A Business Improvement Area (BIA) A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is an association of commercial property owners and tenants within a defined area who work in partnership with the City to create thriving, competitive, and safe business areas that attract shoppers, diners, tourists, and new businesses. By working collectively as a BIA, local businesses have the organizational and funding capacity to be catalysts for civic improvement, enhancing the quality of life in their local neighbourhood and the City as a whole.

Learn more about BIAs in the City of Toronto

Learn more about the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA)

There are seven BIAs in Ward 14:

The Broadview Danforth BIA

BIA Office: 253 Danforth Ave, Suite 302
Executive Director: Susan Puff
Website: thedanforth.ca
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 416-429-4479

The Danforth BIA is comprised of more than 350 shops, restaurants and services along Danforth Ave from Broadview Ave to Hampton Ave, along Broadview Ave north to Pretoria Ave, and south to Dearborne Ave. The Danforth BIA works to promote and provide an exciting destination neighbourhood for delicious food, entertaining theatre, lively pubs and cafés, and distinctive shops and services.

The Danforth Mosaic BIA

BIA Office: 1432 Danforth Ave, Unit 1
Coordinator: Colin Johnson
Website: thedanny.ca
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 416-875-3760

The Danforth Mosaic BIA (“The Danny”) stretches along Danforth Ave between Jones Ave and Westlake Ave. Celebrating a rich and diverse community, The Danforth Mosaic BIA boasts vast selection of family-owned restaurants, shops, and services from various parts of the world. With more than 500 shops and services, residents and visitors have a wide array of choices to make their visit to The Danforth Mosaic BIA memorable.

Gerrard India Bazaar BIA

BIA Office: 1426 Gerrard St. East
Manager: Tasneem H. Bandukwala
Website: gerrardindiabazaar.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 416-465-8513

Located on Gerrard Street between Coxwell and Greenwood, the Gerrard India Bazaar BIA is the largest marketing place of South Asian goods and services in North America. With over 100 shops and restaurants which represent regional diversities of South Asian culture, food, music and products, this slice of the Indian subcontinent offers a wide selection of services and products exhibited in an exotic display of sights, sounds, tastes and aromas.

Greektown on the Danforth BIA

BIA Office: 452A Danforth Ave
Executive Director: Mary Fragedakis
Website: greektowntoronto.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 416-469-5634

One of Toronto’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan neighbourhoods, Greektown is also one of the City’s best known Business Improvement Associations with over 400 members. Located along Danforth Ave between Hampton Ave and Dewhurst Blvd, the Greektown BIA’s clean and safe community offers something for everyone. Immerse yourself in the tantalizing culture of the Greektown BIA by visiting one of the many restaurants, lounges, cafes, or bakeries that feature traditional Greek cuisine, along with other fantastic multi-ethnic establishments in the area.

Leslieville BIA

Coordinator: Dominic Cobran
Website: leslievillebia.com
Email: [email protected]

Located on Queen St E between Empire and Vancouver Avenues, the Leslieville BIA is a part of one of the city’s most socially connected and engaged neighbourhoods. With Leslieville having played a key role in the city’s rich history in the East End, the Leslieville BIA now offers a vibrant community for Toronto’s art and culture scene. With a wide selection of restaurants, shops, and services, the Leslieville BIA creates a fun, family-friendly, and trendy space for residents and visitors alike.

 

Pape Village BIA

Coordinator: Clorraine Dennie
Website: www.papevillage.com
Email: [email protected]

Established in 1986, the Pape Village BIA represents over 80 businesses along Pape from Mortimer to Gamble. Strolling along Pape Avenue you can find all your day to day needs including shopping, dining, grocery, health care, fashion, bakeries and financial institutions.

 

Riverside BIA

BIA Office: 630 Queen St. East
Executive Director: Jennifer Lau
Website: riverside-to.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 416-466-8167

Dubbed the SOHO of Toronto by the New York Post, Riverside has made a commitment to art and design, which is evident by the several murals decorating the neighbourhood, to the public art installations and annual signature event, the Riverdale Art Walk. Located along Queen St E, from the Don Valley Parkway to the east and Empire Ave to the west, the Riverside BIA is just minutes from the downtown core and easily accessible by streetcar. Encompassing a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and services, the Riverside BIA offers a trendy atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.

New survey finds that CECRA does not have the backs of small businesses

Toronto, ON – A new survey of small business tenants and landlords across Toronto shows that the current Canadian Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program is not enough to keep small businesses alive during the COVID-19 pandemic.

503 businesses and 138 landlords took part in the survey which was coordinated by the Broadview-Danforth Business Improvement Area (BIA) and the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA). This is a follow up to the previous survey in April that showed rent relief was desperately needed.

City of Toronto announces plan to support retail stores re-opening for pickup and delivery service

News Release

May 8, 2020

City of Toronto announces plan to support retail stores re-opening for pickup and delivery service

As the Province of Ontario moves towards re-opening businesses, services and public spaces in stages, the City of Toronto today announced its plan to support retail stores as they re-open for curbside pickup and delivery on Monday.

Councillor Fletcher, MPP Tabuns call on Premier Ford to stop evictions of small business owners as rent is due for many on May 1

April 30, 2020 Beach Metro News

Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher and Toronto-Danforth MPP Peter Tabuns have sent a joint letter to Premier Doug Ford calling on the province to put a moratorium on evictions of small business owners by commercial landlords.

The call comes as May 1 approaches, and many business owners who have been mandated to shut the doors of their businesses due to COVID-19 restrictions will be expected to pay their rents.

City of Toronto expands Digital Main Street program to help local businesses during COVID-19 pandemic

News Release

April 16, 2020

City of Toronto expands Digital Main Street program to help local businesses during COVID-19 pandemic

Today, Mayor John Tory announced the expansion of the Digital Main Street program to help local businesses develop or expand their online services during this unprecedented time.

Digital Main Street was created by the City of Toronto and the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) in 2016 to assist main street businesses in growing their operations through technology with easy to use tools and resources. The program is also supported by Google, Mastercard, Shopify and Microsoft.

Councillors Bradford and Fletcher call on provincial and federal governments to protect small businesses unable to pay April’s rent

March 31, 2020 Beach Metro News

East Toronto councillors Brad Bradford and Paula Fletcher are making their voices heard on the need to provide extra supports for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both Beaches-East York Councillor Bradford and Toronto-Danforth Councillor Fletcher have sent letters to the provincial government calling for such supports.

Danforth study 'most comprehensive' of its kind

February 11, 2020 By David Nickle, Toronto.com
It is, according to Toronto-Danforth Coun. Paula Fletcher, the biggest and most comprehensive planning study of its kind: a review of more than six kilometres of one of Toronto's best-known roadways, Danforth Avenue, between Victoria Park and Broadview Avenues. "There's nobody in Ontario who doesn't know where the Danforth is," said Fletcher.

The Danforth Study

The City of Toronto is inviting all members of the Danforth community to participate in a public consultation as a part of the Danforth Avenue Complete Street and Planning Study.

The first meeting was held November 6th and included a brief presentation about the study followed by interactive group discussion. Feedback from the first  community will help shape the scope of the study.  You can download that presentation by clicking here.

Danforth Avenue could be in for planning makeover in 2019

May 29, 2018 By David Nickle, Toronto.com

Danforth Avenue could be in for a massive planning makeover in 2019.

That's if Toronto Council approves the money for a comprehensive, overarching study of the seven kilometres from Broadview to past Victoria Park Avenue. On May 28, Toronto's budget committee sent a letter from Ward 30 (Toronto-Danforth) Coun. Paula Fletcher to senior city staff to come up with the plan for a study that would fold in ongoing work from three city departments.

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