Downtown Business Engagement Opportunity: Downtown Pedestrian Mall

Interested in shaping the plan for the Downtown Pedestrian Mall for 2026 and beyond? The City of St. John’s invites businesses and organizations in the downtown area to share their perspectives.



“Local businesses are a vital part of the fabric of our community and economy,” said council lead for Special Events and Cruise, Councillor Jill Bruce. “By consulting with the business community, we’ll better understand how the Downtown Pedestrian Mall can be modified or improved to continue to be a dynamic and attractive destination for both residents and visitors.”

Engagement will be open from January 7 to February 9. Feedback can be provided by:

• Completing the online survey for businesses.
• Providing feedback during a business engagement session.
• Sending an email to engage@stjohns.ca; or 
• Calling 311 and asking to speak to a member of the project team. 

Engagement sessions, organized by business sector, will take place from Monday, January 20 to Wednesday, February 5. For more information about the project and to register for a session, visit Engage St. John’s.

This engagement is part of a long-term plan for 2026 and beyond, building on previous feedback gathered from residents and visitors in 2024.

St. John's has a strategic direction to be a Connected City where people feel connected, have a sense of belonging and are actively engaged in community life. Developing and delivering programs, services and public spaces that build safe, healthy and vibrant communities is key to advancing this direction. 

Public transit investments

St. John's is purchasing new electric buses and upgrading Metrobus Transit's facilities after a combined investment of over $50.3 million from the federal, provincial and municipal governments. This investment will add 17 more electric and hybrid buses to the Metrobus fleet, allowing the company to retire diesel vehicles and cut down on emissions. Additionally, Metrobus facilities in St. John’s will be upgraded to accommodate the charging and maintenance of the new zero-emission buses. These projects will help reduce transit emissions in the metro region and serve as a step towards meeting Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act targets. 

St. John's apartment vacancy rate rose above 2% in 2024 as rent growth slows

According to the latest Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) rental market report conditions in the St. John’s Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) improved slightly.  The report shows the average rent for a two-bedroom unit in St. John’s CMA in 2024 was $1,250 a month, up 2.1% from 2023. This growth is significantly less steep than last year's reported spike of 7.4% year over year. The average rent in the St. John’s CMA is lower than the national average of $1,447 for a two-bedroom apartment.



The average vacancy rate for purpose-built rental apartments rose to 2.1% in 2024 from 1.5% in 2023 in the St. John’s CMA.  

Labour Market Partnerships Program

The Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills (IPGS) is seeking proposals for funding from organizations through its Labour Market Partnerships Program. The Program is project-based to address labour force needs and is focused on assisting to develop and implement labour market strategies and activities for dealing with labour force adjustments and meeting human resource requirements. Organizations who have a project that would fit under this Program are encouraged to apply for funding by January 31, 2025. A number of virtual information sessions, hosted by IPGS, are being offered in January 2025 on the Labour Market Partnership Program requirements for those interested in learning more.

• January 15: 9:30am – 10:30 a.m.
• January 16: 2:00pm – 3:00 p.m.

Atlantic Canada Startup Survey

Calling all innovation-driven startups in Atlantic Canada. Entrevestor is once again completing their quick-and-confidential Atlantic Canadian startup survey, which is the backbone of their Atlantic Canada Startup Data report. The startup report provides a benchmark used by governments and support organizations for the entire innovation sector in the region and helps to produce meaningful metrics on the startup community.

For responses to be accepted, founders need to meet three criteria for a startup: 1. An Atlantic Canadian-owned company; 2. Commercializing innovation; and 3. Making a product for a global market.

Entrevestor will donate $10 to the Canadian Mental Health Association for each completed survey they accept by January 31, 2025 (up to 200 responses).