BIA Resources
This section provides information on key resources and services for BIAs, including critical tools for complying with the Accessibility Act. Something that impacts all businesses.
City of Toronto BIA OfficeEconomic Partnership AdvisorsPermitsStreet Furniture ManagementFestival PlanningToronto Parking AuthoritySpecial Event Parking
For more in-depth information on how to contact agencies responsible for street assets and other assistance requests, please refer to Tips For Reporting Street Assets & Other Requests For Assistance
Accessible Mainstreet
The Challenge:
The “Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act” (AODA) is new legislation that applies to hundreds of thousands of businesses in Ontario, as well as to community groups and public services. The AODA aims to remove many of the barriers people experience in public and commercial areas.
People with disabilities are a growing consumer market in Canada. Nationally people with disabilities account for an estimated $25 billion a year in consumer spending and influence the spending decisions of twelve to fifteen million other Canadians.
Over one-in-eight Ontarians have disabilities that keep them from more fully participating in society. That will only increase as baby boomers move into their senior years. According to Statistics Canada by 2025 the number of Ontarians with disabilities will grow to about 1 in 5.
The Response:
OBIAA and TABIA, in partnership with the Ministry of Community and Social Services are developing resources to help small businesses increase their awareness of accessibility and to promote accessibility best practices in their businesses.
TABIA represents the local small business community on the Customer Service Standards Development Committee which is presently creating proposed accessibility standards for the AODA.
For the original PowerPoint presentation, please contact TABIA at info@toronto-bia.com
Important Contacts
311 provides residents, businesses and visitors easy access to non-emergency City services, programs and information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 311 offers assistance in more than 180 languages.
Within Toronto City Limits: 311
Outside City Limits: 416-392-2489
(Can also be used within Toronto if you can’t reach 311)
TTY: 416-338-0TTY (0889)
Fax: 416-338-0685
Email: 311@toronto.ca
Open 24/7.
Always call 911 for emergencies.
Call 211 for community, social and health service questions.
City of Toronto BIA Office
General Inquiries
Tel: (416) 392-1291
Email: BIAOffice@toronto.ca
Manager, BIA Office
Rebecca Condon, 416-392-0626
Rebecca.Condon@toronto.ca
Streetscape Designers and Capital Project Coordinators
Kasia Grobel, 416-392-2698
Kasia.Grobel@toronto.ca
Pauline Ho, 416-394-8277
Pauline.Ho@toronto.ca
Yue Ma, 416-392-1817
Yue.Ma@toronto.ca
Economic Partnership Advisors
Karen Keskull, 416-338-5860
Karen.Keskull@toronto.ca
Marianne Szczuryk, 416-392-1820
Marianne.Szczuryk@toronto.ca
Michael Saunders, 416-392-1005
Michael.Saunders@toronto.ca
Mirella Martino, 416-392-0623
Mirella.Martino@toronto.ca
Ned Sabev, 416-392-1134
Ned.Sabev@toronto.ca
Ron Nash, 416-392-7354
Ron.Nash@toronto.ca
Sandi Koitsis-Zigomanis, 416-392-7183
Sandi.Koitsis-Zigomanis@toronto.ca
Permits
Toronto & East York
Metro Hall
55 John St., 17th Floor
Toronto, ON M5V 3C6
Tel: 416-392-7877
Etobicoke York
Etobicoke Civic Centre
399 The West Mall, 3rd Floor, South Block
Etobicoke, ON M9C 2Y2
Tel: 416-394-8418
North York
North York Civic Centre
5100 Yonge St., 4th Floor
Toronto, ON M2N 5V7
Tel: 416-395-7112
Scarborough
Scarborough Civic Centre
1530 Markham Rd., 6th Floor
Toronto, ON M1B 3G4
Tel: 416-396-4245
Street Events
toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/street-events/temporary-street-closure-permit
Sidewalk Sales
toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/street-events/sidewalk-sale-permit
Banners
toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/street-events/banner-permit
Street Furniture Management
Any questions or concerns about your street furniture should be sent to Transportation’s Street Furniture Office at streetfurniture@toronto.ca. City staff review any emails sent to the Office, and notify Astral of any action to be taken.
Every January, BIAs are sent a list of the street furniture installation plan for the coming year. BIAs are also notified if street furniture is being moved or relocated within their boundaries because of a complaint. The Street Furniture office maintains a contact list for all BIAs that they use for this purpose. If you are not getting these notifications, reacho out to ensure they have the correct contact email.
Antonia Markos, Manager
416-392-5209
antonia.markos@toronto.ca
Installations & Swaps/Upgrades
Jason Neill, Supervisor
416-392-1552
jason.neill@toronto.ca
Transit Shelter Ad Space
Jenna Larocque, Account Manager (Additional Paid Advertising)
416-440-6721 (desk)
647-523-8490 (mobile – preferred)
jlarocque@astral.com
Maxime Georges (Free BIA Space Booking)
416-440-6873
maxime.georges@astral.com
Dean Young (Ad Production)
dean.young@astral.com
Maintenance & Repair – Astral Media
Hotline
1-866-827-8725
quality@astral.com
Maintenance & Repair – City of Toronto
Harry Fuller, Right-of-Way Coordinator
416-392-1565
Harry.Fuller@toronto.ca
Bicycle Post-and-Ring Parking
streetfurniture@toronto.ca
Festival Planning
Event Support Sector, Economic Development & Culture Division
Tel: 416-395-0490
Fax: 416-392-5600
Email: eventpal@toronto.ca
City of Toronto Event Planning Guide
toronto.ca/business-economy/industry-sector-support/events/planning-guide
Toronto Parking Authority
33 Queen Street East
Toronto ON M5C 1R5
Tel: 416-393-7275
Email: greenpcs@toronto.ca