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Bloor West Village is a family-friendly residential neighbourhood and vibrant shopping district in
On February 25, 1966, the Bloor–Danforth subway line opened in the area, allowing shoppers to shop downtown instead of the businesses along Bloor Street. Competition was also developing from enclosed shopping centres. Businessmen of the district attempted to set up a business association to pay for improvements to the area, but received only partial support from businesses in the area, and not enough to pay the estimated expenses to renovate and market the area. The businessmen lobbied the Toronto and Ontario governments for legislation to compel all business owners within a designated area to pay towards improvements, as directed by an elected body.
The Ontario ''Municipal Act'' was amended in 1970 and the Bloor West Village Business Improvement Association (BIA) was founded as the first of its kind in the world, first chaired by Alex Ling.
In 1980, Ling founded the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA), an organization that now represents 66 BIAs across Toronto. Ling was chairman of the Bloor West Village BIA for 24 years. The organization promotes business activity in the area by holding several annual events and festivals. It also puts efforts into the beautification of the area.
The BIA hosts:
*Annual Ukrainian Festival in September (music, foods and crafts).
* July Festival, which is a local fair of amusements and entertainment.
*Halloween Festival on Armadale Avenue, Beresford Avenue and Glendonwynne Road (family-friendly activities).
*Participates in the Toronto citywide "Cavalcade of Lights" (December)
In Fall 2017, the City of Toronto started a study to designate Bloor West Village as a Heritage Conservation District. The city explained that the neighbourhood has an established main street that was developed in early to mid-20th century, and it has been historically demarcating road, dividing distinct communities such as Swansea,
Official BIA website
{{authority control Neighbourhoods in Toronto Shopping districts and streets in Canada Business improvement districts in Canada
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...
, Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, Canada. Bordered on the south by Bloor Street
Bloor Street is a major east–west residential and commercial thoroughfare in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Bloor Street runs from the Prince Edward Viaduct, which spans the Don River Valley, westward into Mississauga where it ends at Central Park ...
, it encompasses all businesses along Bloor Street
Bloor Street is a major east–west residential and commercial thoroughfare in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Bloor Street runs from the Prince Edward Viaduct, which spans the Don River Valley, westward into Mississauga where it ends at Central Park ...
between South Kingsway and Ellis Park Road, consisting of more than 400 shops, restaurants and services, plus the residential neighbourhood to the north. The official City of Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
name of the neighbourhood is Runneymede-Bloor West Village.
Runneymede-Bloor West Village is bordered by High Park-Swansea to the south, Lambton-Baby Point to the west, Rockcliffe-Smythe to the north, and High Park North to the east.
Along the Bloor high street
High Street is a common street name for the primary business street of a city, town, or village, especially in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. It implies that it is the focal point for business, especially shopping. It is also a metonym fo ...
, the mix of stores include specialty clothing stores, book stores, restaurants and cafes. The businesses organized in 1970 into the first mandatory business improvement district, an idea that has spread to numerous other commercial streets in Toronto and to cities around the world.
History
Runnymede-Bloor West Village is also considered the name of the immediate vicinity of Bloor Street.
On February 25, 1966, the Bloor–Danforth subway line opened in the area, allowing shoppers to shop downtown instead of the businesses along Bloor Street. Competition was also developing from enclosed shopping centres. Businessmen of the district attempted to set up a business association to pay for improvements to the area, but received only partial support from businesses in the area, and not enough to pay the estimated expenses to renovate and market the area. The businessmen lobbied the Toronto and Ontario governments for legislation to compel all business owners within a designated area to pay towards improvements, as directed by an elected body.
The Ontario ''Municipal Act'' was amended in 1970 and the Bloor West Village Business Improvement Association (BIA) was founded as the first of its kind in the world, first chaired by Alex Ling.
In 1980, Ling founded the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA), an organization that now represents 66 BIAs across Toronto. Ling was chairman of the Bloor West Village BIA for 24 years. The organization promotes business activity in the area by holding several annual events and festivals. It also puts efforts into the beautification of the area.
The BIA hosts:
*Annual Ukrainian Festival in September (music, foods and crafts).
* July Festival, which is a local fair of amusements and entertainment.
*Halloween Festival on Armadale Avenue, Beresford Avenue and Glendonwynne Road (family-friendly activities).
*Participates in the Toronto citywide "Cavalcade of Lights" (December)
In Fall 2017, the City of Toronto started a study to designate Bloor West Village as a Heritage Conservation District. The city explained that the neighbourhood has an established main street that was developed in early to mid-20th century, and it has been historically demarcating road, dividing distinct communities such as Swansea, West Toronto
West Toronto was a federal electoral district represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1867 to 1904. It was located in the city of Toronto, in the province of Ontario. The district was created by the British North America Act of 18 ...
, Brockton Village
Brockton Village is a former town, and now the name of a neighbourhood, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It comprises a section of the old Town of Brockton which was annexed by the City of Toronto in 1884.
The town encompassed the area from Bloor S ...
prior to amalgamation. It also reflects past communities and broader city developments, such as opening of Bloor streetcar line
The Toronto Transit Commission operated the Bloor streetcar line along Bloor Street and Danforth Avenue, extending at its longest from Jane Street (Jane Loop) in the west end of the city to Luttrell Avenue (Luttrell Loop) in the east. Both Luttre ...
in the 1920s and opening of Bloor-Danforth subway line in the 1960s.
References
External links
Official BIA website
{{authority control Neighbourhoods in Toronto Shopping districts and streets in Canada Business improvement districts in Canada