Thank You for Joining Us

at the Celebrate Canal!

Spring Quarterly Meeting

Dear Friends,

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Celebrate Canal! Spring Quarterly Meeting at the Four Seasons New Orleans. It was a wonderful afternoon bringing together community leaders, partners, and friends who share a deep passion for the future of Canal Street.

We were  grateful for the opportunity to welcome so many people who believe in the vision of reimagining Canal Street as the vibrant front door of New Orleans once again. The growing momentum behind this effort continues to inspire us, and it is encouraging to see so many individuals and organizations coming together around this shared goal.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was presenting the 2026 Design & Placemaking Award to renowned New Orleans architect John Williams. John's thoughtful work in preservation and design has helped shape the character of our city, and his reflections on honoring the past while building for the future were truly inspiring.

We were also honored to hear remarks from Dr. Jenny Mains, Director of Economic Development for the City of New Orleans. Jenny shared Mayor Helena Moreno's vision for economic development in our city, and we are proud that our vision for Canal Street aligns so closely.

Seth Knudsen, President of the Downtown Development District, shared DDD's program to attract more local visitors to Canal Street and downtown during the summer months. Their partnership and leadership are important to the continued progress of Canal Street.

Our keynote speaker, Bhavna Mistry, shared fascinating insights from her work designing destination experiences around the world, including nine years as Vice President and Creative Executive for The Walt Disney Company. Her perspective on creating places that inspire imagination and bring people together was both engaging and thought-provoking. Bhavna has returned to her New Orleans home, where she is already imagining what Canal Street can become and how its next chapter might be shaped with creativity, storytelling, and a deep respect for the city's history. 

Become a Member of Celebrate Canal!

During the meeting, we were excited to introduce the new Celebrate Canal Membership Program, inviting individuals and businesses to become part of this growing citizen-led movement to bring new life, energy, and activity back to Canal Street.

The first 504 members who join will be recognized as part of the 504 Founders Circle, honoring the early supporters helping launch this movement to reimagine Canal Street as the vibrant front door of New Orleans.

Our thanks goes out  to everyone who signed up during the meeting and to those who have continued to join since. Your early support is helping build the momentum needed to move this effort forward, and we are thankful to have you as part of the Celebrate Canal community.

We are grateful to the Four Seasons New Orleans for hosting us and to each of you who continues to support the vision for Canal Street. Together, we are building momentum and working toward a brighter future for one of the most iconic streets in the country.

With sincere appreciation,