On , December 13 the membership of the Downtown BIA (Business Improvement Area) will elect six (6) members of the Board of Management.

Deadline for nominations is Friday, December 1, 2006 at 4:30 p.m. Nomination papers are mailed by the City to all membes of the BIA. Nomination papers are available at the City Clerk's office at City Hall or at the DDC office. For more informaiton call the City Clerk's office at 576 8446 or the DDC at 579 4139.

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A beautiful sunny day drew an estimated crowd of over 60,000 Downtown to see Santa and his cast of clowns, characters and floats. Congratulations and thanks to all Parade participants, volunteers and spectators. The winners of today's Parade are:

Large Float (over 20 feet)

1. FI Canada Oilfield Services
2. Mr. Rooter Plumbing
3. Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture

Small Float (under 20 feet)

1. Bears n Cheers
2. Eastern Health Paramedic Services
3. Waste Management

Best Band

1. Shriners
2. 166 Fort Townshend Sea Cadets
3. Salvation Army

Best Cheerleading Group

1. Bishops College
2. PWC
3. Holy Trinity

Best Performing Group

1. Fusion Dance Studio
2. The Dance Centre
3. Barbara Ashley School of Dance

Thanks to our Parade sponsors and supporters:
Newfoundland Power
Sterling Communications - NTV
McDonald's
The Express

The Annual Downtown Christmas Parade will happen today at 1:00 pm from the Aliant Building Parking lot. The route is as follows: Factory Lane, Plymouth Road, Duckworth Street, Prescott Street, Water Street, and ending at the Railway-Coastal Museum. The Santa Shuttle is running from the Confederation Building and Bowring Park starting at 11:30 am on a load and go basis. This is a free service but donation to the Food Bank wii be gratefully accepted. Bring your letter to Santa and a non-perishable food item in aid of the Community Food Sharing Association.

Hey kids get your letters to Santa ready because tomorrow is the big day for the Annual Downtown Christmas Parade. The Parade starts at 1:00 pm from the Aliant building on Factory Lane, proceeds along Duckworth Street, down Prescott Street to Water Street and ends at the Railway Coastal Museum.

Don't forget your loonies and toonies or a non-perishable food item for the CFSA. If you need a ride to the Parade hop on the Santa Shuttle starting at 11:30 am from Bowring Park and Confederation Building.

Stay tuned to OZFM on Sunday morning for any important Parade updates.

The City of St. John's Invites you to A Workshop On Vandalism. Saturday, November 25, 2006, 10:30 am to 3:00 pm Foran Room, City Hall, New Gower Street. Lunch and refreshments provided. Parking available in the City Hall parking garage.

Is vandalism becoming worse in St. John's? Are some areas of the city more prone to suffer from vandalism? Are some times of the year worse than others? What kind of person commits vandalism, and what motivates him or her? What are the City and the police doing to deter vandalism? Are there volunteer-based organizations who can help you prevent vandalism, or help you cope with the effects of it, or help rehabilitate those who have engaged in vandalism? Do we need to change the laws to make it easier for the police and the courts to deal with vandalism? What can you do to prevent and to deal with vandalism?

During the workshop, you will have the opportunity to discuss these questions with six expert presenters, including university researchers, an Inspector with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, city employees and the Chair of the St. John's Citizens' Crime Prevention Committee. And then you will have the opportunity to offer your advice to the City of St. John's about what else could be done to reduce vandalism.

Admission is free, but you must register by Friday, November 24th at 12:30 pm.

To register by telephone or for more information, please call (709) 576-8557 or e-mail the City at legal@stjohns.ca

The International Festivals and Events Association(IFEA) awarded Gold to the St. John's Time advertising concept (Best Single Magazine Display Ad) produced by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture during the IFEA Award Ceremony held at the IFEA's 51st Annual Convention and Expo.

The St. John's Time is a festival marketing concept developed by the City of St. John's to promote four festivals under one brand: George Street, the Royal St. John's Regatta, the Downtown Buskers Festival and the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival.

The annual professional competition drew 1,380 entries this year from among the world's top festival and events. Winning entries came from organizations as diverse as the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, CA; The Anchorage Fur Rendezvous in Anchorage, AK; The Kentucky Derby Festival, KY. The international contenders represented countries from Slovenia, Singapore, Beijing, Rotterdam and, of course, Canada.

The International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) is a non-profit membership organization with members spanning 40 countries and 5 continents.

For more information contact:

Bernadette Walsh, Special Projects Officer
Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture
576-8537
bwalsh@stjohns.ca

Need a lift to the Parade on Sunday, November 26th? Ride the Santa Shuttle...its a free service offered by the DDC, the City of St. John's, and Metrobus. The Santa Shuttle will operate similar to the Park and Ride service previously used for hockey games, with pick up and drop-off points located at Bowring Park and Confederation Building.

Shuttles will leave for the Parade beggining at 11:30 am (on a load and go basis) and will be returning after the Parade is over. There is no cost for the service but donations to the Community Food Sharing Association will be gratefully accepted.

For more information call Metrobus Ride Guide, 722-9400, or the Parade Hotline, SANTA-HI (726-8244).

The Annual Downtown Christmas Parade will be taking place on Sunday, November 26th at 1:00 pm (postponement date, December 3). Join Santa and his exciting cast of clowns, characters, and floats as he makes his way through historic Downtown St. John's.

This year the Parade will take a slightly different route as it will begin at the Fort William (Aliant) Building on Factory Lane, move out on to Plymouth Road, merge into Duckworth Street, go down over Prescott Street, and head west on Water Street ending at the Railway Coastal Museum. Volunteers from Newfoundland Power will be collecting food as well as loonies and twoonies in aid of the Community Food Sharing Association along the Parade route. Kids, don't forget to bring your letters to Santa.

The DDC is still looking for individuals who would like to volunteer as safety marshals along the Parade route. Marshals must be at least sixteen years old. For more information about the Parade or to volunteer call, SANTA-HI (726-8244) or email info@downtownstjohns.com.

Wednesday, November 8 is Tax Free Day Downtown at participating stores Enjoy the festive atmosphere and the fresh air. Grab a hot chocolate or a coffee and take a stroll through historic Downtown to find that unique gift for that someone special on your list. Take a break and feed your Christmas hunger at any one of the many great restaurants Downtown. Wet your Christmas whistle by making a pit stop at a quaint pub or a modern bar. You'll find all your Christmas needs...Downtown!

On Monday, November 6, Traffic Enforcement Officers with the City of St. John’s will begin issuing Warning Tickets to motorists that park on a meter for any longer than the maximum period of time indicated on the faceplate of the meter. This warning period will last one week. On Monday, November 13 tickets will be issued to offenders continuing to violate section 7 of the City Parking Meter bylaw.

The Downtown Development Commission (DDC) supports the enforcement of Section 7 of the bylaw. Business owners and employees should be using long-term parking facilities, off-street lots and long-term parking meters leaving prime meter spaces available to customers and visitors to the downtown.

If customers can’t find convenient on-street parking, they will develop perceptions about a lack of parking downtown – which has already happened – and then drive off to other business areas to spend their dollars and never be heard from again. A common rule-of-thumb for the value of one prime parking space is approximately $150 – $300 in retail sales PER DAY.

Customers expect and deserve easy, convenient parking, which they can’t find if employees are taking prime parking spots. When employees park on meters it prevents a customer from parking there, you and your neighboring businesses lose money.

The DDC has asked the City to ensure proper judgment is used when issuing fines so visitors to the area are not penalized for placing additional time on a meter in order to extend their stay by a short time. The intent of the enforcement is to encourage appropriate turn over in meters and to discourage motorists from “plugging” a meter all day in prime parking areas.

Did you know all the meters on Harbour Drive, 160 to be exact, are long-term meters offering up to a maximum of 8 hours of parking at a time!

There are parking alternatives available. For a complete list of long-term parking facilities available in the downtown call the DDC office at 579 4139 or email info@downtownstjohns.com