By David MacDonald
There are a lot of fine people who have walked in Karen Baillie’s shoes, literally and figuratively speaking. Karen is the owner of Elegant Steps, an independent shoe and fashion store located in the heart of Downtown Truro, Nova Scotia, as well as the current President of the Downtown Truro Partnership. It was in her role on the Executive Committee of the DTP that she spoke with Spotlight on Business Magazine in early January. Karen’s assertive business instincts took over before the first question was even asked and the spotlight, as they say, was briefly on us.
KAREN BAILLIE: So what was it that brought the magazine to seek out the DTP?
SPOTLIGHT ON BUINESS MAGAZINE: We’ve been hearing a lot of positive things about the DTP from businesses we’ve been speaking with in Truro. Your new Vision Statement, Promoting a unique environment for business and urban living in the heart of Truro, is intriguing. What exactly is it that the DTP does for its members? What services do you provide that make you such a hit?
Well, we try to be all that our members want or need us to be. We steer economic development, we work on proposals that improve the downtown core, encourage community interaction and visitation, and we help to promote our businesses and our community at large.
Generally speaking, the Downtown Truro Partnership is a ?business improvement association’ or organization. Representing the downtown core business community, the DTP develops and implements economic development, marketing and promotional initiatives on behalf of their membership. The DTP encourages a unique environment – safe, clean, beautiful and vibrant, promoting the downtown for and to, businesses, visitors and those interested in urban living. Within that mandate, the DTP also invests in the community at large, providing or leveraging funds and development for green and public spaces and infrastructure, and providing community engagement opportunities through social and cultural events. The organization’s membership is comprised of all businesses that fall within a particular geographic boundary known as the Urban Regional Core (URC) and those businesses pay a self-imposed area rate or tax, in lieu of a membership fee. The organization is led by a volunteer Board of Directors – the volunteers being drawn from the member base ?and they maintain a small administrative office with minimal staff.
How many members are there in the URC?
There are over 300 professional, service and retail members.
How long exactly has the Truro Downtown Partnership been in operation?
Coming out of the old Mainstreet Program, the DTP has represented the interests of the downtown business community since 1979 – we have been in successful operation for nearly 40 years. We believe that, independently or in partnership with the Town of Truro and others, we are a driving force behind many of the downtown development and promotional initiatives that take place throughout any given year.
What would a citizen of Truro who is not a member of the business community know the DTP for?
The Canada Day fireworks display, the Santa Claus Parade, the annual Christmas Dreams Fashion Show, the annual Festival of Lights – we’re the marketing and promotions coordinator for these events. As you’ll see on our Facebook page, we’re also very involved in many other community events and festivals, working with volunteers and organizations who, like us, want to make these attractions even more popular.
In what ways have you seen Downtown Truro evolve over the years?
Downtown Truro has always been an illustrious downtown. Being so central to the province, we have a history of being a transportation hub, a focus for people from far and wide, not only for those close at hand. Like many downtowns we have always been ?home’ to historically traditional businesses. In our case, some of those have been here for many generations of the same family but in recent years we have lost a few of those anchor businesses but instead of starting a decline as in many other communities, it has opened up wonderful opportunities for change and diversification. We are seeing an influx of new businesses, many sole proprietors, with ingenious market plans and products. The Town of Truro and the DTP have been working on a Master Plan over the last number of years. Under that umbrella, the DTP have been proud to have driven a very successful commercial property fa?ade improvement program as well as a public space program that saw the development of a new park and many beautification improvements. Planters, bike racks, lighting, waste recycling and public seating have been augmented to further encourage the welcoming and walkable downtown atmosphere we have here. Working with the Town, the DTP has also helped to influence the development of our new Civic Square which complements recent upgrades to our Farmers’ Market and provides an enviable green and community gathering area as a forecourt to our newly completed Library. The Library has provided the perfect opportunity for the Town to refurbish and restore a beautiful, historic building right in the center of our downtown and to do so while providing a very necessary service. Both the Library and the Civic Square present new venues for increased community functions and we plan to take advantage of those opportunities. Those are just some of the highlights that speak to our commitment to our Mission Statement.
Yes, I understand that in late 2007, the DTP and its entire membership engaged in a planning session in which you amended your Strategic Plan. What was the new Mission Statement that came out of this session?
?The Downtown Truro Partnership will research, develop, implement, facilitate and promote initiatives, utilizing key partnerships to enhance sustainable growth and development of the Urban Regional Core as an exceptional destination for business, residents and visitors.’
What initiatives are you currently pushing forward?
Some of the projects I have mentioned are just in the final stages of implementation, so we are currently looking for that next ?Big’ project. On a smaller scale, with this being Canada’s 150th birthday, we are planning events that will bring the community out to enjoy all that we have to offer. Extra efforts will be made to attract the traveling public and introduce our warm and welcoming downtown with its incredible mix of shops and services, accommodations, open spaces and, of course, international cuisine.
What are your day-to-day challenges?
Day-to-day we are always looking for new projects or ways to revitalize the tried and true. It isn’t always easy to come up with a new vision and we always have to be on the lookout for funding opportunities to support them. We are trying to build better communications with our members and the expanded community – to get the word out. Social media has made that easier in recent years. Our Facebook page is a fantastic way to make our business directory at Downtowntruro.ca more personal while giving businesses in the URC a chance to advertise.
What does the future of Downtown Truro look like? Are you seeing continued growth?
Yes, we are seeing an amazing growth! Our business-membership base is constantly growing; new businesses are seeing downtown Truro as the place to be and existing businesses are expanding. Residential development is increasing in the downtown as more people want the convenience and enjoyment of the ?walkable,’ or alternate transportation lifestyle. Visitors to our province often see downtown Truro as a base from which to travel. We have the incredible Victoria Park within our community, all the shops, services and restaurants that travelers could wish for and day trips from our core, in any direction, offer so much. Downtown Truro is bustling and vibrant.
Is there anything else that you’d like to convey to our readers?
I would like to invite anyone and everyone to ?Come to Downtown Truro!’ Visit us and experience our extraordinary community. We welcome you! Stay awhile, you just might want to settle here forever!