The 2013 National BIA Conference awarded eight communities for their forward-thinking approaches to building neighbourhoods and local economies, including the Albion Islington Square BIA and Downtown Yonge's BIA.
"They're active, progressive BIAs," says John Kiru, a keynote speaker and the executive director of the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas. He named Yonge Street as a prime example, citing the BIA's "European" take on closing down streets and opening them up to the public as a key component. "It really was their vision and their wanting to attract more people that animated Yonge Street."
Kiru spoke at last week's Toronto-based conference alongside Gil Penalosa of 8-80 cities, Ian Troop of the 2015 PanAmerican Games, and Premier Kathleen Wynne to address and understand the "State of Main Street." Kiru says the idea of Main Street has expanded to a two-prong approach that includes a traditional storefront and online e-commerce, which BIA's and businesses need to consider for prosperity.
He also mentioned the shifting nature of neighbourhoods such as College Street, which have migrated away from boutiques to include more food and service centric businesses.
"The role of the BIA is a collective role to put people on the street and attract them, whether through beautification or festivals, then it's up to each and every body in the store to use their entrepreneurialism to bring people into their stores and close the sale." Kiru says. "The BIA can do everything else for you except close the sales. That’s when the business people themselves have to get creative."
Other BIAs that were awarded include the County of Bruce, Brussels Build Business Association, Port Perry BIA, Downtown London, and Galt on the Grand Downtown Cambridge. The Alex Ling Lifetime Achievement Award went to Maureen Luoma of Downtown Sudbury, who has worked with the Downtown Sudbury BIA since 1977 and is the longest running BIA staff person in the world.
The conference is held in partnership with the Ontario Association of BIAs and the Toronto Association of BIAs.
Writer: Sheena Lyonnais
Source: John Kiru, executive director of the Toronto Association of BIAs