The Yonge North York BIA is formed by a group of volunteer Board of Directors who own or operate businesses in the Willowdale area. Our main area of focus is improving the local economy within the BIA area.
The BIA Board of Directors acts as a liaison between local businesses and government, to express the interests of businesses and have an impact on policies made with respect to the Willowdale area.
We acknowledge the land we are meeting on is 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. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.
Once the BIA members approve the budget at the annual general meeting and City Council ratifies it, funds are raised through a levy on all commercial properties within the BIA’s boundary. Calculation of this levy is based on the proportionate value of each property’s commercial and/or industrial assessment. Once the City collects the levy, it returns the funds to the BIA to manage and deliver projects in the designated business community. Many BIAs also apply for grants or undertake capital-cost shared projects with the City.
To address the second most common question, we would like to provide you with information that may help clarify the levies that businesses will be providing to the BIA, once it is established. It is important to state that a BIA’s levy is not in any way associated with taxes. Rather, the levy of a BIA is based on the assessment carried out by MPAC for each commercial property and is utilized by the BIA Board of Management, made up of local business owners and leaders, to directly support the businesses within the BIA’s boundaries. We are proposing a levy rate of 0.03 to 0.04 percent per $100 of assessed property value. This will be one the lowest levies by any of the other 83 BIA’s in Toronto.
The Board of Directors meet virtually on a monthly basis.
If you are interested in attending a meeting, please contact us at hello@yongenorthyork.com.
As a BIA Specialist, and with an Honours Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Toronto and a Certificate in Local Economic Development from the Toronto Metropolitan University, Laura Burnham brings a range of skills to our BIA. These include operations and project management, business support programming, event planning, grant writing, volunteer recruitment and management, and liaising with City and other stakeholders to advocate for the best interests of our members.
Laura Burnham comes to us with over ten years of experience in working with Municipal Boards in Toronto and producing TABIA Award winning projects which achieve strategic plans and goals in business and community development.
With over 1600 business and commercial property members within our boundaries, Laura Burnham is working with the Board of Directors and her staff team to implement your Yonge North York BIA’s strategic plan and deliver on the BIA's purpose to support our business community.
She welcomes the membership to reach out to introduce their business or property and connect with the BIA to work together to support local economic development, beautify the public realm and promote our regional destination. She is a strong supporter of implementing strategies and projects that grow the Yonge North York BIA as the preferred destination in North Toronto to live, work and play.
Laura Burnham was appointed to the position of Executive Director of the newly formed Yonge North York Business Improvement Area (BIA) in June 2021.
A graduate of York University, Bachelor of Arts and with more than twenty years of experience within the Shopping Centre Property Management industry, Domenic Imbesi obtains vast knowledge in the areas of marketing, business development, specialty leasing, event planning and customer service.
Domenic Imbesi’s experience includes serving premiere third-party property managers with agility. His portfolio included regional retail assets such as Yorkdale Shopping Centre, community retail centres such as Cloverdale Mall and several open-air plazas across Ontario & Quebec.
Proficient in strategic planning and tenant/stakeholder relations, Domenic Imbesi’s passion for the commercial real estate sector has resulted in him achieving many successes throughout his career journey. Many of his accomplishments have been recognized by industry associations award programs. Most prestigious, Domenic Imbesi, received the inaugural International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC) Canadian Social Responsibility Award. He also served as the Co-Chair & Chair of the ICSC Marketing Awards, has attained his CMD (Certified Marketing Director) and SLD (Specialty Leasing) designations offered by ICSC.
Domenic Imbesi joined the Yonge North York BIA staff in January 2022 and looks forward to offering its membership marketing and economic development resources, ensuring the strategic action plan is achieved and unique brand identity is curated.
An international student who graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Commerce. Skyler came to the BIA with two years of previous work experience in marketing. She leverages her skills in marketing, project and event execution to support the BIA team with the delivery of our initiatives, communications and administration.
She joined the Yonge North York BIA in the spring of 2022 and is looking forward to using her skills, knowledge, culture, and dedication to contribute to the growth of this business community.
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