About OUR DWTN
Established in 2023, the City's OUR DWTN revitalization program is investing in the downtown core with a focus on beautification, programming, cleaning and enhanced safety and the activation of downtown spaces.
Close to $950,000 is allotted for 2024 to activate and refresh downtown through the OUR DWTN initiative, which includes a mix of new retail experiences, pop-up culinary options, recreational and cultural programming, and events and placemaking initiatives – all in a clean and safe downtown.
Designed to provide safety and enjoyment to all who visit downtown Victoria, the program’s area of focus currently includes Wharf to Blanshard Streets and Belleville to Discovery Streets.
Current Programs
Sleigh the Day is back! Join us at Ship Point (940 Wharf St.) on December 8 from 1-5 p.m. for a day of free, festive, family-friendly fun brought to you by OUR DWTN.
Get into the holiday spirit with free holiday craft-making for all ages, sing-alongs with festive carolers, dazzling drag performances and seasonal treats from local vendors. Stay cozy while you connect with friends or family with free hot cocoa and heated tents.
Food and Beverage Vendors:
• Victoria Beer Society
• Churros and Mor
• Big Bad Bob’s
Event Schedule:
1 p.m. - until supplies last
Upcycled Holiday Ornaments with SUPPLY Victoria
• All materials provided
• Suitable for all ages
1:30 – 2:15 p.m.
Caroling Sing-Along with The Holly Jollies
2:30 – 3 p.m.
Drag Performances from Left Coast Drag Collective
3:15 – 4 p.m.
Caroling Sing-Along with The Holly Jollies
4:15 – 4:45 p.m.
Drag Performances from Left Coast Drag Collective
We’re looking for big ideas to bring life to downtown Victoria! The Our DWTN Ideas Fund offers financial support for creative thinkers - businesses, entrepreneurs, artists and community builders - to launch exciting events, programs or projects that will transform downtown Victoria during the shoulder seasons.
From January to April and October to December 2025, we’re looking for fresh, fun and engaging activations to boost downtown’s vibe and make it the go-to spot. Think pop-up markets, outdoor art installations, live performances, or unique workshops – initiatives that spark engagement and foster community connections.
Ready to bring your idea to life? Head to bonfirehub.ca to submit your proposal by November 5, 2024.
Let’s make downtown buzz with excitement!
The Victoria Storefront Pilot project aims to activate underused and vacant commercial spaces in downtown Victoria into vibrant hubs of creativity.
The City is working with a contractor to research and develop a project plan for a one-year project to support artists and small businesses in sourcing affordable commercial spaces through short-term leases or licences for artists, creatives, cultural organizations and entrepreneurs to develop their ideas.
The project is currently in its first phase, which aims to:
- gather information from artists, entrepreneurs and space owners about their needs and wants
- develop a project plan for a one-year Victoria Storefront Pilot project
Phase two of the project, if approved, would see the implementation of mutually beneficial space activations through temporary tenancies, with opportunities for professional development and public programming.
For more information, visit Victoria Storefront Pilot.
The City of Victoria, the Bay Centre and SUPPLY Victoria Creative Reuse Centre have partnered to present another year of free, festive craft workshops over the month of November. Weave a decorative star, stitch a festive fabric brooch, create holiday cards or design your own unique wrapping paper in these hands-on, seasonal craft sessions. Workshops are free but spots are limited. Learn more and secure your spot.
The City is reviewing its Street Entertainment Bylaw to improve the busking experience downtown. This summer until September 19, we're piloting new busking locations. Thank you to all those who provided feedback in the online survey by August 31. Recommendations for an interim update to the Bylaw will be presented to Council for consideration in late fall.
Learn what you can do to report, remove and prevent graffiti downtown on private and public property.
The City's Feet on the Street program provides a visible presence in the core, with bylaw officers making regular downtown patrols where they engage with the business community and proactively enforce bylaws relating to nuisance activities.
Under the OUR DWTN program, the City now has a dedicated OUR DWTN service person, who monitors and coordinates downtown cleaning and maintenance. This service person conducts regular downtown inspections and works with a larger cleaning crew to target areas of high need.
OUR DWTN Highlights
Below are some OUR DWTN events and programming that have taken place since the program was established in May 2023.
The community was invited to make Summer at Ship Point their downtown destination for gathering with friends and family. Most Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from June 11-September 19, 2024, Ship Point transformed into a vibrant recreational, arts and cultural community hub.
Activities included free one-hour wellness classes such as yoga or a full-body bootcamp offered between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. From 4-8 p.m. an array of local food truck cuisine were available and live music was performed on the OUR DWTN stage., with the Victoria Beer Society’s beer garden available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The City supported and showcased an incredible line-up of free music performances, from Latin rhythms, Motown and R&B to jazz, blues and folk – and everything in between on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 5-6 p.m.
On select evenings, special performances and programming were offered, such as free dance lessons by the City’s Artist in Residence Kemi Craig, a drag show presented by Left Coast Drag Collective and Bad Rabbit Radio broadcasting live with DJ Nova Jade.
The venue featured expanded green space, Adirondack seating, beautiful planters, shade umbrellas and overhead lighting, complete with outdoor games such as giant chess, hula hoops and giant Jenga for the whole family to enjoy.
The Summer at Ship Point stamp card offered the community the opportunity to win an OUR DWTN gift card or prize pack.
CityVibe, the City's summer events guide, showcases a wide range of festivals and outdoor events, as well as free outdoor music concerts and activities around downtown.
The Tam Kung Temple mural by artist Carolyn Wong is a celebration of art, history and culture. Located on Government Street near Fisgard Street on the south exterior of the Yen Wo Society building, this dynamic, storytelling mural includes elements of augmented reality by artist Mark Illing. Created as part of the OUR DWTN revitalization program with sponsorship from the Downtown Victoria Business Association and Sunbelt Rentals, the Tam Kung Temple Mural reflects the cultural heritage of Chinatown and the Tam Kung Temple, the oldest Chinese temple in Canada.
Winter Arts Festival
The community was invited to bring friends and family downtown, February 16-19 from 5-9 p.m., 2024 to enjoy Victoria’s Winter Arts Festival, a celebration of light, art and storytelling, sculptures, projection mapping, augmented reality (AR) and live performances.
Free to attend, the four-day, family-friendly festival provided warm spaces to gather, creating a rhythm of indoor and outdoor public art experiences.
The multi-day event kicked off on Friday, February 16 at 5 p.m. at the Winter Arts Hub (506 Herald Street) with a First Nations welcome and live performances on the Showstream Stage.
Winter Arts Hub
The Winter Arts Hub served as a warm gathering spot where the community could come together to celebrate art and performance while enjoying local food vendors, a licensed bar, artisan booths, scheduled live entertainment on an outdoor stage and a kids zone. The indoor/outdoor space was located at Herald Street Brew Works (506 Herald Street), adjacent to the Circulatory Boutique’s parking lot.
Art Walk
The Festival’s Art Walk featured new and existing public art installations, vibrant displays, pop-up performances and local businesses open late. You could explore the Art Walk at your own pace with three online maps or register for a guided tour led by John Adams to discover over 20 art installations based on the theme of "Light and Language".
Art Walk Passport
You could enhance your Winter Arts Festival experience with the Art Walk Passport. For pick-up and drop-off at the Winter Arts Hub, stamps could be collected at five participating Art Walk storefronts for a chance to win FREE Evo Car Share driving minutes.
Warm-Up Locations
Winter Arts Festival partnered with local businesses, cafes, pubs and restaurants to provide a place on the route to warm up, connect with other attendees and enjoy some local flavour. All warm-up locations were featured on three digital maps.
Family-Friendly Activities
From hands-on art crafting to immersive story-times and interactive art installations, the Festival provided fun for the whole family. You could grow virtual mushrooms, play oversized musical instruments and explore over 20 new and existing art pieces along the Art Walk. Participating businesses and City Hall provided a cozy break.
Pop-Up Event Series
The Art Walk featured free Pop-Up Event Series at select locations and storefronts across downtown. Nightly live performances showcased a diverse array of talent, including musicians, vocalists, drag artists and dancers.
VMF After Dark Victoria
VMF After Dark Victoria, a 19+ ticketed event took place on Saturday, February 17 from 9:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. at Hermann's Upstairs Lounge. This late-night celebration showcased artists from diverse backgrounds, identities and colourful self-expressions.
Winter Arts Fest Dialogue: Light & Language
On Sunday, February 18 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Royal BC Museum, Winter Arts Festival artists, curators and community members were invited to join a conversation on how art, culture and storytelling are crucial to strengthening the social fabric of a just, healthy and equitable society.
Partner Experiences
There were many Partner Experiences to explore at the Winter Arts Festival, including the Power and Joy of Words & Music performance at the Belfry Theatre; guest stars at the Jagasilk Teabar; a floral art opening reception; ocean artwork exhibit; a pop-up library; hands-on lantern making and more.
The Winter Arts Festival was produced by VMF and brought to you by OUR DWTN, a City of Victoria initiative.
What Home Means to You is a series of eight, three-minute short films that aim to illuminate the perspectives and experiences of everyday local lives through the magic of Super 8. The premiere screening took place on Thursday, June 6, 2024 from 8:30-10 p.m. in Centennial Square.
City of Victoria Artist in Residence Kemi Craig invited eight emerging-to-established artists of various disciplines to participate in the project, many of whom were exploring filmmaking for the first time. Each was provided one roll of Super 8 film and asked to storyboard and shoot their short film in chronological order.
The filmmakers include Charles Amartey, Aya Behr, Aya Djama Clappis, Abadan Hamidulla, Hossein Nazari, Taylor Pannell, Nikki Wilkinson and Zainab Bint Younus. Local musicians Jo Ann C. Dalisay and Pesewa performed live improvised music to accompany the films. CineVic supported the project by providing equipment and technical mentorship to the filmmakers.
Curated by Kemi Craig, Super 8 Film Screening: What Home Means to You was a partnership between the City’s OUR DWTN revitalization program and the CineVic Society of Independent Filmmakers, an artist-run non-profit society that supports independent filmmakers and media artists with accessible community programming, affordable equipment, professional development resources and cinematic exhibition opportunities.
We are exploring new opportunities for art activations and refreshing some artworks within the downtown core.
In 2023, the Poet Tree at the corner of Broughton and Government Streets was cleaned and repainted. Created by Glenn Closson as a legacy artwork for Victoria's inaugural Poet Laureate Carla Funk, the sculpture includes lines from her poem “Hide & Seek." The next time you’re downtown, check out the refreshed colours and design details of the artwork’s 300 forged leaves and its dragonflies.
The Commercial Alley Outdoor Art Gallery now features a new four-panel art installation by Ella Chay.
Four hundred colourful banner were installed on downtown lampposts to beautify and enhance Victoria’s downtown.
The banners feature the OUR DWTN branding, which celebrates Victoria's dynamic, welcoming downtown community and encourages residents and visitors to come, stay and enjoy downtown as their own. The playfulness between the bold typeface, vibrant colours and dynamic graphics are used to elicit a sense of pride, inviting the viewer to explore their downtown.
With OUR DWTN funding, several downtown spaces were upgraded with seating, planters, synthetic turf and in Centennial Square, recreational activities such as chess tables and a ping pong set.
The historic Crystal Garden, operated by the Victoria Conference Centre hosted two indoor pickleball courts in a temporary installation from January 9 to February 18, 2024 as part of the City's OUR DWTN revitalization program. The pickleball courts were available for a mix of drop-in times, court reservations and registered programs.
OUR DWTN partnered with the Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) to host two OUR DWTN Scrub-Ups since 2023, which provided businesses, staff and commercial office workers the opportunity to join together to refresh downtown. Council, City staff and the DVBA Team were on hand to help out.
OUR DWTN and the Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) have partnered to provide financial support to improve the look and feel of downtown blocks and business properties. This grant supports improvements such as landscaping, bird deterrent features, cleaning and upgraded exteriors, awnings and lighting. Visit the Downtown Victoria Business Association website to learn more.
Downtown Victoria is the place to be to get festive during the holiday season and enjoy the sparkle of enhanced LED tree lighting, festive winter hanging baskets and new OUR DWTN winter banners.
In 2023, City crews installed 250 winter hanging baskets around downtown – double the number than the previous year. Each winter basket was filled with a delightful mix of evergreens, including Red cedar, Douglas, Noble and Silver fir, White pine and Mountain hemlock, adorned with a beautiful white bow.
Victoria’s downtown shined brightly with more trees decorated with twinkling LED lights. Downtown was also aglow with 150 blue and white-lit festive tree fixtures, perched on top of Victoria’s iconic cluster lampposts.
From the Inner Harbour to Centennial Square, the City was illuminated for the holiday season to compliment the many other holiday offerings such as the Downtown Victoria Business Association's Lights of Wonder, the 41st Peninsula Co-op Santa Claus Parade, free winter craft workshops and more.
The City of Victoria and the Bay Centre partnered to offer a popular series of free card printmaking and wreath-making workshops in November and December 2023. Participants were invited to bring a food item donation for the Mustard Seed Food Bank.
The City of Victoria invited the community to participate in a festive afternoon downtown with family and friends at Sleigh the Day: Sing, Shop, Create on Sunday, December 17 from 1-4 p.m. on Government Street between Humboldt and Courtney Streets.
Free holiday craft making was available for all ages, along with the singing of timeless classics alongside festive carollers and the opportunity to explore unique handmade treasures and seasonal treats by local artisans.
Spiced apple cider, hot chocolate and seasonal craft beers poured by the Victoria Beer Society were available for purchase.
Sleigh the Day: Sing, Shop, Create was a City of Victoria’s OUR DWTN initiative in partnership with the Victoria Beer Society.
