The Birth of BIA's!
The story begins in 1967 when the Toronto Bloor-Danforth subway line was completed and many shoppers who formerly traveled along the surface on Bloor Street in streetcars began disappearing underground. Alex Ying (founder of the first BIA and Bloor St. business owner), out of sheer frustration, organized a group of businessmen in the west end of Toronto, along Bloor Street West, went to City Hall and the Province seeking legislation that would compel all businesses within a designated area to pay a levy for the purpose of revitalizing their business strip through physical improvements and promotional activities. The levy would be collected by the City and turned over to the elected Board of Management to be used as budgeted. After some persuasion, the idea was finally adopted and the Business Improvement Area (BIA) legislation was enacted, and became Section 217 of the Municipal Act. Bloor West Village became the pioneer of the BIA concept and was designated as the first BIA in 1970!
Shortly after the birth of the eastern Ontario BIA's, various business owners in Thunder Bay downtown areas in Thunder Bay began to organize with the support of City Hall. Today, some are operating as Business Associations and others as BIA's. Victoria Avenue BIA is a proud and longtime member of Ontario Business Improvement Area Association.
What is the Victoria Avenue B.I.A.?
The Victoria Avenue Business Improvement Area (B.I.A.) is a non-profit organization which represents all of the businesses located within its boundaries in the beautiful City of Thunder Bay located at the head of Lake Superior in pristine Northwestern Ontario.
It is governed by an appointed volunteer Board of Management and staffed by a part-time office personnel and full-time maintenance personnel.. The B.I.A. is responsible not only for improving the image of an historical area and promoting businesses in the downtown Fort William area, but also for promoting events and lobbying for brown space redevelopment meant to attract new businesses and customers.
The Victoria Avenue B.I.A. is located on Victoria Avenue East between Donald and Miles Street, as well as McKellar, Archibald and May St., including all of the side streets inside this boundary.
