” Today, more than ever, Destination Centre-ville and its counterparts, cities and towns across the country, will need to remind themselves of the driving motto “Clean and Safe”. We need to implement adequate measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of retail employees and customers, as well as those of us returning to work in offices. We need to band together and preserve the vitality of our business district” declared Emile Roux, Executive Director of Montreal Destination centre-ville.

For several business owners, it has become apparent just how important social media and mobile apps are when it cimes to maintaining close ties and fostering exchanges with their clientele. In Quebec, inititives like Le Panier Bleu and Pop Up Solidaire have emerged, promoting the local economy. The #StrongerTogether movement has allowed many businesses to support fellow entrepreneurs. Montreal-based company Lightspeed donated $500 in local gift cards to every one of its 1,000 employee. This mobilization shows our unwaivering resilience, commitment to staying connected, and desire to celebrate local businessmen and women.

In addition, the City of Montreal, with a private partner, has set up a free, accelerated digitalization program to help retailers make the most of the rise in e-commerce.

To ensure a safe reopening of the business district, Destination Centre-Ville outlined four solutions: sanitary bike stations along de Maisonneuve, new signage and street furniture along Sainte-Catherine, and a 20-person cleaning brigade. This summer, to help safely welcome downtown cyclists, several bike stations will be installed in close proximity to the city’s bick paths. As parts of St. Catherine West become pedestrian-only lanes, the additional space will be used to ensure social distancing.

“Numerous bike stands equipped with a disinfectant solution over the summer (more than 800 litres), cleaning stations and a reception area to communicate health regulations will be installed in multiple strategic locations downtown,” said Emile Roux. 

Greening the business district is a real challenge on such a mineral space. From vineyards on the rooftops of the « Palais des congrès », to urban vegetable gardens and more and more tree planting, Destination centre-ville teams are mobilizing to encourage collective awareness and participate in the ecological transition.

What do you think about the etablishment of sanitary bike stations in a business district?