WE ARE THE WATERFRONT DISTRICT

The purpose of the Waterfront District BIA is to facilitate a vibrant, diverse, mixed-use downtown area where residents and visitors collectively gather to enjoy a variety of businesses, shopping, entertainment and recreational activities in a safe, beautiful environment. 

 

WHO WE ARE 

The Waterfront District is the official organization of all of the businesses within the district. The Waterfront District consists of more than 130+ members. Our members are a wide range of businesses – from restaurants and bars to specialty shops and everything in between.

Our members represent the growth and revitalization of the north core. We also work to help bring new businesses, work with existing businesses, help improve the quality of life in the district, work to help businesses economically and much more. Our focus is growth and continued success for all of our members.

WHAT’S A BIA?

A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is a not-for-profit association of the property owners and businesses in a geographic district within a municipality.

A BIA is managed by a volunteer Board of Management. The Board of Management is comprised of business and/or property owners and at least one member of municipal council.

Every property and business within the BIA area is automatically included in the BIA membership and contributes to the BIA budget through a special levy (tax).  The levy is paid by the property owners and businesses within the boundaries.  The Board of Management establishes the budget every year which is presented to the BIA membership then submitted to City Council for approval.

BIA GOALS

All BIA’s have the same goal – to encourage more traffic and ultimately increase traffic and sales in their downtown business district.  The BIA acts as a unifying body for its membership, local business people working together with the support of the municipality to make their BIA a “destination” and not only for its retailers and restaurants but its professional and cultural assets as well.The Waterfront District’s priority areas continue to focus on maintaining essential services to all its members, and being a partner in addressing downtown development and growth including:

  1. Revitalizing the downtown area through regular maintenance, façade improvements, streetscape and public art programs, special events and seasonal decorations, business recruitment, promotions and municipal partnership.
  2. Promoting the district as a place to shop, eat, playstay, live, work ~ do business.

 


Programs & Services

  1. Planters and flowers
  2. Street banners
  3. Garbage cans
  4. Star lights and tree lighting
  5. Decorative tree guards
  6. Bike racks
  7. Seasonal decorations
  8. Annual spring clean up
  9. Special Events
  10. Advertising & promotion
  11. Social Media & Website
  12. Sponsorship donations
  13. BIA Bucks for donations
  14. Promoting shop.eat.play … stay
  15. Promoting live, work and do business

2024 Board of Management

Jim Comuzzi, Chair, Rooster’s Bistro
Peter White, Vice Chair, White Macgillivary Lester LLP
Phil Walkden, Treasurer, Great Lakes Asset Management
Jordan Calonego, Director, 8 Cumberland St.
Maelyn Hurley, Director, Goods & Co.
Thomas Trist, Director, The Chanterelle on Park
Robyn Despins, Director, Cedar + Stone
Ken Ogima, Director
Andrew Foulds, Councillor, City of Thunder Bay


 

  The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce 2017 Business Excellence Award For Tourism Partner: The Waterfront District BIA

The BIA was honoured to receive the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce 2017 Business Excellence Award for Tourism Partner.

Photo (from left to right):

Kory Morabito, Director, Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel & Suites, Maelyn Hurley, Vice Chair, The Chanterelle on Park, Paul Pepe, Manager, Tourism Thunder Bay, Jolene DesRosiers, Director, Kitty Cucumber Children’s Boutique and Jim Comuzzi, Chair, Rooster’s Bistro (Missing:  Dave Richard, Director, VAST Benefits, Sandy Herron, Director, StreetCity Realty Inc., Peter White, Director, White Macgillivray Lester, Andrew Foulds, City Councillor & Paul Pugh, City Councillor)

 


 

BIA Bucks & BIA Gift Certificates

The Waterfront District BIA Bucks and Gift Certificates program promote the Waterfront District BIA as the place to shop, eat, play … stay, work and do business.  The BIA Bucks and BIA Gift Certificates are administered by the Waterfront District BIA.

Spending your BIA Bucks:

Spend the BIA Bucks coupon as cash at participating businesses in the Waterfront District. The BIA Bucks coupons are valid and redeemable for goods and services at participating businesses for stated value. Purchases exclude tobacco products, lottery tickets and gambling. BIA Business participation and product availability are subject to change at any time. Please inquire prior to your purchase with the BIA Business that you hope to spend the BIA Bucks. Participating businesses reserve the right to limit use when in conjunction with another offer. Please check the coupon expiry date. No change will be given.

 

Thinking of a gift for someone special? The Waterfront District Gift Certificates never expire.  The BIA Gift Certificates are valid and redeemable for goods and services at participating businesses for stated value. Purchases exclude tobacco products, lottery tickets and gambling.  BIA Business participation and product availability are subject to change at any time.  Please inquire prior to your purchase with the BIA Business that you hope to spend the BIA Gift Certificates. To purchase the Waterfront District BIA gift certificates, please contact our office at 343-9032 or send us an email: thewaterfrontdistrict@tbaytel.net

BIA Bucks & Gift Certificates Redemption:

Please submit your invoice noting coupon numbers and deliver your package to either Rooster’s Bistro, 32 St. Paul Street (Monday through Sunday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm) Packages can be mailed to the BIA Office, 195 Park Avenue, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 1B9.  A cheque will be processed and mailed to the BIA Member.


 

Boundaries of the Waterfront District BIA: