The City of Toronto is now receiving applications for the 2014 Commercial Facade Improvement Grant Program. The application is on the City's website. Please click on the link below for further information, application form, deadlines etc. If you need to speak with someone directly about the application process you can contact Michael Saunders at 416-392-1005 or  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . If you are interested in submitting an application for a 2014 grant please remember that the sooner you get your application in the…

The City of Toronto's Municipal Licensing and Standards pision has undertaken a review of the City's bylaws governing boulevard cafés/sidewalk patios as well as the operation of sidewalk stalls outside businesses. The goal is to create one bylaw for Toronto. Each former municipality has a pre-amalgamation bylaw that regulates boulevard cafe and marketing activities. As a result, the requirements, approval processes, permit types and application fees are different depending on the area where the business is located. As part of…

Effective January 23rd, there are new rules in effect regarding parking and designated rush hours (extended). This may affect businesses who have customers who "pop" into your business - you may want to remind them that these new rules are in place so they don't get caught with a parking ticket. Please see below for two documents from the City outlining the new regulations, context, and a Q&A on the subject.

There will be two consultation meetings regarding new policies for patio licences, boulevard cafes, and boulevard marketing permits. Both are being held this coming Friday, January 24 at the East York Community Centre (Coxwell and Mortimer): 9:30am to noon and the second from 1:30pm to 4:00pm. All current permit holders should have received meeting notices via mail. For further information and to submit comments should you not be able to attend either of the above meetings please go to: www.toronto.ca/mlshaveyoursay

From Susan Puff, BIA Executive Director: Happy New Year to all of our BIA Businesses! It's certainly been quite a couple of weeks between power outages, ice storms, snow and freezing cold. I personally would like to thank all of the businesses who helped residents in this area, like myself, during the power outage - I was able to charge my blackberry at many of your spots and for that I'm truly grateful:-) And, I know that I wasn't the…

With one week til Christmas there were a few things that I wanted to pass on to you: 1. Garbage and Recycling pick ups over the holidays - business as usual December 24 and 31 for our area. 2. Snow and ice - please remember to shovel and salt your walkways. We seem to have gotten snow much earlier this year and we want all of our customers to be safe as they stroll through our area. 3. Recent break-ins…