Our Story
Born in North Bay. Built for Downtowns.
Supporting North Bay
Born in North Bay. Built for Downtowns.
Beacon began with a simple idea: what if downtown safety worked like a network, shared, connected, and powered by the people who care most about the community?
In 2024, our team at Building Blocks launched Beacon in partnership with local organizations across downtown North Bay. We saw the need for something different, something that didn’t rely on more enforcement, more isolation, or more expensive infrastructure. Instead, we built a system grounded in trust, participation, and practical technology.
Who is Building Blocks?
We’re From Here. That Matters.
Building Blocks is based right here in North Bay.
We walk the same sidewalks, shop at the same stores, and believe in the future of this downtown. That’s why we didn’t wait for someone else to solve the problem, we built the solution ourselves.
Our team brings experience in urban innovation, community development, and public safety, but more importantly, we bring relationships. Beacon only works because we’ve spent time listening, learning, and building alongside our neighbors.
We Believe in Business Improvement Areas and Big Ideas.
Beacon was created for North Bay, but it was designed to scale.
We know that downtown cores across Ontario are facing similar challenges: how to protect public spaces, support local businesses, and make community feel safe again.
Our vision is to bring the Beacon model to other small and mid-sized communities, always in participation with the people who live and work there.
This isn’t just a product. It’s a commitment to better downtowns, starting right here, and growing outward.
Vision
A world-class downtown waterfront and prosperity for all.
Mission
To make downtowns safer, more connected, and more resilient by giving communities the tools to work together. Beacon is designed to scale across small and mid-sized communities, starting with a successful launch in North Bay. Each implementation is shaped by local needs, values, and priorities, because no two communities are exactly the same.
Goals
- 350 Cameras – Fully integrated Downtown Waterfront (DTW) Coverage by the end of 2025.
- Boost public awareness and perceptions of safety.
- Coordinate non-emergency responses.