Member Programs and Resources

Members, this page is for you. Below you’ll find everything you need to make the most of your DHBC Membership. To access your member account, please log in.

DHBC Member Resources

  • Directory Listing

    As a DHBC Member, your business (should be) featured on our Downtown Directory wepage. 

    The Directory is one of the most viewed pages on our website and many organizations (ex. Neptune Theatre, Discovery Centre, Events East etc.) share it with their guests when they're visiting Downtown Halifax. 

    If you don't see your business listed, please contact Colleen, colleen@downtownhalifax.ca. 

    Keep your listing up-to-date with your own personal login. If you need assistance, email Colleen. 

  • DHBC's Welcome Centre

    The DHBC office is located at 1546 Barrington Street - it is also a 'Welcome Centre' where visitors can come and learn about Downtown Halifax. If you are a DHBC Member and would like to use the DHBC Welcome Centre to showcase your business or special promotion, host a networking event, or organize a special activity, please apply here. 

  • Member Events

    DHBC offers ongoing member networking events, information sessions, professional development opportunities, and the ever-popular DHBC Member Holiday Social.

    Upcoming DHBC-Led Events

    "Making the most of your DHBC Membership" with Colleen.

    Not sure what “being a member” means? Want to meet with other Downtown Halifax workers and swap stories? Or maybe you just want to brush up on your members’ benefits? 

    Starting Thursday, April 30, Colleen will be hosting live and virtual information sessions every month. The first one is virtual, register here. 

    Save these future dates:

    • May 27th, 12:00 noon, IN PERSON, DHBC offices 1546 Barrington St. 
    • Jun 24th, 12:00 noon, virtual on zoom 
    • Jul 29th, 3:30 PM, IN PERSON, DHBC offices 1546 Barrington St. 
    • Aug 26th, 3:30 PM, virtual, on zoom
    • Sep 30th, 12:00 noon, IN PERSON, DHBC offices 1546 Barrington St.
    • Oct 28th, 12:00 noon,  virtual on zoom
    • Nov 25th, 3:30 PM, IN PERSON, DHBC offices 1546 Barrington St.

    If you aren’t already receiving invitations to our member events and wish to, please get in touch with colleen@downtownhalifax.ca. 

  • Bi-weekly Member Newsletter

    Every other Wednesday, our team compiles a list of relevant news for and about our Members. 

    What's happening at your business? 

    Did someone celebrate a milestone? Receive an award? 

    Is there a new business opening up or moving location? 

    Were you featured in a publication or on the news recently? 

    If you are a DHBC Member and have some news to share, please contact jayme@downtownhalifax.ca. 

    newsletter


    Bi-weekly Member Newsletter schedule for 2026:

    January 14, 28

    February 11, 25

    March 11, 25

    April 8, 22

    May 6, 20

    June 3, 17 & June 30* this is a Tuesday, because Wednesday is a Holiday

    July 15, 29

    August 12, 26

    September 9, 23

    October 7, 21

    November 4, 18

    December 2, 16* last one before the Holiday Break

  • Promotion

    DHBC runs print and digital ads (sometimes even radio ads) that promote the Downtown Halifax area in various local publications such as: Curated Magazine and Guide, Sea Nova Scotia, Neptune Theatre, My East Coast Experience, Family Fun Halifax, Eastlink, PostMedia/The Chronicle Herald, Discover Halifax's annual Kids and Visitor Guides, discoverhalifaxns.ca, thecoast.ca, and more.

    DHBC has a strong social media presence, with a combined following of over 100,000 across all platforms—including more than 60,000 on Instagram alone! We use our social platforms to the benefit of our members, so be sure to follow and tag @downtownhalifax / #downtownhalifax in your posts.  

  • Marketing Campaigns

    DHBC runs several marketing campaigns throughout the year, all encouraging people to visit Downtown Halifax for their shopping, entertainment and dining needs. They typically consist of DHBC branded promotional materials like social media graphics, posters, brochures, window decals, prize packages, etc. If there are specific DHBC branded materials you would like to display at your business, please contact Allana MacDonald, allana@downtownhalifax.ca.  

    Current Marketing Campaign: Down to Downtown 

    Ongoing Campaign(s) 

    What's on this month in Downtown Halifax?

    Pups on Patios 

  • Event Sponsorship

    DHBC offers a limited number of sponsorships for events that contribute to our strategic goals. DHBC’s Marketing Action Team, comprised of Members and DHBC staff, reviews and evaluates all sponsorship opportunities against specific criteria including event attendance, impact of DHBC’s sponsorship on the event, impact on the Downtown community, and more. Events must be taking place within the Downtown Halifax Business Commission district to be eligible to apply.

    Learn more here: Event Sponsorship Program.

  • Event Calendar

    Do you have a special event or activity that your business or organization is hosting? Submit your event(s) and promotion(s) through our Event Submission Form to be included in our popular events calendar. Our events calendar automatically pulls through to our twice-weekly public newsletter, ‘What’s Happening This Week’ and ‘What’s Happening This Weekend’, which gets shared publicly to over 8,000 people. You can subscribe to DHBC’s events newsletter in the footer of our website.

  • Advocacy

    DHBC provides our membership with a collective voice at the table on all major issues concerning Downtown Halifax, including planning and development, urban mobility, heritage preservation, and more. We speak directly to all levels of government, the media, and other stakeholders on our member's behalf. These members range from small entrepreneurs to large, multinational firms. All have a vested interest in the economic prosperity of the Downtown core. Learn more about our advocacy efforts here.

  • Research
    State of the Downtown

    For the last 3 years (2023, 2024, 2025) DHBC has produced a "State of the Downtown" report - a comprehensive document that tells the true story of how Downtown Halifax is faring each year. It includes data on shopping/spending habits, visitation numbers ("feet on the street"), private and public investments and development projects, and public safety and parking statistics. Click here to learn more.

    Downtown Halifax Vision 2030

    From September 2023 to April 2024, DHBC consulted with key stakeholders, urban experts, policymakers, business owners, and the public asking "What big moves must happen now to ensure Downtown Halifax’s success for the future?"

    This identified 17 priorities that fit into one (or more) "buckets" that we are calling Transformational Moves.

    Everybody’s Neighbourhood - Downtown Halifax is a place where everyone feels welcome. 
    Harbour 365 - Downtown Halifax maximizes its greatest asset year round.
    Entertainment Central - Downtown Halifax is a nationally renowned destination for arts, culture, and entertainment.
    Move Smart - Getting to and moving around Downtown Halifax is easy. 

    Learn more here. 

  • Grant Programs

    DHBC offers various grant programs exclusively for members. Recent grant opportunities have included 'March is for Music' and 'Deck the Downtown.' For more information on upcoming grant opportunities, please reach out to colleen@downtownhalifax.ca.

  • Graffiti Clean-Up

    If your building has been tagged by graffiti, contact DHBC to have it removed. It’s as simple as that. 

    Please note: the graffiti removal program is for privately owned, commercial buildings within the Downtown Halifax boundaries only. To report graffiti, contact (902) 423-6658 or info@downtownhalifax.ca

  • Parking Info

    We maintain an extensive, up-to-date parking page, which outlines where to park, the costs, and other tips for easy parking Downtown. 

    If you have questions or concerns about parking in Downtown Halifax, please call 311.

podcaster
Buy Local Campaign
member center
Pups on Patios

DHBC Placemaking Programs & Projects

  • Seasonal Decorations and Signage

    DHBC’s DELIGHTFUL DOWNTOWN features themed light shows on the former Halifax Memorial Library building at Grafton Park, seasonal decorations including a 26-foot tall illuminated tree at Peace and Friendship Park, LED lit tree-wraps, lamp pole lights, and other general decorations throughout Downtown. Christmas wreaths are installed along Downtown streets every winter and rainbow crosswalks are refreshed each summer In partnership with HRM. For more information on seasonal decorations and signage, contact info@downtownhalifax.ca

  • Public Seating and Installations

    DHBC installs painted picnic tables (including wheelchair accessible tables) at the following locations during the summer and fall months: Peace and Friendship Park, Granville Mall, Sands at Salter (next to Bishop’s Landing), on the corner of Hollis and Salter Streets, Purdy’s Wharf, George and Hollis Streets, and the corner of Duke and Hollis Streets. A recent addition to Downtown includes the activation of Granville Mall during the warmer months, placing painted bistro tables, chairs, lights, and more in this public area. If you are interested in borrowing picnic tables for an event taking place in Downtown Halifax or have any questions pertaining to this program, please contact info@downtownhalifax.ca or (902) 423-6658.

  • Gritty to Pretty Placemaking Grant Program

    Each spring, between May and June, DHBC’s Gritty to Pretty Placemaking Grants are awarded to individuals and businesses seeking to encourage civic pride, support local economies, and enhance the overall attraction and vibrancy of Downtown Halifax’s streetscape. Grant categories include the Open Grant, the Mural Grant, as well as our new Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) Mural and Open grants. Grant applicants are not required to be urban planners or professional artists, and can be eligible for up to $10,000 on an annual basis. For more information, please contact jonathan@downtownhalifax.ca.

  • Self-Guided Art Tour

    This self-guided art tour showcases all the Gritty to Pretty Placemaking Grant projects around Downtown. Make sure to bring your camera as you spend the day exploring all the public art installations that make Downtown Halifax so memorable. 

  • Downtown Halifax Crew

    We are passionate about keeping Downtown Halifax clean and beautiful. DHBC partners with HRM on matters of maintenance and ornamentation of the Downtown core. During the tourist season, May to September, the Downtown Halifax Crew, DHBC’s seasonal employees, maintain and enhance the Downtown area by removing graffiti and posters, and paint public items such as garbage cans and lamp posts. The Crew also serves as a valuable resource for tourists and visitors looking for directions or recommendations. For more information on the crew, please contact info@downtownhalifax.ca

  • Poster Kiosks

    DHBC maintains three poster kiosks for community advertising. This project provides an alternative space for posters in an effort to clean up clutter in the Downtown. DHBC is responsible for kiosk maintenance on the 1st and 15th of every month. Please refer to the map of where you can find the poster kiosks and pole collars. For more information on poster kiosks, please contact info@downtownhalifax.ca

  • DHBC Lamp Standard Banner Program

    DHBC manages the banner program on Downtown Halifax’s lamp standards. The banners are used by event organizers to promote their events and programs that take place Downtown. The Halifax Jazz Festival, Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, Neptune Theatre, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Blue Nose Marathon, the SaltWire Holiday Parade of Lights, and Metro United Way have all used the banner program to raise awareness about their events and programs. For more information, please contact info@downtownhalifax.ca

External Resources & Information