Information on the BIA
What is a BIA?
A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is a “made-in-Ontario” innovation that allows local business people and commercial property owners and tenants to join together and, with the support of the municipality, to organize, finance, and carry out physical improvements and promote economic development in their district. Traditionally, a BIA is a body established by a municipality using the specific business improvement area provisions in the Municipal Act, 2001. It is governed by a board of management. BIAs are local entities, and the legislation states they are local boards. The TOTBIA represents all of the property and business owners within a designated geographical boundary which encompasses Wards 1 (Old Tecumseh) and 2 (St. Clair Beach), the area south of County Road 22 including businesses on Lesperance Road north of West Lake Road, with the exception of industrial properties and privately owned clubs.
Map of the TOTBIA boundary
Functions of a BIA
- To oversee the improvement, beautification and maintenance of municipally-owned land, buildings and structures in the area beyond that provided at the expense of the municipality generally;
- To promote the area as a business or shopping area;
- To undertake strategic planning necessary to address business improvement area issues;
- To advocate on behalf of the Members of the business improvement area;
Basic responsibilities of the TOTBIA Board of Management
- Plan and administer activities for the promotion of TOTBIA as an attractive business and shopping area and for the maintenance of the appearance of the business core;
- Engage in strategic planning necessary to address TOTBIA issues;
- Advocate on behalf of the interests of TOTBIA;
- Manage the money that is collected by the Corporation from the required BIA levy for these activities;
- Attempt to ensure that each Member receives fair representation from the Board.
Board of Management – Overview
Administration and strategic management of a Business Improvement Area is generally the responsibility of the board of management. In particular, the board of management is typically responsible for overseeing the planning, budgeting, implementing and evaluating of BIA projects. The term of the directors of a board of management is the same as the term of the council that appointed them, but continues until their successors are appointed. Directors are eligible for re-appointment.
TOTBIA Board of Management:
- The Board consists of seven (7) Directors; selected by a vote of the Members at an Annual General Meeting, following an election year, and then are appointed as Directors by Town Council;
- In addition, Town Council shall appoint two (2) Directors and one (1) Council Liaison. The Council liaison is required to attend meetings and take part in sub-committee meetings but does not have a vote;
- Directors shall each have one vote. A quorum for conducting any meeting of the Board shall consist of a majority plus one;
- The Board shall assume office the first day following the appointment by Town Council;
- The Board shall have the following Officers: Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer. At the first meeting of the Board, the Board shall, amongst themselves, elect the Officers;
- The Board meets once a month.
To learn more about the Tecumseh BIA and access their minutes and agendas, visit their website
Meeting details
The BIA meets monthly, on the third Wednesday, at 6:00 pm, in the BIA office located at 12122 Tecumseh Rd. E. Unit 2, Tecumseh, ON, N8N 1L9 unless noted otherwise. The following are the scheduled meeting dates for 2023:
- Wednesday, January 18, 2023
- Tuesday, February 14, 2023
- Tuesday, March 14, 2023
- Tuesday, April 18, 2023
- Tuesday, May 16, 2023
- Wednesday, June 21, 2023
- Wednesday, July 19, 2023
- Wednesday, August 16, 2023
- Wednesday, September 20, 2023
- Wednesday, October 18, 2023
- Wednesday, November 15, 2023
- Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Committee members
The BIA Board of Management is composed of nine (9) members, with two (2) directors appointed by Council and seven (7) directors selected by a vote of the membership of the improvement area. A selected Council member acts as a liaison between the Board and Council.
The following are the representatives on the BIA for the term of Council ending November 14, 2026:
- Councillor James Dorner
- Councillor Brian Houston
- Lauren Carcelen
- Jules Champoux
- Leo Demarce
- Travis Dorner
- Eddy Mohamad Hammoud
- Jeffrey Huffman
- Josh Shepley
- Sandra Zanet