Enterprise Canada
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
TORONTO April 18, 2018 – The Downtown Yonge BIA’s ground-breaking street outreach program The Walkabout and sky-high music murals have been recognized by the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA). Both projects received awards at the 2018 BIA National Conference in Collingwood.
“Our team has worked hard to develop and implement these innovative projects, and we appreciate recognition that we are making a difference in our community,” says Downtown Yonge BIA Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director Mark Garner, accepting the awards. “We are proud of these collaborative projects and hope they are an inspiration to other BIAs.”
The Walkabout program, which has Elders from Indigenous communities – who are more likely to gain the trust and respect of Indigenous people needing help on the street – working alongside uniformed police offices, was recognized as exemplary in Business Retention, Recruitment & Expansion.
The Music Murals, two dazzling, 22-story frescos celebrating Toronto’s musical heritage on each side of a building on Yonge St., won the 2018 award in the Streetscaping & Public Realm Improvements category.
“The theme for this year’s BIA conference is ‘Resilient and Real’ and we hope we embody both of those characteristics,” Garner says. “Our community involvement, as evidenced by awards for two very different projects, encompasses everything from the economy to social outreach to entertainment, as we strive to enhance the experience for everyone who works, lives in and visits our neighbourhood.”
The Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area (DYBIA) is a catalyst for creating vibrant urban experiences and events in the heart of downtown Toronto. Representing more than 2,000 businesses and their employees, as well as the broader community of residents, students and visitors, the DYBIA champions attractive public spaces, popular events, safety and cleanliness. It plays an active role both at street level and in boardrooms, advocating for a thriving and diverse community of retailers, restaurants and services.
