Awards

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

Patti celebrated 15 years as the Executive Director for the UpTown Waterloo BIA in May 2013. Throughout her tenure, Patti has been a strong advocate for the core and has overseen three expansions, created and maintained several major events, mitigated parking challenges and advocated through multiple major redevelopment projects. Patti has been active at the ground level for the monumental changes, ensuring the BIA members interests are heard and considered. Patti has received many accolades for her involvement in the community.

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

Doug Ritchie was the Managing Director of Kingston BIA since 1983.  When Doug first arrived in Kingston, the downtown was a virtual ghost town, but Doug saw past all of the negatives and set about to turn things around.  Over the past 34 years he has been instrumental in creating, leading, and putting into action various projects and initiatives that have enabled the city of Kingston to claim as their own, one of the most vibrant mid-sized downtowns in North America.

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

Doris has been a part of the BIA since its inception in 1978 as a member, board director, and chair of beautification. She has been In Downtown Greater Napanee since the 1990’s when it was hollowed out, depleted and derelict. However, having been in business here for 40 years already, she believed in the downtown. She invested in downtown properties and began revitalizing them.  Doris is single handedly responsible for kickstarting the downtown revitalization at a time when box stores and fast food joints were booming near the 401.

2020 - Janette MacDonald

Her passion for small business, place-making and the economic prosperity of downtown neighbourhoods, have been the main pillars of her career.  A powerful advocate for best practices within the world of BIAs, Janette has contributed signicantly to long term projects, with programs being replicated by other BIAs across Ontario.  Her contributions to the city of London and the BIA movements are commended, replicated and supported by BIAs across Canada and the USA, along with various organizations in the Place-Making Industry.

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.

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