1. Issues

Small businesses are at the heart of our neighbourhoods. 

Vibrant retail main streets – like the Danforth and Queen Street – are at the heart of our safe, walkable and prosperous neighbourhoods. These local restaurants and shops are woven into our lives like old friends. Yet many of our local businesses are still feeling the crushing impacts of the pandemic.

Our local small businesses need support – remember to shop local!

Scroll down for the latest updates on my work fighting for small businesses.   

Resources for Business Owners 

Here are some key City of Toronto resources and supports for Toronto's business owners and operators: 

More information for businesses can be found online on the city's website.

Ward 14 Business Improvement Areas

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.

There are seven BIAs in Ward 14 Toronto-Danforth.

Learn more about BIAs on the city's webpage or by visiting the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas' website.

Broadview Danforth BIA

Executive Director: Susan Puff
Website: thedanforth.ca
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 416-423-4373

The Broadview 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 Broadview 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.

Follow the Broadview Danforth BIA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Danforth Mosaic BIA

BIA Manager: Duncan Ladner 
BIA Office: 1-1432 Danforth Ave
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.

Follow the Danforth Mosaic BIA on Instagram and Facebook.

Gerrard India Bazaar BIA

Logo - Gerrard India Bazaar Business Improvement Area

BIA Office: 1426 Gerrard St. East
Executive Director: Tasneem 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.

Follow the Gerrard India Bazaar BIA on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

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.

Follow the GreekTown on the Danforth BIA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Leslieville BIA

Office & Project Manager: Kathryn Adams
Website: visitleslieville.ca
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.

Follow the Leslieville BIA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Pape Village BIA

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.

Follow Pape Village BIA on Facebook and Instagram.

Riverside BIA

Logo - Riverside BIA

Executive Director: Jennifer Lay
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.

Follow Riverside BIA on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

City working with large downtown employers to extend working from home efforts, invites public input on Recovery and Rebuild efforts

Mayor John Tory announced today that the City of Toronto and a number of the city’s other major downtown employers, as well as Toronto's post-secondary institutions, will continue to support employees, where possible, to work from home until September at the earliest.

This effort is part of the work the City is doing to keep pressure off the TTC and Metrolinx as we move into the restart and recovery period, along with the ActiveTO plan to build up Toronto's bike network and the strong recommendation for all people who travel on transit to wear a mask.

Toronto City Council approves 40 km of expanded and accelerated bike routes for ActiveTO

Toronto City Council today approved expanding and accelerating a total of 40 kilometres of the city’s cycling network as part of Toronto’s ActiveTO program.

This initiative includes approximately 25 kilometres of new bikeways along with the final approval and acceleration of 15-kilomtres of cycling routes previously planned for this year, for a total of approximately 40 kilometres of new on-street cycling lanes in 2020 to be installed.

Expanded patio space sought for Queen Street East and Danforth Avenue restaurants May 25, 2020

By Ali Raza, Beach Metro News May 25, 2020

Restaurants, bars, and cafés on Danforth Avenue and Queen Street East could get a desperately needed boost as the City of Toronto assesses the possibility of “outdoor dining districts” to help small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

It might even involve closing down adjacent road lanes to allow adequate space for restaurants and bars to configure their seating in accordance to physical distancing guidelines to allow for sitting customers.

City of Toronto ActiveTO cycling network plan proposes 40 kilometres of expanded and accelerated routes

25-May-2020

Today, Mayor John Tory announced that a City of Toronto staff report scheduled for consideration by City Council later this week proposes that key parts of the cycling network be expanded, through accelerated installation of routes in the council-approved Cycling Network Plan, as part of the ActiveTO program.

During the April 30 Toronto City Council meeting, staff were requested to look at more active transportation as a crucial part of the city’s COVID-19 restart and recovery and in anticipation of changes in traffic patterns.

In My Opinion: Small businesses are at the heart of our neighbourhoods and they need to be protected

Thank you all for your tremendous efforts to keep you and your family and our communities safe during the pandemic.

It is an unprecedented time that has brought out the best in our communities – from staying home to keeping safe space when we go out, to sewing masks, to dropping off groceries and supplies, to keeping in touch with seniors and to banging pots and pans each night at 7:30 p.m. Let’s salute all of our heroes – from our front line health care workers to those who keep us safe and fed every day. You make us all so proud.

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.

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City of Toronto
Email:
Phone: 416-392-4060
Address:
100 Queen St W, C45
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2