(above) The bright airy venue makes for easy mingling (above left) The Corus building overlooks and Refinery (left) Amy Chow, BIA Board (in red) chatting with members TABIA AGM lures many to brilliant venue The spectacular new Corus Entertainment Councillors Michael Walker, Karen Stintz and PROVINCIAL ELECTION- TABIA has been complex on the Waterfront was the setting for Frances Nunziata addressed the audience working with Connect Consultants to set TABIA’s May 11 AGM which was attended by a and thanked the BIAs for their contribution up meetings with leaders from the three record-setting 150 people from 48 BIAs. They to the fabric of the city. After the formalities provincial parties. If they are successful, it’s came to mingle, munch, learn and vote. As a of approving the minutes of last year, the imperative that as many BIA members as bonus, they were able to enjoy the stunning various committee heads and TABIA executive possible attend. view from the eighth-floor setting overlooking delivered their reports. COMMUNICATIONS – On behalf of the Sugar Beach, Redpath Sugar and the lake. Of note: Communications Committee, Paul Dineen While featured speaker Mayor Rob Ford was TAXATION - Lionel Miskin, speaking for noted that the new monthly News & Views unable to attend, John Oakley, talk radio host the Taxation Committee, admitted he has newsletter has been well received. The from Corus’s own AM 640, spoke about the been stonewalled about tax changes and Citywide Campaign returns this year, and power and persuasive abilities of radio. He future assessment rates—first under the TABIA has been negotiating with CP24 for said that by inviting once-hopeful mayoralty previous mayor and now with the current the use of continuous banner ads. The candidate Rob Ford onto his show each administration. He said that TABIA will “Your Neighbour” campaign’s posters week, he introduced the audience to Rob’s be submitting a Freedom of Information are now appearing all over the city, and a unique style and helped to establish the application to find out more. He noted that new “staycation campaign” which will be “Rob Ford brand.” TABIA’s lobbying efforts brought taxes to promoted on radio is in the works. a lower level and lowered the ratio of high commercial to residential taxes. (continued on page 4)

Kudos to Yonge Lawrence Village BIA! 2 Upcoming Events and Dates 3 Profile: Fairbank Village BIA 2 Board/Bored… Too Much to Do? 4 What’s inside News to Use for Business Owners and Managers 3 Fairbank Profile: Village BIA If being gutsy and having a sense of humour were requirements for chairing a BIA, Enzo Torrone could write the book. Chair of the Fairbank Village BIA since its formation in 2007, this local property owner and business manager admits that there are days when he’s happy to be doing what he does and on other days, the sense of humour comes in handy. This BIA has seven Board members – all of whom are business or property owners. The BIA had its start when it decided to separate from the York Eglinton BIA because the vision for each area was so different. Geographically, the BIA extends from Dufferin St. to Chamberlain Ave. along Eglinton Ave and also includes the west side of Dufferin St. from Hunter Ave. north to Schell Ave. It’s easily accessible by major routes like the 401 and the Allen Expressway. “The area is definitely making a comeback.” The mostly single and occasionally two-storey commercial buildings reflect a great deal of multi-cultural diversity. These 120 properties include banks, furniture stores, pharmacies, fashion, jewellery, bargain stores and definitely-not-your- mainstream restaurants with cuisines from Venezuela to the Kudos! Philippines. Enzo is proud of their quality food offerings and This regular column recognizes significant is hoping to attract more new businesses to the area so they’ll Fairbank Village Annual Festival have a broader retail mix of fashion and decorative arts. He accomplishments taking place in our BIAs. This Contact Information month we highlight a special day adopted by the said, “The area is definitely making a comeback.” Chair: Enzo Torrone Yonge Lawrence Village BIA. Let us know what Festivals and street beautification you’ve done so we can spread the good news! 416-782-0793 The BIA is looking forward to its 4th annual festival on the [email protected] Random Acts of weekend of August 19th. “This event will be bigger than ever with entertainment such as Canadian Idol Winner Ryan Kindness Day Malcolm, Dr. Draw, Brazilian dancers and a kids fun zone,” Enzo said. The festival gives him the most “Do good. Pass it on.” In essence, this is what satisfaction because he and his BIA love giving back to the community. The BIA also stages sidewalk random acts of kindness is all about. After sales and event days. The landscape design committee is currently making plans to complement the Bev Don, the Yonge Lawrence Village BIA Chair existing planters, new benches and street signs. learned how it could be effectively used at the BIA level at a BIA conference in 2010, she and her own BIA enacted Random Acts of Kindness Day a few months later. “Anyone can do this on any day, if they wish,” said Bev, “but to be part of the KW program you’ll get a What Bev learned at the conference came supply of all relevant templates. We thought it was a good deal for $200 and would be more effective from the Kitchener and Waterloo Community if done on the same day. “ Foundation (KWCF). The KWCF hosted its first Various Yonge Lawrence Village BIA merchants found their own ways to encourage kindness and Random Acts of Kindness Day in 2008 as part generosity and generally make residents feel special. Some gave their customers treats in their of The Foundation’s vision of building a better store; others gave passersby beautiful flowers. And with each kind act, recipients received a card community through citizen engagement. After encouraging them to pay it forward — in other words, perpetuate the kind acts on someone else. trademarking and registering Random Act of Kindness Day, the KWCF created marketing Yonge Lawrence Village BIA is looking forward to “doing good” this year on November 4. The day is and communications templates and tools for usually held the second Friday in November but this year Remembrance Day falls on that Friday. posters, cards and T-shirts that can be shared To find out more, contact: Tracy Van Kalsbeek, Manager, Marketing & Communications, KWCF at with all participating community foundations. 519-725-1806 ext. 6, www.kwcf.ca

News & Views | June 2011 For Business Owners News to Use and Managers Street Furniture Update InfoTOGo would like your brochure Carly Hinks from Street Furniture gave an update at the TABIA Do you have a brochure that promotes your lovely BIA or an upcoming interdepartmental meeting on May 17. festival? Even if you already subscribe to a service that places your Garbage Bins - She said that BIAs can choose either grey or black for information in kiosks around the City, don’t forget about the Travel their street furniture components even if they have already started with Centre in the Atrium at 20 Queen St. W. They’ll display your brochure for grey, and they may replace their grey garbage bins with black ones at no free. Pay them a visit or call 416-392-9300. added cost. She said Astral has been asked to redesign the pedals on InfoTOGo not only has a desk in the Ontario Travel Centre, they also have a the garbage bins because some have broken off. Stronger, shorter pedals Mobile Unit that attends events, festivals, venues and attractions citywide. are planned. In response to numerous questions from the BIAs, she said And they’d be happy to distribute your brochures and posters. You can also that bins and postering columns are scheduled to be cleaned every week. book them to attend your event at infotogo@.ca To get your info All elements are cleaned once a week. If you believe yours are not on a into the mobile unit, contact Bonnie Benitez, ideally as soon as possible at schedule, please forward an email to Carly. If your BIA has decided not to the number above. She’s also interested in having a tour around your BIA use the new bins, your BIA will still be responsible for collecting garbage so that she and her summer staff can make recommendations to tourists. and maintaining the bins. Deliver your brochures to: , 100 Queen St. West, 8th Floor, West Tower, M5H 2N2. Postering Kiosks – All 500 postering kiosks should be rolled out by 2012; only 60 are on the streets now. If you have any requests for specific Graffiti be gone! Even if you have regular graffiti removal, you locations please forward these to Carly. might also be dealing with tags left on mail or utility boxes or poles. With Toilets – Street Furniture has been consulting about the locations of three thanks to Liberty Village BIA, here’s who to call when the tags overwhelm. new toilets. If you haven’t been contacted, no toilets are planned for your area. According to Francesca at LVBIA, they respond right away and usually have the graffiti cleaned up within 24 - 48 hours, free of charge. InfoTOGo Boards – These are being tested in 1. Astral -Graffitti removal from bus shelters, etc: five locations and the Toronto Tourism group is On stand-by 24/7. Service Lines: 1-866-8-ASTRAL, 1-866-827-8725, monitoring responses to see where this program By email: [email protected] is headed. 2. Toronto Hydro -Poles and utility boxes: Regarding the yearly roll-out of all street Don Young, [email protected] furniture, Carly said they should be caught up 3. Rogers- Utility boxes: by the fall. Contact Carly at 416-392-1552 or Peter Gaucher, [email protected] [email protected] to report or make a request. 4. Toronto Parking Authority- Pedestals: Sam Roussos 416-393-7255 or [email protected]

Upcoming Events Here’s the info you need now, for you, your Board and Dates to Keep in Mind AND your members Third Tues. of each month- TABIA inter- AT THE BIAS India, Egyptian belly dancers and much more. departmental meetings –City Hall, from More info: Tel/Fax: 416-743-3267 and 2-4 p.m. Room TBA each month. These are June 11 – Yonge Lawrence Village Day with email: [email protected] a village-long sidewalk sale and lots of fun great sources of information on the latest news June 17-19 - 12th Annual Taste of Little Italy, coming from City Hall or issues affecting BIAs. activities. Contact: Rick O'Connor, Coordinator, 416-657-4313. College between Bathurst and Shaw. Music and Questions? Contact Patricia at TABIA at munchies. More info: [email protected] 416-263-3229. June 18- 5th Annual Albion Islington Fusion or 416-698-9053 of Taste Festival, at the intersection of Albion Rd Enterprise Toronto – programs and seminars and Islington Ave in Etobicoke, from 11 a.m. to June 23-24- Bloor West Village Sidewalk Sale. for business people 9 p.m. with Punjabi/Bollywood acts, Fusion of Contact: 416-767-6233. Check the Enterprise Toronto website each month for the latest offerings to help business people at www.enterprisetoronto.com or contact them at Let us know about Send details to Patricia at TABIA who will publicize it on [email protected] the TABIA website and share the info with News & Views. your upcoming events. [email protected] TABIA AGM (continued) TOURISM - Michael Comstock was pleased to announce that the TABIA map, BUDGET AND ELECTION two years in development, will be printed soon. This map of neighbourhoods The 2011 budget was approved but a motion was made to change the budget will target the “visiting friends and neighbours” tourism sector. Let us know presentation from project by project to everything on one page, in the future. if you have distribution suggestions. All current Board officers and members were re-elected by acclamation. The greenTbiz - Robert Wakulat who just took over this green portfolio is inviting following are new Directors from BIA Boards: Darryl Kaplan – Baby Point feedback to make the program work for all. Gates BIA, Tonny Louie – Chinatown BIA and Dan Glazier- Crossroads of the AFFINITY PROGRAMS – BIA employees can obtain benefits through Apogee Danforth BIA. Acclaimed for the two vacancies on the Board for staff from Financial Services and use the well-priced services of auditor, Rafiq Dosani. BIAs were: Keith Denning- Roncesvalles BIA and Robert Sysak– West Queen CITYWIDE PROMOTIONS - John Kiru reminded members about the Citywide West BIA. Campaign with its excellent ad rates for BIAs with various community newspapers, CP24, Toronto Star inserts, spots on Q107 and AM 640 plus poster locations on TTC subway cars and in stations. These and many other partnerships, negotiated by TABIA, can be found on the website at: http://www.toronto-bia.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id =150&Itemid=129 (Call Patricia at 416-263-3229 for more info.) Board/bored...

Too much to do? Strategic Directions at the Beach BIA- The Beach BIA’s strategic planning exercise former BIA Board with Board Chair, Charles Cameron (third from left) The Beach BIA has a lively and intelligent Board taking two to three hours at each of four to six The full list was then challenged, item by item, to that I (Deborah, the newspaper editor) happen special meetings – not meetings where you determine which would make the cut. The criteria to know quite well, since I was formerly the transact your regular Board business. Translation: (loosely described here) helped to identify those Executive Director. Board Chair Charles Cameron this takes time! activities that were truest to the Mission and came to the Board with a work experience What’s really important Vision, were achievable, and would deliver the that included formulating strategic planning best bang for the BIA members’ buck (buck = and direction for companies. He was eager to As an example, here’s what Charles teased out of volunteer hours + levee fees). our Board at the first session: facilitate a series of strategic planning exercises Finally, the list was whittled down to under a to determine what the Beach BIA’s priorities • Redefining the BIA’s Mission and Vision dozen activities that were manageable. Why would be for the coming years. statements – to guide all activities and was that important? Throughout, the year people If your Board wants to try something similar, decisions toward a clear direction always ask a BIA to get involved in all sorts of it’s recommended you find a volunteer or • Determine the priorities – both long term and different programs and projects. It’s easy to be paid facilitator who has some experience with specifically, every 90 days. tempted away from the determined priorities. So organizational strategy. Keep in mind that’s when a big shiny new project gets suggested, it’s almost impossible to be both facilitator Future sessions were dedicated to brainstorming. it really should be considered by the Board and and participant at the same time. Charles Nothing was considered too weird or unrealistic, weighed against existing priorities. If it’s that certainly had suggestions but his priority was to as the Board pondered ongoing as well as important, perhaps something else has to be solicit recommendations from the other Board proposed activities. This resulted in a giant list eliminated. What’s unrealistic to expect is that members. Also recommended: find a volunteer of more than 150 ideas, some of which were the staff and Board can always do everything all to make notes on flip charts that can be posted entirely new, some were already ‘standard annual the time. It’s always a question of priorities. around the room. Finally, plan on this exercise practice’ and others were somewhere in the ‘in progress’ continuum.

TABIA Staff TABIA Board Executive Board Directors (BIA Board Chairs or Members) Executive Director: John Kiru Office Manager: Patricia McCartie President: Michael Comstock, St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood BIA Christena Chruszez, Bloor-Yorkville BIA; Kevin Currie, The Waterfront Membership Outreach and Development Consultant: Faiza Ansari Past President: John Wakulat, Roncesvalles Village BIA BIA; Harbhajan Dhillon, Emery Village BIA; Beverly Don, Yonge Lawrence Village BIA; Jeff Gillan, Corso Italia BIA; Jacques Jones, Communications Advisor and Newsletter Editor: Deborah Etsten Past-President: Alex Ling, Bloor West Village BIA 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; Contact TABIA at [email protected] or 416-263-3295. Vice-Presidents: Amy Chow, The Danforth BIA John Scheffer, Lakeshore Village BIA Website: http://www.toronto-bia.com and Lionel Miskin, Kennedy Road BIA 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