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BIA Board News
Roncesvalles Village BIA Honoured At OBIAA Conference
It is with pride that we announce that the Roncesvalles Village BIA has been awarded the Special Events and Promotions Award at this year’s Ontario BIA Association conference.
RVBIA Vice-chair Andrew Chomentowski accepted the award on behalf of the BIA. In particular, this award acknowledges the extraordinary success of the Roncesvalles Polish Festival, which in five years has become one of the largest neighbourhood festivals in Toronto and the largest festival focussing on Polish culture in Canada. In our press releases we call the festival “Canada’s largest celebration of Polish culture in Toronto’s best neighbourhood.”
In this photo we see TABIA executive director John Kiru, RVBIA Chair Tony Cauch and Vice-chair Andrew Chomentowski, and Patti Brooks, Vice-president of OBIAA.
The following address was read in advance of the award’s presentation: “The Roncesvalles Polish Festival has grown from its humble beginnings of a few thousand people to attracting an estimated 175,000 to 200,000 people in 2009 – the largest Polish Festival in Canada, if not North America.
The success of the Roncesvalles Village BIA Polish Festival is largely due to the innovative approach to the re-branding of the festival some 5 years ago. Formerly known as the Harvest Festival and although effective, was not distinctive and drew small numbers at significant expense.
By taking advantage of its rich Polish heritage, the Roncesvalles Village BIA re-branded its name to the “Polish Festival” and distinguished itself in a crowded market of neighbourhood festivals in Toronto.
Attracting momentum with their new name, significant sponsors for the event leveraged their modest event budget almost 7 times.
The Polish Festival puts the Roncesvalles Village BIA on the map every year; broadcast in Poland, across the GTA and as far away as New York City, major Canadian television networks pick-up on the event. The event attracts people from all over the world and is a major internationally celebrated event.
Please join me in a warm round of applause for Roncesvalles Village BIA.”
The RVBIA congratulates and thanks all past and current members of the Promotions and Marketing Committee. In particular we thank that committee’s chair, Andrew Chomentowski, who has volunteered for the BIA for over two decades on the Promotions and Marketing Committee. This award is a tribute to his ongoing efforts to promote Roncesvalles Village.
This award is the result of an enormous group effort. We thank our Festival patron, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto, and our Festival sponsors including the Polish Credit Union, Peter Mielczynski Agencies, European Fine Foods, The Knights of Polonia, and all the participating members of the Roncesvalles Village BIA.
Roncesvalles Village At BIA 40th Anniversary Celebration
Toronto is well-known as being an innovative city. Great artists, businesspeople, thinkers and scientists call Toronto home.
What is less well-known is that the BIA movement started in Toronto. In 1970 the Bloor West Village BIA became the first BIA in the world. Last Saturday we were pleased to attend a celebration of the 40th anniversary of BIAs. Mayor David Miller was in attendance and declared BIAs to be “Toronto’s greatest export.”
MPP Cheri diNovo honoured TABIA president and RVBIA Chair Emeritus John Wakulat for his tireless volunteer efforts to improve business life in Toronto.
RVBIA Chair Tony Cauch, Vice-chair Andrew Chomentowski, John Wakulat and Coordinator Keith Denning attended on behalf of Roncesvalles Village, and we provided a tasty spread of food courtesy of Benna’s Bakery and Deli.
Thank You Krys!
As a number of you probably know, Krys Streich left Copernicus Lodge and therefore our BIA a short while ago.
Krys served on the Board and was an important volunteer in our community, particularly in the Roncesvalles Polish Festival.
This is an excerpt from a very nice letter we received:
Dear Tony and BIA Members:
Thank you so much for the floral arrangement and kind words… I have deep roots in the area as I was born there and worked there for many years. It was a real pleasure for me to serve and perhaps have added some value to the Board. Best wishes to you all and most importantly may you have smooth roads ahead.
With warm regards,
Krys
We thank Krys for her service to the BIA and Roncesvalles Village, and wish her all the best for the future.
Thank You Stenia!
Stefania (Stenia) Baran has been an integral part of the Roncesvalles community for many years as manager of St. Stanislaus-St. Casimir’s Polish Parishes Credit Union. Her service to the Credit Union is about to come to an end. Stenia is retiring at the end of November and the board of the RVBIA wishes her well in her future endeavours.
Stenia has also served on the board of the Roncesvalles Village BIA for many years and has been a key volunteer in the Promotions and Marketing Committee, helping us with all of our events, particularly the Roncesvalles Polish Festival. RVBIA Vice-chair Andrew Chomentowski calls her “the heart of the festival.” While we’re sad to see her leaving the Credit Union, we are certain that she will continue to play a significant role in our community.
Polish Consulate Hosts Reception for Roncesvalles Polish Festival
As the official patron of the Roncesvalles Polish Festival, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto hosts an annual reception for festival sponsors, participants, and BIA members. We were gratified this year to have an excellent turnout, including a number of new faces from Roncesvalles Avenue.
Marek Ciesielczuk, Consul General, wrote the following letter to Andrew Chomentowski, chair of the Marketing and Promotions Committee of the RVBIA:
Dear Mr. Chomentowski:
With this letter I wish to officially grant patronage of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto to the Roncesvalles Polish Festival—Dożynki that will be held on September 19 and 20, 2009.
Festivals in 2005, 2006, 2007 and in particular 2008 were very successful. This year the Festival will be celebrating the first Jubliee of five years in the new, attractive formula. As usual it will create a unique opportunity to all the businesses of Roncesvalles Village Business Improvement Area and sponsors to promote their products to the visitors of the Festival.
The Polish Harvest Festival has become the largest event celebrating Polish culture, traditions, dances and songs in Canada. It is my pleasure to extend my wishes of every success to the Organizers of the September event in Roncesvalles Avenue, which, as usual, on those two days will become a Polish Street.
I am convinced that it will be a particularly joyous occasion with splendid entertainment.
Sincerely yours,
Marek Ciesielczuk
Consul General
In the photo: Tony Cauch, Chair, RVBIA; Consul Andrzej Krężel; Andrew Chomentowski, Vice-chair, RVBIA. Photo credit: Radek Maj.
Ethiopian Delegation Visits Roncesvalles Village
The Canadian Urban Institute has an international partnership program that partners with city planners and bureaucrats around the world. This past Friday (June 5), Roncesvalles Village hosted a delegation of Ethiopian city planners from Addis Ababa who wanted to learn about our community development activities. (You can read about the project here: www.international.canurb.com/ethiopia.php ) They met with Andrew Chomentowski, Vice Chair of the Roncesvalles Village BIA and coordinator Keith Denning. In addition the visit included discussions with Kevin Healey of the Roncesvalles-MacDonnell Residents’ Association and Doug Bennet of the Build Wabash Society.
We met the delegation at the Sorauren Field House, where we discussed how BIAs work, how they are structured, what they can do for businesses and neighbourhoods, and how they connect to the city.
Andrew and Keith then took the visitors on a tour of Roncesvalles Village, hosted a Polish lunch at Bistro 299, and enjoyed a great pot of Rwandan coffee from Alternative Grounds. The delegates received RVBIA shopping bags which it is hoped they will use while shopping in Addis Ababa.
The RVBIA is honoured by their visit, proud to show off our neighbourhood, and pleased that Roncesvalles Village was chosen as a leading example of a community that works well for businesses and residents.
Façade improvement grant deadline approaching fast
All Roncesvalles Village BIA members are eligible for the 2009 Commercial Façade Improvement Program. This is possibly the single best benefit the City provides to individual businesses. The City will pay half the cost of eligible improvements to your storefront, to a maximum grant of $10,000, or $12,500 for a corner property.
The deadline for applications is approaching fast. Applications must be received by June 30, 2009.
The RVBIA urges every business owner to take a look at this great program. If you have thought about restoring your historic façade, cleaning the bricks, improving accessibility, or fixing up your antique sign, this is an incredible opportunity!
Please click here to download the application form, and to view the City’s program information presentation please click here.
For more information, email or phone 416-392-1820.
Canadian Tire becomes exclusive supplier of Yellow Garbage Bags on May 1
The City of Toronto is switching suppliers to its Yellow Bag program. As of May 1, Canadian Tire will be the exclusive supplier of Yellow Bags and Tags. The current supplier is Home Hardware. This information is not yet on the City’s website, but the notice from Solid Waste Management can be viewed here.
The Yellow Bag program serves mainly small, main street businesses, such as those along Roncesvalles, which tend to have residential units above that already receive garbage collection service. Larger suburban, mall or plaza-style businesses are not eligible, and must make their own arrangements.
While Canadian Tire is a fixture of the suburbs, it has only three stores south of St. Clair, between the Humber and the Don. The nearest Canadian Tire to Roncesvalles is at St. Clair and Keele, about four kilometres away. It is unclear why the City would switch from a supplier often located among the same small businesses served by the Yellow Bag program, to a big box supplier that has a much smaller presence in small business areas.
Happy Holidays from the Roncesvalles Village BIA
Last weekend, coordinator Keith Denning visited Roncesvalles as Santa, visiting our businesses and shoppers (see picture at right.)
To the businesses, friends and neighbours of Roncesvalles Village, we wish you the best for the holidays and a Happy New Year!
Tony Cauch, Chair
Andrew Chomentowski, Vice-Chair
Roncesvalles Village BIA
RVBIA members benefit from TABIA membership
As RVBIA members, all Roncesvalles business and property owners automatically receive membership in TABIA, the umbrella organization of Toronto BIAs. TABIA works with the 65 BIAs in Toronto, representing more than 27,000 individual BIA members.
From the TABIA website:
Founded in 1980, TABIA gives Toronto Business Improvement Areas a voice. From advocacy to collective bargaining, TABIA actively advances the interests of its members.
TABIA works with all levels of government to actively advance the interests of Business Improvement Areas and create an environment in which their members can thrive. Be it Parking Issues, Garbage, Safety, Taxes, or BIA legislation TABIA strives to look after the best interests of its members.
Each Toronto BIA is eligible for membership in TABIA. All Members in good standing may take advantage of a the full range of benefits offered.
TABIA also offers its members discounts and other benefits and privileges of real value.
For a full list of TABIA benefits, please click here.
Email us: info@
roncesvallesvillage.ca
Thanks to everyone who made the 2009 Roncesvalles Polish Festival the best yet!
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