The 2026 Annual BIA Conference will take place
April 19-22, 2026
Apr19
Awards
OBIAA would like to congratulate all of the recipients for 2023 and thank all those communities who submitted their work.
Mark Garner
Alex Ling Lifetime Achievement Award
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.
Congratulations, Mark!
Central Huron BIA
The Clinton & Central Huron Gift Card
Business Retention, Recruitment & Expansion
Award of Merit
Downtown Yonge BIA
Yonge Growth: The Road to Recovery in Downtown Yonge
COVID-19 Response & Recovery
Award of Excellence
Downtown Niagara Falls BIA
Downtown Niagara Falls Road Closure Gates
Streetscaping & Public Realm Improvements
Award of Merit
The Cabbagetown BIA
The Cabbagetown Parkscape Project
Streetscaping & Public Realm Improvements
Award of Merit
Uptown Waterloo BIA
Streetscaping & Public Realm Improvements
Award of Excellence
Thank-you to two of our Trade Show Exhibitors!
Thank-you both for your consistent support over the last 20 years and we look forward to many more years of seeing you at our Trade Show!
Blachere Illumination
Since 1973, Blachere Illumination has been lighting up living spaces, towns, and cities. They believe that illuminations bring more than just light to urban areas and living spaces – they have the power to amaze, to enlighten, and to create fairytales.
Blachere Illumination has been a long time supporter of the BIA Conference and has been a vendor at OBIAA’s Trade Show for at least 18 years.
Classic Displays
Classic Displays has been providing holiday decorations for BIAs, municipalities, and companies since 1977. They expanded twice to include offerings of flags and banners, as well as site furniture. They take pride in the fact that they are a Canadian leader in furniture manufactured from recycled plastic lumber.
Classic Displays has been a long time supporter of the BIA Conference and has been a vendor at OBIAA’s Trade Show for 20 years.
All 2023 Awards Submissions
Advocacy & Governance
Bronte BIA – Bronte Forward
Operations
Downtown Kingston BIA – A Season of Change
Business Retention, Recruitment & Expansion
Downtown London & MainStreet London – Roller Skating at Citi Plaza
COVID-19 Response & Recovery
Emery BIA – COVID-19 Workplace Safety Course
Downtown Kingston BIA – Downtown Dollars – A Pandemic Recovery Initiative for Downtown Business
Special Events
Central Huron BIA – Clinton’s Downtown Historic Walking Tour
Chinatown BIA – 2023 Toronto Chinatown Lunar New Year Celebrations
Collingwood Downtown BIA – Collingwood Christmas Market
Downtown Acton BIA – Trick or Treat on Main Street
Downtown Kingston BIA – Movies Movies in the Square Celebrate Encanto
Downtown London – Downtown For the Holidays
Downtown Niagara Falls BIA – Halloween on Queen
Downtown Oakville BIA – TD Summer Music Series
Downtown Port Colborne BIA – Farmers’ Market
Gerrard India Bazaar BIA – Festival of South Asia
St. Catharines DA – The Downtown Dental Holi Festival of Colour
Uptown Waterloo BIA – Uptown Markets 2022
Marketing
Downtown Kingston BIA – Downtown Dollars – A Pandemic Recovery Initiative for Downtown Business
Downtown Niagara Falls BIA – Downtown Niagara Falls Eat Local Food Guide
Downtown Oakville BIA – Augmented Reality Holiday Hunt
Owen Sound River District – River District Podcast
Peterborough DBIA -The Illustrated Boro
Streetscaping & Public Realm Improvements
Central Huron BIA – Downtown Destination Development
Collingwood Downtown – Art on the Street
Downtown Brampton BIA – Activate Downtown Brampton
Downtown London BIA – Moving Murals
Downtown Milton BIA – A Vibrant Milton
Downtown Niagara Falls BIA – Downtown Niagara Falls String Lights
Pembroke BIA – Warrior Walkabout
Sparks Street BIA – Green Zones
Streetsville BIA – Streetsville BIA Fall Veteran Banner Program
The Waterfront BIA – Cleaning up Lake Ontario to enhance the visitor experience to Toronto’s Waterfront
Safety & Security
Belleville BIA – Welcoming Streets
Chinatown BIA – Safety & Security Program