Downtown St. Catharines has been chosen as the host city for the 2026 Ontario Business Improvement Area Association Conference, which will welcome representatives from across Ontario and Canada.
Set for next April, the event will spotlight the resilience and creativity of downtown areas.
Executive Director of the St. Catharines Downtown Association Kat Dodge says being able to host this event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the area.
Downtown St. Catharines is home to more than 500 businesses, ranging from restaurants to theatres, concert venues and retail stores, while the conference is expected to bring between 300 and 500 BIA members to the area.
Dodge says that meeting with members from other parts of the country is a chance to collaborate and find out what's working in other areas that can be applied in Niagara as well.
This year's conference will also have a unique homecoming, as former Executive Director of the Downtown St. Catharines Association Rachel Braithwaite now serves in the same role for the Ontario BIA Association. Dodge says Braithwaite helped plant the seeds for the conference happening in Niagara, so it's nice to see it come full circle.
Downtown St. Catharines put forth their bid months ago to host next year's conference, and have known it will be hosted locally for quite some time now - something Dodge says has been difficult to keep quiet because of her excitement.
Attendees will also have the chance to explore the broader Niagara Region through tours and community experiences, as the conference highlights both the city’s growth and the collaborative spirit that strengthens main streets across the province.
(Written by: Matt Latour)