labour. It’s a calling really. Where would Christmas be without all us inventive imps behind the scenes.
Back in the day, and maybe still inside any iconic stores that are left, once Halloween comes down, Christmas goes up. Sometimes in the same night. All night. No trick or treating for the trimmers. Down comes the orange and black and out go the hundreds of trees and boxes you’ve been lighting and wrapping for the last month. 10’ Ladders come out, Over-Aisle Garland goes up and then you have 15 days, sometimes straight, to add the details and make it perfect. No pressure.
When I first started at Eaton’s as the Visual Supervisor to a team of 6, Christmas season was almost upon us and I needed to come up with a plan, quick. 30 odd windows, 7 floors, 20+ departments and very little corporate support didn’t daunt me. I was major excited to be responsible for decking out the 90 year old Flagship Store in Downtown Winnipeg. But if it wasn’t all up by November 15th, there was no point. Super Fail.
I spent my 33rd Birthday, a Saturday in early October, combing the football sized display storage area for props to put in the seven centre Christmas Windows on Portage Avenue. They were the Fashion Windows and needed to be spectacular. It’s not easy to find matching props big enough for seven 10’ x 10’ windows in a row. But I stole the all the faux marble arches from the womenswear floor, had the team (I was the new outsider boss lady and they thought I was insane) repaint them and festoon them with garland. Dress the coupled male and female mannequins in evening wear aaaand Mission Accomplished. We won the Downtown BIZ Window Contest for the first time that year and every year after.
So it’s only the 20th of October. 8:00 pm, we do a quick Dance on the Boulevard admiring our work. By the next year it had become somewhat of a tradition. A celebration of the first hurdle of the frenetic season. Over 20 more Windows and a square city block to go. But now we had a Plan. And Momentum. So we ran with it.
Then one snowy Monday morning it all stopped. It had been storming all weekend and as I got off the Portage Avenue Bus in front of the 7 Centre Fashion Windows I saw water streaming and freezing down the glass. From the inside. Knee deep drifts were blown against the brass doors to the store and as I rounded the corner to the employee entrance, I was blinded by the glare of firetruck lights. I guess an alarm or an alarmed bus-goer had called them. I went to open the door with my pass card, and a firewoman came up and asked if I could let them in. Being new, I naively responded that I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to. She said, “We’re the fire department, you are required to let us in.” Alrighty then.
I led her and her cohort of firepeople through the darkened main floor to the back entrance of the centre windows and as we opened the huge 10’ double doors, water poured out over our boots. She pushed me back and said they needed to check the electrical before anyone went in there. The electrical panels were where the bulk of the water was pouring down. Fun! And Exciting! Said No One. It was soon discovered that all was safe, but there was a foot of water sitting in my first set of Christmas Windows.
Inside, the long bank of marble-lined windows having no insulation from the way cold Winnipeg Winter, had become a Sugar Plum Fairy Wonderland. The mannequins, dressed in their holiday finery were dusted with frost and very pretty. The freshly painted arches and garland were splashed sparkly. The water frozen in rivulets down the glass cheerily reflected the lights from Portage Avenue. It felt, and not for the last time, almost Titanic-like. And then, reality. As fans were brought in and everything started to thaw, the mannequins, which in those those days were hung with mannequin wire from their necks, eeeeww, were starting to crackle like porcelain. Beheading was a real possibility, but the damage was amazingly minimal. The finery had to be changed and written off and the wigs restyled, but the props survived and the windows remained intact until the end of the season. And the best news….we got to order 16 brand spanking new mannequins! With Stands. And Wigs. How fun is that! Said Everyone. We got to pick the poses, the make-up, the skin colour. It was like….Christmas.
If you recognize yourself in this story, I’d love to hear from you, and/or be corrected in my recollection. I've purposely left names out to protect the guilty and just in case any of you have become Famous. Which if you're not, you definitely should be! And Rich.
#marketing#media#merchandising#windowdressing#visualmerchandising#christmas#department stores#eaton's#elf#behind the scenes#tattletale
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Cheryl, William, Rhonda, and Kona, (all 9-w-o), Mastiff mixes, Downtown Winnipeg BIZ night market, Winnipeg. *Currently Adoptable* through @winnipeg_giant_breed_rescue “William is cute. He can be a little grumpy if he doesn’t get enough sleep. He’s an energetic boy. Rhonda is pretty laid back, loves to cuddle. Good with other dogs she might be good with cats.” Kona is playful spunky we’re working on house training — a cuddler. a little shy of new things in the beginning then she’s great. Cheryl is the runt of the litter, she is also spunky but very independent. She’s a follower she’ll want to be where you are.” • #Animalwelfare #wedontdeservedogs #fortheloveofdogs #winnipeg #winnipegdogs #dogsofwinnipeg #nikon #nikond3s #nikonlove #nikonusa #nikoncanada #nikonnofilter #bestwoof #adoptdontshop #mastiff #mastiffpuppy #puppy #fureverhome (at Winnipeg, Manitoba) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzRjZFCgPLY/?igshid=kfplpmiipft8
#animalwelfare#wedontdeservedogs#fortheloveofdogs#winnipeg#winnipegdogs#dogsofwinnipeg#nikon#nikond3s#nikonlove#nikonusa#nikoncanada#nikonnofilter#bestwoof#adoptdontshop#mastiff#mastiffpuppy#puppy#fureverhome
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Winnipeg group looking for volunteers to build relationships with homeless | CBC News
Winnipeg group looking for volunteers to build relationships with homeless | CBC News
A group that works with homeless people in Winnipeg is looking for volunteers to help connect with people who choose to live on city streets.
The Community Homeless Assistance Team (CHAT), run by Downtown BIZ, hits the streets every day, meeting with people who are “unsheltered” — those who don’t feel comfortable living in a homeless shelter for a myriad reasons.
They’re hoping to attract more…
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Is downtown Winnipeg still thriving following Jets’ playoff run? - Winnipeg
Is downtown Winnipeg still thriving following Jets’ playoff run? – Winnipeg
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There’s no doubt the Winnipeg Jets’ playoff run shined a spotlight on the downtown, bringing in tens of thousands of people.
But did that momentum last?
“I think downtown Winnipeg is still on people’s radar,” Tineke Buiskool-Leeuwma, the director of marketing, events and communications with Downtown Winnipeg BIZ said.
While the BIZ doesn’t track numbers regularly, Buiskool-Leeuwma…
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Canada Flag Canadian Flag is Trending on Sunday July 1 2018 https://www.aioinstagram.com/canada-flag-canadian-flag-is-trending-on-sunday-july-1-2018/
CTV News says: Living Flag retired for Canada Day festivities
Top 1 articles about Canada Flag:
The tradition that Winnipeggers came to know as the Canada Day Living Flag has officially come to an end for the time being. Downtown Winnipeg Biz said now was the right time to move on from the tradition and has decided to put the idea on ice.
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Effects of Great Downtown Street Parties
Having great street parties is essential to the continued revival of our Downtown, and Winnipeg’s first-ever Whiteout Street Party, during this year’s NHL Jets playoff run, is a great example of why bringing the community together is so important to the psycho-economic health of Winnipeggers.
I can remember in my younger years, chasing the party of parties around the world, the FIFA world soccer tournament. I traveled to see The World Cup 1990 in Italy, 1994 in the U.S. and 1998 in France. Although I was never able to afford an actual ticket to attend the games, I still backpacked and hosteled with thousands of other world travelers to be part of the excitement and comradery. Dancing in the Congo line with the Dutch in their wooden shoes in France, or singing “Olay, Olay, Olay!” in Piazza Novana, while watching the game on a big screen in Italy. Parties (and great reasons for parties) bring people together of all types, who share in drink and food, in passion and sorrow, celebrating their sport heroes and the incredible downtowns and cities in which they are held.
This past week, I, among thousands of Winnipeggers, finally felt that vibe in our own City, and I felt very fortunate to be part of it.
The #WPGWhiteout Street Parties last week was where thousands of downtowners came together to celebrate their heroes, the Winnipeg Jets players. Friends and families, many with no game tickets showed up to the party early and rubbed shoulders. The entire city block on Donald Street next to Bell MTS Place screamed at missed referee calls, oohed incredible hits, and cheered on the goals, to a Jets Victory.
People got out of their homes and came downtown to celebrate, meet, mingle and meet each other, hugging and slapping hands, creating that emotional attachment to our City, which leads to so many positive things. Restaurants and bars within 10 minutes walking distance were packed, before, during and after, at levels never seen before. The economic and community development metrics, I am sure can be captured, and a coolness factor registered on the grins of young people from across the country watching the game live, wishing they were in Winnipeg.
The upward positive, spiraling emotions of optimism, hope, resilience and victory created by the Whiteout Street Party, is a factor in creating the positive psycho-economic health of Winnipeggers, and is a great way of creating community and building pride among our citizens, creating business, and even attracting long term economic development.
While events like this don’t happen overnight, they did in Winnipeg. True North Sports + Entertainment and Economic Development Winnipeg need to be commended for taking the lead and putting on a party that comes with financial risk and liability. They believe in our city.
The City and our Mayor Brian Bowman also need to be thanked for taking a leap of faith in moving to mobilize its resources (Policing, Public WORKS / Streets, Transit and others) in record speed to make this a reality.
The can-do attitude is refreshing.
And of course, I am proud of my Downtown Winnipeg BIZ Team, our Watch Ambassadors, our Customer Service Team and our Cleaning staff, who are and will be throwing out the welcome mat to create a safer, cleaner and friendlier downtown. We are your host.
Events like this send a message to the world. Winnipeg has arrived. We are hip, cool, and can throw a world class street party.
And Winnipeggers made a statement – ‘we will come downtown, because it’s safe, fun and the place to be.’
Let’s keep it going Winnipeg! Go Jets!
- Stefano
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Canada Day: Time-lapse captures 'largest living maple leaf'- BBC News
Canada Day: Time-lapse captures ‘largest living maple leaf’- BBC News
Thousands of people have gathered at an intersection in the Canadian city of Winnipeg to create the country’s “largest living maple leaf”. The event, organised by Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, was filmed from above and released as time-lapse footage. It formed part of the day’s national celebrations as Canada marks its 150th anniversary as a country. Please subscribe HERE http://bit.ly/1rbfUog World In…
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Strategy already bearing results
Another security technique has all the earmarks of being now has all the earmarks of being proving to be fruitful in combating wrongdoing in the city's downtown.
Not long ago, Winnipeg police made a couple of captures in back to back days therefore of the Cent reline downtown well being methodology where individuals from the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ's Downtown Watch distinguish people submitting offenses and ready police to them. In one case, a man was watched bringing on an inebriated aggravation behind Portage Place. When he was captured, officers found he had a remarkable warrant and was observed to be in control of a blade, screwdriver, a series of ammo and a plastic/distinguishing proof related with a past burglary and wounding occurrence.
In the other occurrence, police could capture a 21-year-old lady who had been labeling downtown organizations, parades, signs and working with splash paint. She was accused of 42 numbers of wickedness subsequent to harming more than two dozen properties.
"It's a methodology focused on a committed range of downtown that includes foot watches (and) group bolster unit officers in the downtown," said police representative Const. Jason Michaelmas. "Will be sent in view of wrongdoing examination. It's exceptionally focused and clearly the point is to lessen the hazard and recurrence and seriousness of wrongdoing and turmoil. The objective is to improve open well being on various levels."
Propelled in December, Cent reline rethinks police reaction to wrongdoing and turmoil through group engagement, wrongdoing examination, issue situated policing and proactive policing standards and in addition government funded instruction battles.
"Winnipeg is changing and developing and our downtown has been distinguished as one of the quickest developing (parts of that)," said Downtown Winnipeg BIZ's Shawn Matthews. "It's an energizing time for the downtown so we simply need to ensure that as we go ahead that there's an arrangement set up that mirrors these energizing open doors additionally the difficulties that a great deal of urban focuses confront. Downtown Winnipeg is not exemption to that."
As much as the methodology is about battling wrongdoing and handling social issues, Cent reline is additionally about fighting the discernment that downtown is not sheltered.
"We need to ensure that we're all imparting and cooperating to make downtown as protected as could be expected under the circumstances," said Matthews.
"It's about individuals being protected additionally feeling safe," included Michaelmas. "Recognition is truly critical and our downtown in Winnipeg is an awesome place to be and it has such a great amount to offer. We need individuals from general society to come downtown and appreciate each one of those things that it brings to the table.
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Final Faces of Winnipeg by David Lipnowski
Hue Nguyen
Hue is a recognizable face in the downtown area. He has been running his own shoe and leather repair shop for 35 years in several different downtown locations around the Graham mall area. At the age of 15 in his home country of Vietnam, his grandfather wanted him to become a tailor like himself, but Hue enjoyed making soles for shoes, and working with leather. Hue came to Canada in 1982, and has been working extremely hard 6 days a week. He is extremely proud to have been recognized amongst large corporations by the Downtown Winnipeg Biz a few years ago, and displays the plaque in the front window of his store. When not working on shoes or leather, Hue is also into photography; specifically he enjoys making portraits.
Fun Fact: Hue’s favourite movie is Titanic.
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Employment as an Historic Walking Tour Guide (July & August) at the Exchange District BIZ Winnipeg
Employment as an Historic Walking Tour Guide (July & August) at the Exchange District BIZ Winnipeg
Name Company: Exchange District BIZLocation: Winnipeg – MB – CA Summary The Exchange District National Historic Site, named after the original grain exchange, is a 20-block urban area in the downtown of Winnipeg. The Exchange is known for its intact collection of cut-stone and terra cotta buildings dating from the turn of the 20th century. The Exchange District Business Improvement Zone (BIZ)…
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New Post has been published on Attendantdesign
New Post has been published on http://attendantdesign.com/liquor-and-gaming-authority-open-to-downtown-bids/
Liquor and Gaming Authority open to downtown bids
Downtown assets proprietors could be allowed to bid on new office area for the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba after all.
The gaming authority is trying to rent 22,000 rectangular toes of office space in Winnipeg, but any deal has to additionally include 70 to ninety parking spaces.
When the gaming authority put out its preliminary smooth remaining month, it especially excluded downtown from entering the bidding.
It just failed to assume downtown will be competitive, the gaming authority stated.
“Firstly, we did it that manner purely because we concept we’d just store downtown (belongings proprietors) time,” stated Kristianne Dechant, manager of communications and studies with the authority. “we might be looking the downtown market pretty closely the beyond couple years and didn’t suppose it is able to compete.”
But the provincial government positioned out a second smooth looking for expressions of the hobby on Saturday permitting bids from downtown, after being approached via downtown assets owners looking a possibility.
“I assume whilst you spoil it all the way down to price according to to-square-foot, there may be no question our downtown can compete,” stated Stefano Grande, govt director of the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ.
Grande brought that a downtown place does not necessarily want ninety parking areas for 90 personnel due to the fact every bus route connects to downtown.
Dechant started the gaming authority did not suggest to insult the downtown.
“Surely, it changed into by no means our purpose to disrespect downtown Winnipeg. First of all, we simply idea it might be greater fee-effective” to lease someplace else, she said.
All responses received To start with are nevertheless legitimate, and assets managers need now not observe once more in the event that they have already got.
The Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba — no longer to be stressed with Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, which it regulates — was shaped almost 3 years ago with the merger of the Manitoba Gaming Manipulate Commission and the regulatory department of the Manitoba Liquor Control Fee.
The authority is looking for a minimum lease of 15 years. It wants to integrate existing places of work into one place. It employs 95 humans. Bids need to be submitted through 2 p.M., Feb. 24.
A way to Make Your Liquor Store Into a Thriving Business
In my huge revel in with helping individuals buy all styles of groups, I’ve time and again noticed something idea scary approximately individuals who are selling liquor stores. Nearly all of them are tormented by extreme burnout!
If your excursion some of the liquor shops which can be for sale, you’ll find out what I mean. The places are commonly dingy, and there are bottles on the cabinets that could have been sitting there for years. The lighting desires updating, the walls need paint, and containers of vintage inventory are piled up inside the storerooms. I have even visible injection-molded plastic signs at the walls for manufacturers of beer that are not even to be had anymore.
Sounds dismal, right? Properly, no longer honestly, due to the fact, all those factors can spell opportunity only for you, a smart consumer.
Here are the stairs to turn that underperforming liquor Store Into a money gadget!
The first step: Ensure you purchase the proper Keep!
First things first… You have got to shop for a shop with untapped demographic ability. It could be an older “mom and pa” liquor Save in a neighborhood that has these days been converted by way of the arrival of younger, Nicely-to-do expert consumers. It could be a part of the metropolis wherein new workplace complexes are deliberate. Anything it’s far, it has to have increase ability.
Avoid buying a liquor Keep in a place that’s in decline. On occasion, such stores may be producing tremendous cash drift by promoting half pints of liquor and flask-fashion bottles of less expensive wine, but let’s face it; a store in a district that is enhancing will usually offer you with more possibilities for growth and accelerated profitability.
Step: Cater to more upscale clients!
If you’re in an area it is bringing in increasingly more expert humans, start constructing an upscale inventory with the intention to attraction to those clients. Don’t look forward to human beings to invite for extra one-of-a-kind wines, get those products on your shelves in anticipation of the famous call for.
Then we get to the difficulty of customer service. In case you want to seize an upscale consumer group, you may have for you to answer questions on VA
Why Do You need to Pay greater For A Downtown Condo?
Vicinity Topics
There is no question condos on the market downtown are within the prime Area in which everyone desires to be. Everyone worried about actual property will tell you Vicinity means the whole lot. It is able to deliver the purchase the mindset of a prestigious Condo. They are going to be proud to call this place home.
From a supplier’s point of view, There may be a perceived price that condos for sale downtown are going to bring in extra money. They’re confident they can get a customer paying a very good price for it. You cannot blame them for trying to get the maximum money they could for the belongings They’re going to promote.
Comfort
Being very near parks, public transportation, places to devour, and amusing sports gives condos for sale downtown a manner to be very convenient. If you like so as to get right of entry to the whole lot around you in very little time, this could work Nicely for you. Reflect consideration on how you may get to paintings, wherein you want to hang around, and different factors.
The ability to have a lot right there for you in no time in any respect may be Well well worth the greater fee to you. Of path, You need to Think about the regular amount of people and the noise all around you. Are you willing to exchange off a few peace and quiet for that Comfort?
More recent Condos
Being capable of spending money on one of the More recent condos makes feel. it is clever to shop for a place that hasn’t been lived in long via others. This frequent method it’s far in better condition has a Newer generation, and it is less possibly something goes to want constant or replaced soon. A number of the condos for sale downtown are lately constructed and Some of them are bought before They’re even finished.
You could absolutely purchase one earlier than they are becoming the substances on the web page to finish the development. With the sort of purchase, you regularly get to pick the colors for the indoors and other layout factors. It is able to be amusing to stay in an area no one else has before. It’s also thrilling to get to pick sure capabilities you already know you may like to have in it.
Parks and Space
There can be positive factors you need with your Apartment so Ensure you use filters when you seek. It doesn’t make feel to accept less than you actually need after which remorse it day by day whilst you see the vicinity. Ensure you it has enough Area too so you Don’t feel cramped. Consider your wishes now as well as what you may need for Area some years down the road.
Investment Go back
There’s no cause to suppose you can not resell one of the condos on the market downtown both within the future. In reality, it’s far this forecast Return at the Investment than making set off you to buy one right now. This place remains one wherein humans are inquisitive about dwelling. There may be no reason to assume that is going to exchange within the future either.
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