Focus of the Downtown BRZ shouldn’t just be on Festival Square

By Lethbridge Herald on July 22, 2023.

Editor:

Shame on the BRZ for not putting as much effort into promoting all their members’ businesses as they do those of the members in the Festival Square area.

Every time a function is held it pulls customers and clients from other areas of the BRZ. For example, bringing in food trucks to keep the people in that area does not help all the other restaurants trying to recover from the hardships of the last few years.

Saying that people were given a map to restaurants willing to give free samples is a slap in the face.

Building an ice rink nobody could use was a waste of funds. Businesses in that local area also benefit from all the free promotion provided by local media covering the event.

Why not have more events in other areas of the BRZ such as the New Immigrant Centre to promote their interests? Why not use the power of our members to help a charity operating within our area? Why not work with the transit department and local malls to connect them all with free transit during the holiday season?

There are many more ways to fairly represent all members.

At this moment we should be considering what is going on with regards to Galt Gardens. Why build a playground and then fence off the whole block? What we will end up with is a site that can be used for multiple functions but this will benefit a few businesses at the expense of all our citizens. It provides an unfair advantage over other groups wishing to promote public functions.

All the BRZ members pay the extra taxes for promoting their services. How much more money will we waste when there are much more pressing needs? The BRZ should benefit all its members and public projects should benefit all the public.

We cannot be forced to proclaim Festival Square the heart of the city. That honour must be earned.

Bernie Pigeau

Lethbridge