Sugar Beach looks like a true confection in this photo taken by one of Sugar Beach in Winter, Martyn Weir, the winners of the Waterfront Photo Contest. See page 3 for more info

President’s REPORT Recognizing our BIAs For more than 30 years TABIA’s Board of The night officially began with a letter of Just like the first festival of a BIA, this enjoyable Directors composed of a dozen or so BIAs welcome from the Mayor, read by Councillor success will be repeated next year. Our plan is from across the city have come together each Michael Thompson, the Economic Development to create some firm categories out of the bricks month. They have met to share ideas and Chair, and thankfully, that was it for speeches. and mortar of our formal objectives and a few work with city departments and the BIAs— in Executive Director John Kiru read the categories from our free spirit and wishful thinking. beautification and marketing projects for our city and the reasons why each of these BIAs were If you were among those in attendance on Oct. of neighbourhoods. The Board often exchanges winners. Councillor Thompson and Mike Major, 26, please share that positive vibe and many stories about the many successes, perseverance from the City of , helped us to present accomplishments with your neighbourhoods. and dedication happening in our BIAs. the awards. We certainly hope to see you next year. Many Our unique membership has a vision that Creativity, persistence and sharing were thanks to the City of Toronto, Economic goes beyond operating their businesses. common themes. The food was good, the Development & Culture, Tourism Toronto and What they can do in their BIA affects their mood was warm and Awards Night may have the St. Lawrence Market Complex for helping to entire community and beyond. To honour this been the best BIA networking session ever. make this event possible. commitment, the Director and Board of TABIA With the listing of each accomplishment the Michael Comstock were very pleased to present the Oct. 26 TABIA tables buzzed about that topic and the shared Awards Night in the historic and elegant St. experiences of working in our respective TABIA President, Representing St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood BIA Lawrence Hall. neighbourhoods. continued on page 2

Feted at the Awards Event 2 News to Use for Business Owners and Managers 5 Kudos! My Waterfront Photo Contest 3 Understanding Chapter 19 5 What’s inside Profile: Long Branch BIA 4 Upcoming Events and Dates 6 Feted at the event: Outstanding Capital Streetscape Community Improvement Award Improvement Award • West Queen West BIA – Anti-graffiti program •  West BIA – Small Scale - Bike Racks Creative Event Award • College Promenade BIA – Medium Scale • Harbord Street BIA – Pumpkin festival - Planters • Riverside District BIA • Forest Hill BIA – Large Scale – Take a Walk on the Riverside) Wexford Heights BIA - Montclair Parkette Creative Solutions Award Accepting the Festival Award, Linda Raeside, Streetscape Master Plan Award • Bloor Yorkville BIA – Financing for the Wexford Heights BIA coordinator; Michael • Bloorcourt Village BIA Bloor Street Transformation) Comstock,TABIA President; Hussein Ayoub, Co-chair; Councillor Michael Thompson; • Toronto Entertainment District BIA Fellowship Award Sylvester Rajaratnam, Board Member; and Environmental Award • Lakeshore Village BIA Steve Wanless, Vice-Chair. • BIA – Solar Lighting • Longbranch BIA Speaking on behalf of the BIA, Hussein • By The Lake BIA Ayoub, said, “Our BIA was very surprised and Decorative Lighting Award • Mimico Village BIA appreciative for the recognition as one of the • Korea Town BIA – Tiger three award recipients in the Festival category. • Chinatown BIA – Lanterns Festival Award A lot of time and effort by our sub-committee • GreekTown on the Danforth BIA team and volunteers goes into organizing an Gateway Award – Taste of the Danforth event of this magnitude, and we can all be proud of our accomplishments. Thank you TABIA • The Eglinton Way BIA • The Kingsway BIA – Taste of the Kingsway and all involved for a wonderful evening.” • Emery Village BIA • Wexford Heights BIA – Taste of Lawrence Branding Award Membership Engagement Award • Village of Islington BIA – Murals •  BIA • Kennedy Road BIA – Wayfinding – TTC passes and Give Me Liberty Event Outstanding Floral Award Paul Oberman Heritage Award • Danforth Village BIA • Rosedale Mainstreet BIA Advocacy Award Perseverance Award • BIA • Dundas West BIA – Parking • BIA • Roncesvalles Village BIA – Construction • Village BIA Small Budget, Big Impact Award BIA • St. Clair Gardens BIA Pictured are Michael Comstock, TABIA • Pape Village BIA – Annual Shop Local Contest • Wychwood Heights BIA President and Pape Village Board members • Parkdale Village BIA – Bike racks Charleen Beard, Jim Parker, Adele Kozak Communications Award Social Conscience Award and Salim Hadad and Councillor Michael • Cabbagetown BIA – Blog Newsletter Thompson. • BIA Upon receiving the award, Jim Parker, Chair of • St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood BIA the Pape Village BIA, said, “It was an honour – Bob Kemp’s Program and surprise to be recognized for our ‘big Tourism Award impact’ despite our ‘small budget.’ Then again, it was Margaret Mead who encouraged us to • The Waterfront BIA – Tall Ships Event ‘Never doubt that a small group of committed Gift packages were also presented to winners people can change the world.’ The challenges of the My Neighbour campaign who created of working with a small budget means we need the prize-winning slogans for the second to keep our focus on helping the community instalment of that successful ad campaign. with every dollar we have. It is a joy for the Board to do what we can, and we gratefully John Kiru kicks off a memorable evening. receive this award.”

2 Happening in the 'hoods

Saluting the Blue Nose, Jim Orgill, Toronto

This regular column recognizes significant accomplishments Bike here! The Liberty Village BIA taking place in our BIAs. This unveiled Bike Here on Oct.31. On display month we highlight the My were 12 artistically designed bike racks and Kudos! Waterfront Photo Contest. three clusters of secure bike lockers, all of My Waterfront Photo Contest Let us know what you’ve done so which are functional yet artistic, in support of we can spread the good news! cycling in Liberty Village and Toronto. According to Executive Director, Lynn Clay, Photo sensitive the success of the Bike Here! program It began in June as a simple photo contest. The public was invited to submit their best images of can be attributed to the coming together the Toronto waterfront to The Waterfront BIA in a contest that spanned 11 weeks. Each week the of supporters including: Live Green photograph with the greatest number of votes received a prize stay at either the Radisson Admiral Toronto, City of Toronto; Toronto Parking Hotel or The Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. At the end an esteemed panel of judges determined winners Authority; Ashelron Ltd.; and York Heritage based on artistic merit. The BIA promoted the contest via TTC subway posters, their e-newsletter and Properties. Pictured is Steve Bazay of Bazay Ashworth Associates, their publicist, who knows how to get the attention of the media. The contest and Blacksmithing who turned the artists’ subsequent exhibit garnered 37 million media impressions through broadcast, print and online. conceptions into actual working bike racks. It may have had a simple beginning, but the outcome was as dramatic as the 50 stunning photos that were chosen as finalists. Over 650 submissions were posted to their website for voting using Facebook technology. The power of Facebook voting online led to more than five million viewer impressions. As Carol Jolly, Executive Director of The Waterfront BIA, noted,one Facebook vote is said to reach, on average, 140 of the voter’s Facebook friends. To complement the tremendous audience reach, the TTC subway poster campaign added at least 54 million viewer impressions over eight weeks. Diwali Beats at Albion Duly noted Islington BIA From the classical Indian dance, pictured here, to ‘70s and ‘80s Carol learned that large weekly prizes are not Carol thinks that the duration of the event could tunes right up to Bollywood hits and two that necessary to engage the public. They will be shortened to eight weeks, and voter rules international singing sensations—Parichay be much humbler in the future. The 50 top could be changed to reduce the incidence of voter and Shweta Subram—Diwali Beats had all photographers received a more lasting glory. They exchange where people you don’t know can give bases covered. This was the BIA’s way of were invited to participate at the Artist Preview you their vote. In the future, only 50 votes will be saying thank you to all the customers who Gala, a wine and cheese reception at Queen’s needed to be entered into a random weekly draw shop at Albion Islington Square on October 23. Quay Terminal, where their photographs were on where the prize will be nominal. Once again, a display as large mounted posters for all to see. panel of judges will review all entries and select They have also been widely seen on the website. the finalists for the exhibit. services and the two local hotels who donated Through the tremendous publicity they received, Carol is also pleased to share that the entire weekly prizes. Along with four wineries, some may have already launched new careers. event was produced for $15,000 with the another BIA member, The Wine Rack, provided Fifty sets of greeting cards with the photo images assistance of their BIA members, including iCopy free wine tastings at the Gala. of the 50 finalists were sold with proceeds Express, Queen’s Quay Terminal, the Radisson One thing is certain: The Waterfront BIA intends benefiting the charity, Friends of Toronto Island. Admiral and Westin Hotels, the Watermark Pub, to make this an annual event. Start looking for A publisher has indicated that he’d like to create Il Fornello Restaurant, Sobeys and the Wine those beautiful shots, now. Photos taken outside a Waterfront coffee table book, dedicated to the Rack and sponsors including iCopyExpress, a of the summer season make up some of the most BIA, which may be launched next year. Waterfront BIA member, who donated printing dramatic shots.

2 3 News & Views | November 2011 Lovely flower boxes and a lake palette of colours greet visitors Santa's greatly anticipated arrival at the Long Branch BIA Profile: Long Branch BIA

Who would ever guess that the fourth largest A business association was in place in 1980; list such as a real gateway that welcomes people parade in Ontario happens at the Long Branch seven years later the BIA began with much to Long Branch. BIA on the Lakeshore every year with their needed beautification projects. The present It came as a surprise to Carl that the BIA would hotly anticipated Santa Claus Parade? And BIA has 12 directors on its Board, a relatively be turning 25 next year. A celebration was not yet this relatively small BIA works with over 1,000 small budget and no staff. They have no formal in the works. The BIA has been too busy doing volunteers. One more staggering fact: the BIA committees other than the parade committee and what they always do, and at this time of year, it’s owns 15 of the parade’s motorized floats, which a Shop the Shore team who manage a sidewalk preparing for the Santa Claus Parade. they are constantly upgrading. sale with bands. Board members are mostly property owners who own their own businesses. Geographical Some unusual shops dot the street like the Seed challenges Bank that sells its seeds around the world, a custom bike shop, quite a few “boutique Over the years, the Long Branch BIA has restaurants,” and a wing shop called Sloppy Joe’s overcome its geographical limitations and built that Carl says is the best in Toronto. Carl admits on its strengths. It’s a gateway community at that the BIA has quite a few businesses that are its western end of the Lakeshore, and it’s only a services. Property owners are savvy enough to block from Lake Ontario to the south. To the north wait to get good tenants, rather than succumb to one finds the . That makes it the temptation to rent to dollar stores. similar to an island says BIA Director, Carl Porritt. The east-west extension is from at 22nd St. to Long Branch Ave. However, the Chasing the blues... BIA would like to extend its boundaries to include and greens all of Long Branch as far as Marie Curtis Park at The bulk of streetscaping happened years ago 43rd St. but it’s been well tended over the years, with There are numerous sports facilities in the area lovely flower boxes and a lake palette of colours Contact Information and a close proximity to the Waterfront Trail and like the blue and green interlocking bricks, green BIA Chair: Dietmar Lein its lovely promenade. Despite or because of these benches, tourquoise light standards and bright [email protected] challenges, the BIA is possibly on the cusp of seasonal banners that continue the colour theme. becoming the next rediscovered area. Wonderful The BIA has always believed in prompt graffiti www.longbranchvillage.com restaurants and unusual business have already removal and recently replaced LED lights in the 416-252-4858 started to arrive, due in some part to business trees due to some over-zealous pruning by City loyalty and reasonable rents. officials. There are still projects on their “to do”

4 www.toronto-bia.com For Business Owners News to Use and Managers Direct deposit Parking rates Did you know that your BIA levy can go straight into your BIA’s bank Parking rates never seem to please anyone, and yours might be higher or account? Contact your City of Toronto BIA rep if you’d like to make even lower than other comparable BIAs. Pricing policy is set by the Toronto arrangements. Parking Authority (TPA) by recording the peak use of the spaces and is priced to allow spaces to retain that level of use. If you want to compare rates Holiday shopping discussions around your neighbourhood, contact the TPA via their website. http://parking. Council begins another round of discussions to determine if the City’s greenp.com/ Open “On-Street” parking, a Google Map, will allow you to look businesses should be open on statutory holidays. TABIA thinks that at local parking zone pricing. TABIA has a new Parking Committee that is individual businesses should have the right to decide. If you’d like to weigh open to your concerns. Email us at [email protected] in or even depute, check Upcoming Events on p.6 to see the schedule for discussions. Sharing the news We’ve been hearing from individual Board members in the various BIAs Taxation Information who have indicated that they’d like to read this newsletter. Bravo to you If you’re wondering how your BIA stacks up against other businesses if you’ve been sharing News & Views with your Board members. If not, in the City for property taxes, you can ask MPAC ( Municipal Property how about passing along the web link to them? Or, if you’d prefer to have Assessment) to come to your area and give your group a presentation. additional hard copies to distribute, please let us know. They can also answer questions about possible remedies if you think your members are over-assessed. For more information, go to www.mpac.ca Newest BIA Welcome to our newest BIA, The Financial District. That makes 72! Understanding Chapter 19 By John Kiru, Executive Director, TABIA The major areas of change purchases, they must have reasonable and well-thought out guidelines. A bit of background Chapter 19 addresses these areas of change: • One aspect of Chapter 19 states that BIAs are Five years ago, the City of Toronto Act (COTA) • BIA start-ups not allowed to oppose a decision of Council at came into existence, allowing the City to have • Notification and polling for new BIAs the Ontario Municipal Board. That’s an area greater control of its own destiny. Within that that’s still “under discussion” so that the best Act came much needed changes to and for • Notification and polling for BIA expansions interests of BIA members are not forgotten. our BIAs and their Boards of Management. • Notification and polling for repealing a BIA The City's BIA office led the process of • Proxy voting • When it comes to polling for both new BIAs and change, consulting with everyone along the • Board eligibility and composition the expansion of existing BIAs, votes count. In the past, if potential members of a proposed way. As a result, a new piece of legislation, • Board governance and accountability “Chapter 19,” was adopted in 2007. It was new or expanded BIA did not vote, they were discussed some more and then presented to One of the most automatically considered in favour, and as a BIAs for further amendments which happened result, something as critical as BIA boundaries in 2009 and again this year. important features could be easily changed. Now active voting is If you’ve ever sat through an AGM, you know all needed (yea and nay polling votes counted), This past July, Chapter 19 was adopted by about the pros and cons of proxy votes. Chapter 19 and this must be a 50 per cent favourable vote City Council. Changes to Chapter 19 will has improved the voting process by allowing only of all votes received. be inevitable, and will now be as simple as one proxy vote per individual. Now, no single member recommending a bylaw change which starts can hold proxy votes for a number of missing Tweaking as a committee report and then gets voted on members. A business may appoint a non-BIA by Council. As mentioned earlier, there will always be a need member who may be a member of their own staff or to tweak. If you detect something amiss, either Before Chapter 19, BIA Boards were much the community to represent them at the AGM. let Henry Byres at the City BIA office know— more vulnerable to the whims of their [email protected] — or notify TABIA. The members. Now they are better protected Points to ponder complete chapter of the City of Toronto Act can be by tighter rules of governance which • Chapter 19 requires BIAs to adopt their own found at this link although the new version won’t ensures that a thoughtful process will ensue purchasing and hiring policies. If they are be online for while. Contact your BIA Advisor, in before changes which may affect them are cost-sharing something with the City, they the meantime for the latest version: considered. must follow City guidelines, but for their own www.toronto.ca/bia/pdf/bia-municipal-code.pdf

5 News & Views | November 2011 Upcoming Events Here’s the info you need now, for you, and Dates to Keep in Mind your Board AND your members Third Tues. of each month- TABIA inter-departmental meetings –City AT THE BIAs Hall, from 2-4 p.m. Room TBA. These are great sources of information on the latest news coming from City Hall or issues affecting BIAs. Questions? Nov. 9-30 – Downtown Yonge BIA’s Window Wonderland. See how Contact Patricia at TABIA at 416-263-3229. Ryerson Retail Management Students have created magical windows on a budget of $100 throughout the Downtown Yonge district. For a list of Enterprise Toronto – programs and seminars for business people. Check windows, go to: www.wintermagic.ca/windowwonderland the Enterprise Toronto website each month and register for Enterprise Toronto’s Evening Seminar Series. www.enterprisetoronto.com or contact Nov. 12 – Downtown Yonge Ice, Wine & Dine from 4-10 p.m. Food them at [email protected] samplings, live ice carvings, wine tastings, performers, ice martini lounge and more on Elm St. between Yonge and Bay. More info at Nov. 7-30 (various dates, see below) - Holiday shopping, City of wintermagic.ca/icewinedine Toronto - public consultations regarding Holiday Shopping regulations. You Nov. 13 – 32nd Annual Weston Santa Claus Parade at 2 p.m., from may present your views. Church to Sidney Belsey Crescent. More info at Mon. Nov. 7, 7-9 p.m., Civic Centre, Comm. Rm 2 www.westonvillagebia.com/santaparade Tues. Nov. 15, 4-6 p.m., , Comm. Rm. 1 Nov. 16 - Bloor West Village Cavalcade of Lights, 6-9 p.m. Join in the Wed. Nov. 23, 7-9 p.m., , Comm. Rm. 1 carol singing and say hi to Santa at Jane & Bloor. Lighting festivals at other Tues. Nov. 29, 7-9 p.m., East , Council Chambers BIAs. www.bloorwestvillagebia.com Wed. Nov. 30, 7- 9 p.m., Civic Centre, Comm. Rm. 2 Nov. 18-Dec. 4 – Buskertainment in various downtown locations. The purpose of these meetings is to clarify concerns, opportunities and www.downtownyonge.com common ground with BIA stakeholders and consider all options from keeping Nov. 18 – Koreatown’s Tiger Lighting Ceremony from 5:30-9 p.m. the status quo to amending the Municipal Code. For further information: www.koreatownbia.com www.toronto.ca/business / email: [email protected] or Nov. 19 – Bloor Yorkville BIA’s Cavalcade of Lights & Holiday Magic Rob Berry, Manager, Economic Development and Culture, 416-392-3387. from 5-10 p.m. with blues artist, Molly Johnson. www.bloor-yorkville.com Toronto Hydro-Electric System Ltd’s Town Hall Meetings in November. Nov. 26 – Santa in . Watch live window performances All meetings, 6-8 p.m. Information on ongoing capital works projects and an featuring more than 100 children! For a schedule and more info, www. opportunity to speak directly to staff. More information at junctionbia.com www.torontohydro.com/townhallsessions Nov. 26 – DuWest Art Gallery & Coffee Crawl with three guided tours of Nov. 15 – Toronto/ East York at City Hall galleries and coffee shops at 12, 1 and 2. www.dundaswestbia.ca Nov. 17 – North York at Nov. 26 – Junction BIA’s Santa in the Junction from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., with Nov. 28 – Etobicoke at ball hockey and more.www.thejunctionbia.com/Home.aspx Nov. 30 – Scarborough at Scarborough Civic Centre Nov. 26 – Rosedale Mainstreet BIA’s Cavalcade of Lights and Nov. 15 – Deadline for the Celebrate Ontario Grant. To apply for this grant go Tree Lighting, from 2-6 p.m. with bands and live music. www. to: www.mtc.gov.on.ca/en/awards_funding/celebrate_ontario.shtml rosedalemainstreetBIA.ca Dec. 9 – Deadline to apply for TD Green Streets Progam – an Nov. 26 & 27 – Kidzfest at Yonge Dundas Square from 1-5 p.m. with Max innovative urban forestry program. Check the website for program & Ruby, Dora the Explorer and more. www.downtownyonge.com changes and information at: www.treecanada.ca/site/?page=programs_ Dec. 3 – Queen St. West BIA’s Holiday Event at Campbell House from greenstreets&lang=en#2 1-5 p.m. www.queststwestbia.ca Dec. 3, 10 and 17 – Yonge Lawrence Village BIA. 11:30-2:30. Santa’s annual visit to the Village, joined by Village Carolers. Let us know about your upcoming events. www.yongelawrencevillage-bia.com Send details to Patricia at TABIA who will publicize it on the TABIA website and share the info with News & Views. [email protected] Dec. 4 – Etobicoke Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade, Lakeshore BIA (see profile article on page 4) [email protected]

TABIA Staff TABIA Board Executive Board Directors (BIA Board Chairs or Members) Executive Director: John Kiru President: Michael Comstock, St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood BIA Christena Chruszez, Bloor-Yorkville BIA; Kevin Currie, The Waterfront Office Manager: Patricia McCartie Past President: John Wakulat, Roncesvalles Village BIA BIA; Harbhajan Dhillon, Emery Village BIA; Beverly Don, Yonge Special Projects Consultant: Faiza Ansari Lawrence Village BIA; Jeff Gillan, Corso Italia BIA; Jacques Jones, Past-President: Alex Ling, Bloor West Village BIA Communications Advisor and Newsletter Editor: Deborah Etsten Bloorcourt Village BIA; Dan Glazier, Crossroads of the Danforth BIA; Secretary:Paul Dineen, Cabbagetown BIA Darryl Kaplan, Babypoint Gates BIA; Tonny Louie, Chinatown BIA; Treasurer: Henny Varga, The Kingsway BIA Don Panos, St. Clair Gardens BIA; Carl Porritt, Long Branch BIA; Vice-Presidents: Amy Chow, The Danforth BIA John Scheffer, Lakeshore Village BIA Contact TABIA at [email protected] or 416-263-3295. and Lionel Miskin, Kennedy Road BIA Website: http://www.toronto-bia.com Board Directors (BIA staff): Lynn Clay, Liberty Village BIA; Keith Denning, Roncesvalles BIA; Grace Russo, Little Italy BIA; Laura Schaefer, Queen St. West BIA; This newsletter is also produced electronically and can be found at www.toronto-bia.com Robert Sysak, West Queen West BIA