Episode 1 -"Welcome to Bloorcourt"
Show Notes
Hosted by: Arthur Geringas & Meg Marshall
Recorded & Edited by: Arthur Geringas & Telejet Studios
Featured Guests: Ron Nash, Antonia Yee, Simone Weir
Recorded & Edited by: Arthur Geringas & Telejet Studios
Featured Guests: Ron Nash, Antonia Yee, Simone Weir
Guide to this Podcast
- 2:30 - Explanation of the Innovation Grant
- 6:25 - A Moment with Our Chair - Antonia Yee
- 10:20 - What makes Bloorcourt special and different?
- 13:25 - What can be expected from the Bloorcourt BIA in the second half of 2020?
- 15:05 - Introduction to Ron Nash
- 15:50 - What is a City Builder?
- 16:35 - Suggested authors to read and find inspiration by for City Building
- 19:25 - Roncesvalles Village BIA Streetscape - Example of a BIA project
- 22:45 - Outlining some of the different offices and departments involved with streetscape and public realm projects
- 26:00 - How to get involved with your local community
- 27:00 - Educational approach to City Building
- 30:20 - Covid-19 Discussion
- 31:25 - Digital Mainstreet Ontario Grant
- 44:56 - Bite of Bloor ft. La Bella Managua
- 46:40 - Bite of Bloor ft. African Palace
- 48:00 - Bloorcourt Scavenger Hunt
Links and Information to Topics Discussed in the Podcast
What is a BIA?
"A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is an association of commercial property owners and tenants within a defined area who work in partnership with the City to create thriving, competitive, and safe business areas that attract shoppers, diners, tourists, and new businesses. By working collectively as a BIA, local businesses have the organizational and funding capacity to be catalysts for civic improvement, enhancing the quality of life in their local neighbourhood and the City as a whole." - TABIA (Toronto Association of BIAs)
City of Toronto BIA Office official website:
https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/business-operation-growth/business-improvement-areas/
City of Toronto BIA official email:
[email protected]
What is the Innovation Grant?
"The BIA Innovation Fund provides grants to BIAs to test innovative and creative solutions to local challenges. Successful projects will be profiled as case studies and shared through our BIA network.
Potential projects could include pop-up shop programs, creative retail recruitment strategies, asset monitoring systems, or other unique initiatives that push the limits of the work traditionally done by BIAs." - Kickstartbia.ca
Bloorcourt Parkettes
Locations include:
Example of a BIA Streetscape Project - Roncesvalles Village BIA
Some links to the project and some background information on it:
La Bella Managua - 872 Bloor St W
https://www.labellamanagua.ca/
Available for delivery on Skip the Dishes
African Palace - 977 Bloor St W
https://africanpalacetoronto.wordpress.com/
Available for delivery on UberEats and Door Dash
"A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is an association of commercial property owners and tenants within a defined area who work in partnership with the City to create thriving, competitive, and safe business areas that attract shoppers, diners, tourists, and new businesses. By working collectively as a BIA, local businesses have the organizational and funding capacity to be catalysts for civic improvement, enhancing the quality of life in their local neighbourhood and the City as a whole." - TABIA (Toronto Association of BIAs)
City of Toronto BIA Office official website:
https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/business-operation-growth/business-improvement-areas/
City of Toronto BIA official email:
[email protected]
What is the Innovation Grant?
"The BIA Innovation Fund provides grants to BIAs to test innovative and creative solutions to local challenges. Successful projects will be profiled as case studies and shared through our BIA network.
Potential projects could include pop-up shop programs, creative retail recruitment strategies, asset monitoring systems, or other unique initiatives that push the limits of the work traditionally done by BIAs." - Kickstartbia.ca
Bloorcourt Parkettes
Locations include:
- Bloor St W and Salem
- Bloor St W and Concorde
- Bloor St W and Bartlett
- Toni Morrison: "Jazz"
- Dionne Brand: "What we all long for"
- Zadie Smith: "NW "
- Ian McEwan: "Saturday"
- Teju Cole: "Open City" and "Every day is for thief"
Example of a BIA Streetscape Project - Roncesvalles Village BIA
Some links to the project and some background information on it:
- https://www.toronto.com/news-story/35881-residents-get-glimpse-at-roncesvalles-streetscape-plan/
- http://chisholmfleming.com/roncesvalles-avenue-road-reconstruction-and-ttc-track-reconstruction/
- https://roncyworks.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/lobe-and-mail-on-roncesvalles-renewal-the-result-is-quite-marvellous/
- Digital Mainstreet: $2500 - Digital Transformation Grant Program: will provide Digital Transformation training and guidance and provide the opportunity for main street businesses to apply for a grant of $2500.
- City of Toronto - Mask Bylaw: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/bills/2020/bill0511.pdf
- City of Toronto - Mask or Face Covering Posters: https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-how-you-can-help/covid-19-spread-the-word/?accordion=face-masks-coverings
- City of Toronto - Staff Self Assessment Survey: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/95f0-Survey-Screening-poster-TPH.pdf
- City of Toronto - Contract Tracing - Collection of Information Notice for Food & Drink Establishments: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/8d95-Restaurant-Customer-Log-Sheet.pdf
- City of Toronto - Proper Hand Washing Instructions: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/971a-COVID-19-WashYourHands.pdf
- City of Toronto - Social Distancing
- City of Toronto - COVID-19 Guidance for Workplaces and Businesses: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/9538-Fact-Sheet-for-Workplaces-Non-Healthcare_final.pdf
La Bella Managua - 872 Bloor St W
https://www.labellamanagua.ca/
Available for delivery on Skip the Dishes
African Palace - 977 Bloor St W
https://africanpalacetoronto.wordpress.com/
Available for delivery on UberEats and Door Dash
Copyright 2025
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Land Acknowledgement
The City of Toronto acknowledges that what we now call Toronto is on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The City also acknowledges that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands. African Ancestral Acknowledgement The City of Toronto acknowledges all Treaty peoples – including those who came here as settlers – as migrants either in this generation or in generations past - and those of us who came here involuntarily, particularly those brought to these lands as a result of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery. We pay tribute to those ancestors of African origin and descent |
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