Downtown Sydney Committee

In summer 2023, a volunteer community-based committee made up of downtown community organizations, elected officials, and department representatives came together to address shared community concerns around downtown Sydney and making it a safe, welcoming, and inclusive place for all.

As a committee crossing the public, private, and community sectors they set out to better understand and then identify short, medium, and long-term solutions to these concerns. 

There is currently a large and growing homeless population in downtown Sydney, members of which tend to congregate outside the Ally Centre (at Prince & Bentinck) and the Townsend Street Shelter (operated by the Cape Breton Community Housing Association). There currently exist few if any alternative outdoor public spaces where people experiencing homelessness, addictions, and mental health issues feel comfortable, safe, and welcome.

The downtown business community has concerns around safety, theft, and loitering. That said, many in the business community are sympathetic to the needs of CBRM’s most vulnerable, and those experiencing homelessness, addictions, and mental health issues, and are eager to find solutions that support — as opposed to further alienate — those already struggling.

Lastly, the Cape Breton Regional Police and the CBRM itself are keen to support a solution that balances the safety and wellbeing of all CBRM residents.

Committee Vision: An inclusive, prosperous, vibrant downtown that is safe and welcoming for all.

Committee Mission

To set in motion a series of thoughtful actions that will lead to an inclusive, prosperous, vibrant, safe, and welcoming downtown for all.

To take collective responsibility for the systems that are not working and those in our community who are contending with poverty, trauma, homelessness, and addictions.  

Committee Values

Inclusion. Compassion. Community Pride. Collaboration. Accountability.

Committee Goals

1. Bring together representatives from frontline agencies, businesses, business organizations, government, and police to start talking together about the downtown, our vision for the downtown, challenges, and opportunities.

2. Outline short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals for the downtown that will help to bring about this vision and begin action towards those goals.

3. Engage other levels of government in quickly and constructively helping to achieve these goals.

4. Better understand other similar circumstances communities who have faced or are facing similar challenges and the innovative solutions they have applied.

5. Provide the community with confidence that the downtown is being discussed and the right people are at the table and committed to working together to make it a safe and welcoming place for all.

COMMITTEE PARTICIPANTS

Mayor Amanda MacDougall-Merril, CBRM

Eldon MacDonald, CBRM Councillor

Chief Robert Walsh, CBRP

Marie Walsh, CAO, CBRM

Mike Target, Engagement, CBRM

Chris Porter, Executive Director, Ally Centre

Sabrina Vatcher, CEO, Cape Breton YMCA

Aliesje MacInnis, Nova Scotia Department of Community Services

Jodi McDavid, Executive Director, Transition House

Lisa Carr, Executive Director, Jane Paul Centre

Harman Singh, CEO, Breton Ability Centre

Erika Shea, CEO, New Dawn Enterprises

Jenna Lahey, Member at Large

Note: the Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Sydney Downtown Development Association were invited to join as members but opted for an observer status. They were invited to provide feedback on the strategy and FAQs.