You can now take virtual tours of participating downtown shops, cafes and restaurants thanks to a new initiative announced by Birchbark Media and the Downtown Business Improvement Area. Now people who aren’t familiar with the unique, welcoming spaces in downtown businesses can get a feel for what’s behind those doors by using Google Business View first—a 360-degree virtual tour powered by Google Maps Street View technology. It’s a great way to engage new visitors to the city and to the downtown.

Anyone who has used Google Maps Street View will be instantly comfortable with Google Business View. Similar to how someone on a smartphone, tablet or computer can take a virtual tour of a city—“walking” along streets with a complete 360-degree view of the surroundings–Business View offers the ability to go beyond the storefronts, to look inside shops, restaurants and cafes, to “walk” down aisles and in and out of various rooms.

Christensen Fine Art Google Business View

Birchbark Media, the first local company certified by Google to produce the Google Business View virtual tours, reached out to several of its neighbours downtown to launch the program before extending the initiative to businesses throughout the community. Get on Google Maps to wander through the gallery and framing shop at Christensen Fine Art on George St.; head down the street to peek inside Gentry Apparel to see the sharp, spacious layout of men’s and ladies’ clothing; or check out the interior of Dreams of Beans café on Hunter St.

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