Celebrating 50 Years!

Did you know that it is Canada’s BIAs 50th anniversary?

This week we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the legislation that created BIAs. 

September 16th is the official day that BIAs came into existence 50 years ago but we plan to celebrate all this week by sharing a little history and reminiscing about our own BIA founded in 2008.

What is a BIA anyway? 

A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is a “made-in-Ontario” innovation that began in 1970, which allows local business people as well as commercial property owners and tenants to join together and, with the support of their municipality, organize, finance, and carry out physical improvements and promote economic development in their district. 

A BIA is a body established through a municipality using the specific business improvement area provisions in the Municipal Act, 2001, and is governed by a Board of Management. Business and property owners or others can request that a BIA be designated by a municipal bylaw. BIAs are local boards of their municipalities and are defined by the geographic area designated by a municipal bylaw.

The Celebrating 50 Years LOGO is the perfect way to showcase the number of years being celebrated, what the organization OBIAA represents (its member BIAs) and the variance between decades and the encompassing symbol. 

Wondering what the LOGO represents?

#50 – the pop of the digital number displayed provides a quick determination that the anniversary being celebrated is 50. 

BIA – stands for Business Improvement Area 

1970-2020 YEARS – allows for opportunity to reflect on the decades that have passed symbolizing 50 years ( 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2020) condensed to 1970 – (through) 2020. 

Hands – represent an overarching, togetherness of all BIAs in Ontario. The arch of the hand on the top showcases BIAs under one larger umbrella. The scooped hand at the bottom suggests that we are well-grounded and growing. The formation of a circle personifies BIAs within a larger organization. 

Colours – 50th celebrations are typically known as “Golden Anniversaries”. Traditionally, gold represents a timeless and treasured metal. The light black is incorporated to make the decades stand out and the bold capitalized BIA makes it a main focus. 

 #heartoforleans #50yearsforward