Getting to know a new New Westie

The Downtown New West Business Improvement Association (BIA) has begun writing the next chapter in its 34-year history, selecting Jesse Brown to take on the role of executive director.

The BIA, which is a not-for-profit, serves 500 member businesses and 150 property owners. The group’s goal is to promote Downtown New West.

Brown has a pretty impressive resume: he began his career as the community engagement manager and then the executive director at YouthCO, a youth-led sexual health and harm reduction organization. He then spent time as the executive director at the Vancouver Friends for Life Society, and has also been a board member for various groups, including the Canadian HIV Legal Network.

“I was on Salt Spring for the last two years, working at their chamber of commerce as their executive director, then [moved] over to the Capital Regional District (CRD),” Brown explains to The Anchor, adding that there are about 10,000 people that the CRD serves. “I was [the CRD’s] economic sustainability coordinator, so I have that background of working on a small community and supporting tourism, local business, and beautification initiatives.”

When asked if there were any similarities between Salt Spring and New West, he pointed to a few themes that appeared to overlap.

“We’re like a microcosm of many of the problems that are going on with the Lower Mainland or BC as a whole. Issues around homelessness and poverty, Salt Spring had many of those issues as well, right in our downtown core. [I’m] wanting to be very supportive of people in a time of need, and also just respecting all of our local businesses and their needs as well.”

As for why he decided to give New West a go, Brown said he’d been missing this side of the Salish Sea.

“I grew up in Ladner. I went to high school there, I lived in the West End for a long time … the timing was perfect with New West looking for a new executive director,” he says, noting that like his predecessor, Kendra Johnston, he ultimately was also up for a change.

“I think it’s great in a sense where I can come in with a fresh set of eyes and see a lot of the great, great potential that New West has for public events,” notes Brown, adding that he’s always looking for ways to take a challenge and turn it into an opportunity.

“Kendra had been doing a fabulous job for 11 years…I’m just happy that the board put their faith in me and hopefully we can get some great projects and initiatives done to help beautify Downtown—get more people coming, more shops operating, and just have fun in the summer,” he elaborates, adding that he’s pretty excited for this year’s editions of Fridays on Front and Car Free Day.

When asked about the challenges around construction fatigue, particularly tied to the Metro Vancouver line replacement, Brown says the issue will continue to be high on the BIA’s list.

“Just the other day I was walking down Columbia and was going to try and support one of the local businesses, to go there for lunch, and it was actually closed because of the construction. Our board quickly sent off a message to Metro Vancouver. We’re trying to sort out that situation, trying to find measures as well as some support for the businesses that are being affected.

“There are problematic things that are going to always happen, but … coming out of the pandemic, at least I’m very hopeful and I know our board is too that we can work with the city to really make a difference down here.”

As for the one thing that he’s loved discovering about New West? How, he says, despite being a city of more than 80,000 people, it feels like a small and tight-knit town.

“I just really love the community aspects. It’s such a bumping, busy place. There are a lot of caring people who have reached out to me to welcome me, which is very, very lovely. I’m just thrilled to be here.

“I’m here and I’m ready to work for you, and I’m going to try and do my best to reach out to all of our members.”

Along with Brown taking over for Johnston, the BIA recently named the members of its new board. After Karima Jivraj announced she’d be stepping away from her duties as president, Alice Cavanagh of Warrington PCI Management was officially selected at the group’s annual general meeting to take over for the owner of Bosley’s Columbia Square.

You can find the full list of board members here.