About
What Is a BIA and Why Is It Important?
A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is a geographic area in a municipality, wherein which a BIA Board of Management made up of local business and commercial property owners, elected at the time of Toronto municipal elections and serving on a volunteer basis, has a mandate to promote economical development by enhancing the safety, look and feel of their neighbourhoods to attract more visitors to shop and dine, as well as to draw new businesses to their area. BIAs are created and governed by Provincial and Municipal legislation.
The Queen Street West BIA was established in 2009 and has boundaries at Bathurst St at the West, and Simcoe St to the East, north and south to the commercial laneways.
Every commercial property owner and business tenant is automatically a member of the BIA. In order to fund these business and neighbourhood improvements, the BIAs set and manage budgets which are raised by an additional tax on commercial properties called the annual BIA levy, collected by the City of Toronto together with property tax payments. This money pays for most of the local street festivals and events, as well as streetscape upgrades (beyond the basic city standards), public art, and seasonal and neighbourhood branding.
A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is a geographic area in a municipality, wherein which a BIA Board of Management made up of local business and commercial property owners, elected at the time of Toronto municipal elections and serving on a volunteer basis, has a mandate to promote economical development by enhancing the safety, look and feel of their neighbourhoods to attract more visitors to shop and dine, as well as to draw new businesses to their area. BIAs are created and governed by Provincial and Municipal legislation.
The Queen Street West BIA was established in 2009 and has boundaries at Bathurst St at the West, and Simcoe St to the East, north and south to the commercial laneways.
Every commercial property owner and business tenant is automatically a member of the BIA. In order to fund these business and neighbourhood improvements, the BIAs set and manage budgets which are raised by an additional tax on commercial properties called the annual BIA levy, collected by the City of Toronto together with property tax payments. This money pays for most of the local street festivals and events, as well as streetscape upgrades (beyond the basic city standards), public art, and seasonal and neighbourhood branding.
Board of Directors
The Queen Street West BIA volunteer Board of Directors is comprised of 9 elected representatives and 1 City of Toronto Councillor. The volunteer Board of Directors are elected every four years at the Annual General Meeting. Directors must operate a business, represent a business or own a property within the Queen Street West BIA boundary.
Board Members
The Queen Street West BIA volunteer Board of Directors is comprised of 9 elected representatives and 1 City of Toronto Councillor. The volunteer Board of Directors are elected every four years at the Annual General Meeting. Directors must operate a business, represent a business or own a property within the Queen Street West BIA boundary.
Board Members
- Shamez Amlani
- Arthur Geringas
- Elana White
- Ian Harris
- Ira Band
- Jebril Jalloh
- Gene Hughes
Board Meeting Dates - please email for meeting details for the virtual events
Policy and Procedure for Non-Board Members Attending Board Meetings
- Wednesday, May 5th @11am (virtually)
- Wednesday, June 2nd @11am - location TBD
- Wednesday, July 7th @11am - location TBD
- Wednesday, August 4th @11am - location TBD
- Wednesday, September 1st @11am - location TBD
- Wednesday, October 6th @11am - location TBD
- Wednesday, November 3rd @11am - location TBD
- Wednesday, December 1st @11am - location TBD
Policy and Procedure for Non-Board Members Attending Board Meetings
- All of our Board Meetings posted on this website are open to the public.
- Guests are required to sign-in upon arrival
- Items that wish to be addressed at a meeting MUST be submitted no later than 1 week in advance of the Board Meeting Date. If an item is submitted after the deadline, it will only be addressed if time permits at the meeting under "New Business" which is held at the end of the meeting. Please email agenda items to [email protected]
- Guests attending the Board Meetings are observers and do NOT hold any voting authority
- Guests will act in a professional and respectful manner or else will be asked to leave
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Land Acknowledgement
The City of Toronto acknowledges that what we now call Toronto is on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The City also acknowledges that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.
African Ancestral Acknowledgement
The City of Toronto acknowledges all Treaty peoples – including those who came here as settlers – as migrants either in this generation or in generations past - and those of us who came here involuntarily, particularly those brought to these lands as a result of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery. We pay tribute to those ancestors of African origin and descent
The City of Toronto acknowledges that what we now call Toronto is on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The City also acknowledges that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.
African Ancestral Acknowledgement
The City of Toronto acknowledges all Treaty peoples – including those who came here as settlers – as migrants either in this generation or in generations past - and those of us who came here involuntarily, particularly those brought to these lands as a result of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery. We pay tribute to those ancestors of African origin and descent