THE COMMUNITY EDTION GUIDE TO BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS
From the Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area (BIA) to the Downtown Cambridge BIA and everywhere in between, BIAs support business communities in city cores with networking and events that bring more people to dine, drink and shop.
The BIA concept started on Bloor St. W. in Toronto. As foot traffic shifted to suburban malls in the late 1960s, shopkeepers banded together and convinced City Hall and Queen’s Park to let every business contribute to streetscape upgrades and joint promotions. Their experiment became the Bloor West Village BIA in 1970, a model soon copied across Ontario and around the world.
Since then, BIAs have spread across the province. Today, there are over 300 BIAs in Ontario and more than 500 across Canada. The Uptown Waterloo BIA was the second to be incorporated in 1972.
Waterloo Region now has eight BIAs, each anchoring its own main street with a distinct mix of shops, streetscape touches and marquee events. Here is a snapshot of who they are, where they sit and what they do.
Uptown Waterloo BIA
With King St. S. at its core, the Uptown Waterloo BIA represents businesses from Avondale Ave. to Willow St., and Union St. to Elgin St. The Uptown Waterloo BIA runs several events throughout the year, including Winterloo, the LUMEN Festival and nighttime art markets throughout the summer.
Downtown Kitchener BIA
The Downtown Kitchener BIA is the largest of the local BIAs and is bounded by Victoria St. on the west, Cedar St. on the east, Joseph St. to the south and Weber and Duke St. to the north. Its events include Palette x Palate, Día de Los Muertos, Sunset Sessions and more.
Downtown Cambridge BIA
Main, Water and Ainslie streets shape Galt’s heritage grid between Concession St. and Park Hill Rd. Summer events include Latin Music on Main and Friday Night Twilight Markets. In the spring, the Downtown Cambridge BIA is a partner in Cambridge Wedding Week, one of the region’s largest wedding events.
Preston Towne Centre BIA
King Street runs the length of the Preston Towne Centre BIA from Waterloo St. to Dolph St., with Central Park as its green heart. Wednesday Preston Towne Market (June-Sept.) anchors the summer, and the autumn Preston Lantern Project lights up the park after dusk.
Hespeler Village BIA
Queen St. hugs the Speed River between Guelph Ave. and Tannery St., backed by converted mill buildings. #WalkQueen closes the street to cars every weekend throughout the summer, and the Friday-night Hespeler Village Market features a mix of produce, artisans and live music.
Downtown Elmira BIA
Arthur St. and Church St. frame this small-town core, with most storefronts grouped around the Gore Park intersection. The Elmira Maple Syrup Festival draws tens of thousands each April, and the self-guided Elmira Art Walk exhibits murals and sculptures throughout the year.
St. Jacob’s Village BIA
The St. Jacobs Village BIA follows King St. N. and Front St. between Cedar St. and Henry St. Tourists and locals alike flock to the twinkling St. Jacobs Sparkles nights in November and return for the village-wide Sidewalk Sale every June.
Belmont Village BIA
The unofficial BIA of midtown, the Belmont Village BIA runs down Belmont Ave. from Union Boulevard to Glasgow St. The Belmont Village Bestival turns the street into a two-day art-and-music fair each September, and A Holly Jolly Village decks the avenue for holiday shopping in late November.
From St. Jacobs’ Sparkles nights to Uptown’s light-art takeover, every BIA shares the same goal: to turn a quick errand into a reason to linger.
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