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 College West BIA was established in 2014 and has boundaries at Gladstone St at the east, and Lansdowne Ave to the west, 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 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 College West BIA was established in 2014 and has boundaries at Gladstone St at the east, and Lansdowne Ave to the west, 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 events, as well as streetscape upgrades (beyond the basic city standards), public art, and seasonal and neighbourhood branding.
Map of the College West BIA
Board of Directors
The College West BIA volunteer Board of Directors is comprised of 5 elected representatives and 4 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 College West BIA boundary.
Maria Judas - Chair
Victor Hipilito - Treasurer
Suzanne Da Cunha - Director
Matthew Correia - Director
Paul Monahan - Director
Councillor Alejandra Bravo - Director
The College West BIA volunteer Board of Directors is comprised of 5 elected representatives and 4 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 College West BIA boundary.
Maria Judas - Chair
Victor Hipilito - Treasurer
Suzanne Da Cunha - Director
Matthew Correia - Director
Paul Monahan - Director
Councillor Alejandra Bravo - Director
Date of 2025 Board Meetings
**if interested in attending, please email: [email protected]
- May 12th @ 6pm
- July 14th @ 6pm
- September 15th @ 6pm
- October 20th @ 6pm
- AGM - TBD - late November
**if interested in attending, please email: [email protected]
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
