The 2026 Annual BIA Conference will take place
April 19-22, 2026
Apr19
Awards
Select a year: 2025
Alex Ling Lifetime Achievement Award - Previous Winners
The Alex Ling Lifetime Achievement Award is given to individuals who have gone above and beyond for not only their own BIAs, but others on a national scale.
2011 - Alex Ling
Alex Ling will be remembered for his generous spirit, his helpfulness, his unique, distinct sense of humour, and his passion for life. His ability to overcome obstacles and cross barriers to bring people together in community is also part of his legacy, as well as his close business relationships. Many of these relationships developed into lifelong friendships. His legacy will also continue through businesses worldwide, as he ensured the survival of the Business Improvement Area movement around the world.
2012 - John Kiru
John Kiru received his Urban & Regional Planning degree from Ryerson University, School of Planning in 1982 and has continued studies in urban renewal, economic development, and real estate. His conflict resolution skills and studies in arbitration have resulted in appointments to the former City of North York Court of Revision under the Local Improvement Act and four terms as a member of the City of Toronto, West District Committee of Adjustments.
Prior to joining TABIA as its Executive Director in 2000, John was an Executive Assistant to City of Toronto Councillors and spent 15 years as a Director of a BIA. In addition to being asked to assist in drafting changes to the BIA section(s) of the Municipal Act by the Province, John is also involved in the writing and review of pertinent BIA sections of the Toronto Act.
Over the years, John has delivered the BIA message of self-help and the ultimate Private Public Partnership to many business communities across the country and the U.S. as well as at numerous conferences in Canada, the US, Germany, France and Scotland.
In addition to his work with BIAs in the city of Neighbourhoods, John is a former president of OBIAA, a former member of the provincial vulnerable workers task force, and currently holds the position of President & Chairman of the Board of The CNE.
2013 - Maureen Luoma
Maureen had been with the Downtown Sudbury BIA for 36 years in 2013.
She began her career with the BIA in 1977. She has seen many changes in the downtown core over her career, including the start-up of the Farmer’s Market at Shaughnessy and its eventual move to Market Square (now the LU School of Architecture).
She has also launched many successful events such as Blues for Food, the Downtown Garage Sale and Ribfest, has played an integral role with the Sudbury Santa Claus Parade organizing committee, and represented the Downtown Sudbury BIA on numerous committees and boards over the years, including the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, Farmers Markets Ontario and the provincial Ontario Business Improvement Area Association.
2014 - Patti Brooks
2015 - John Wakulat
John got his start in business at Pollocks Hardware Store in Roncesvalles Village in the 1950s. He bought the store in 1976, and it became one of the top stores in the Home Hardware chain. John served on the board of Home Hardware from 1976 until 2001.
In the 1980s there were two BIAs on Roncesvalles Avenue, the High Park BIA and the Upper Roncesvalles BIA. Each comprised only a few blocks. John championed a new, more inclusive BIA. The two smaller BIAs were dissolved in 1986, and that year the Roncesvalles Village BIA was born.
John became chair of the Roncesvalles Village BIA in 1990, and served in this role for many years. He brought decorative lights, Roncesvalles’ first treescape, murals and decorative planters and expanded the boundaries of the RVBIA. In 2007 the BIA expanded to include all of Roncesvalles. In 2015, John still sat on the board as Chair Emeritus.
2017 - Doug Ritchie
2018 - Susan Nicholson
Sue has been the general manager of the Downtown Collingwood BIA since 1994. She was managing the Chamber Of Commerce when she first started. In her times as a general manager, Sue has completely fortified the downtown through various projects such as Art on the Street Annual walking tour. Thank you for your commitment Sue!
2019 - Doris Lucas
2020 - Janette MacDonald
2022 - Andrew Marks
Andrew Marks has been involved with the Downtown Timmins BIA since 1988 and has worked with four consecutive Executive Directors since then. He is described as a “stabilizing foundation” for the BIA over the years. Andrew joined the OBIAA Board in 2011 and has been instrumental in many of OBIAA’s projects and committees, including but not limited to: the Advocacy Committee, the Return On Investment of BIAs Report, and leading OBIAA to annual presentations to the Province of Ontario’s Planning, Environment, Resources, and Land Committee (PERL) on multiple occasions. He recently led the creation of the 2022 Main Street Means Business Election Guide. A member of the Downtown Timmins BIA is quoted as saying Andrew is “beloved by anyone who has the pleasure of working with him”…and we couldn’t agree more.
2023 - Mark Garner
Mark Garner has been in the Executive Director Role in various BIAs since 2004. Starting in Downtown Kitchener then a brief stint at the Economic Development Office in Waterloo. In 2012 he joined the iconic Downtown Yonge BIA as the Chief Staff officer and Executive Director. His recent move to Downtown Calgary in May of 2022 demonstrates the value, passion and measurable results he brings to communities and makes him a sought after Leader and expert in the industry.
Mark’s impact has been evident not only in the BIAs he has led but he was also on the OBIAA Board from 2009 to 2012 and the IDA Board from 2013 to 2018. He was instrumental in the creation of IDA Canada. Mark has been a TABIA member since 2012.
2024 - Kay Matthews
From 2011 to 2025, Kay Matthews was the Executive Director of the Ontario BIA Association, representing 300+ BIAs in Ontario. She has spent 20+ years in BIA management; 10 years in an urban BIA and 5 years in a rural BIA. Having worked in the Heritage and Arts sectors in Mississauga for 10 years, this brings her total Community Development experience to more than 30 years.
Kay has overseen three Accessibility Projects for OBIAA, the Return on Investment of BIAs Project, and Ontario’s Digital Main Street Project (granting). Kay speaks at various events, facilitates Strategic Planning as well as teaches Governance to BIAs. Kay additionally has organized and executed large scale events such as the Bread and Honey Festival, Mississauga’s Carassauga and Santa Claus Parade, and the annual BIA Conference.
2025 - Ellen Timms
Ellen Timms joined the Port Credit BIA as General Manager in 2001. She had previously served on the board and had owned two stores in the East Village, a women’s wear store and children’s wear store. She brought a unique perspective and understanding to the staff role and its dynamics related to the position as someone who had served as a volunteer and was a business owner. During her time with the Port Credit BIA she was a driving force within the community and her creative vision helped shape Port Credit to be the vibrant area it is today. It is said that she was a connector and had the ability to connect with and put together people with divergent opinions to ‘get things done.’ She worked diligently with volunteers, business and property owners, community groups and municipal staff and Councillors to ensure that Port Credit thrived. During her tenure as BIA General Manager she served as a mentor to many, a community builder, a connector and a leader. She retired from her position in Port Credit in 2018 and eventually moved to what was the family’s summer residence in Wasaga Beach where she continues her community involvement.