What's a BIA?

The Beach BIA is one of more than 71 Business Improvement Areas in Toronto. A BIA is an association of business people within a specified district who join together, with support from the City, in a self-help program aimed at stimulating local business.

Upon approval by City Council, every business automatically becomes a member. Everyone benefits, so everyone pays. A BIA arises from the retail and professional activities of a main street, but it also helps to stabilize and revitalize the surrounding community.

Each BIA is administered by a volunteer Board of Management, made up of members of that BIA who are elected by their fellow BIA members and approved by City Council. As our City Councillor, Sandra Bussin also serves on the Beach BIA Board.

The mandate of each BIA is to improve business conditions in their own area. As such, BIAs are vital to the economic health of Toronto, and have done much to improve the prosperity of neighbourhoods across the city.

Here in The Beach, we will work to attract more customers to our member businesses by holding special events and seasonal promotions, and improving the streetscape along Queen Street East. We have ambitious plans, and they won't happen overnight, but our goal is to make The Beach the best commercial district - and community - in Toronto.