As a member of the Bloordale Village Business Improvement Area, you are invited to attend the

2008 Annual General Meeting:

Thursday, October 2, 2008
7:00 p.m.
Shawarma Ma Restaurant
1211 Bloor Street West

A G E N D A

1. Call to Order and Introduction
2. Declaration of Conflict of Interest
3. Approval of 2007 AGM Minutes
4. Auditor’s 2007 Report
5. Treasurer’s Report/Work Undertaken in 2008Proposed Program for 2009
6. Approval of 2009 Budget
7. New Business
8. Adjournment

The purpose of this meeting is to decide on the BIA budget for 2009 (see over). This program is paid for by a special levy charged to you as well as other commercial/industrial property owners and businesses in the BIA.  As a BIA member, this is your opportunity to get involved.

Please forward a copy of the notice to your commercial/industrial tenants.

For more information, call Nick Bakoias at  416 688-7329

On June 21st, 2008, from Christie to Lansdowne along historic Bloor Street, the BIG Festival celebrates local business, community, arts and culture with a unique street fair featuring hundreds of events, activities and exhibitions.

Bloordale BIA hosts the Festival between Dufferin Street and Lansdowne Ave. The Bloordale-BIA encourages local businesses to come out onto the street with sidewalk sales, outdoor patios and cafes. This is your festival!

If you plan to sell alcohol in a street-front patio you will need a permit for the day: for details please contact Sid Bruyn, the BIG Festival production co-ordination, at bruyn@pathcom.com, 416 530-4152 or Dougal Bichan, the BIG Festival programming co-ordinator, at dougal@dougalco.com, (416) 656-4893..

Restaurants and stores – please be prepared for increased business June 21.

Closed to traffic to celebrate summer in the city, the BIG festival plans to place up to 400 tables that will make a line in the center of Bloor Street from Christie Street to Lansdowne Avenue. During the day, from 1 PM to 6 PM, the tables will be used for projects, exhibitions, commercial sales, games, garage sales, food, and information. After 6:00 PM, participants are encouraged to reset their table with a tablecloth for the biggest dinner party in Toronto’s history.

Local businesses are welcome to set up their own tables in front of their storefront for free. If you wish to have a table in the middle of the street – they can be booked for $25 at the BIG website www.bigonbloor.com. If you don’t have a computer and want to book tables call Dougal Bichan, the BIG Festival programming co-ordinator, at dougal@dougalco.com, (416) 656-4893.

Come out! Take part! Make it a day to remember!

More Information is on the BIG website www.bigonbloor.com

“The BIG Festival promises to continue the traditions that have made Toronto one of the world’s most livable cities”
– Mayor David Miller

“Another BIG step towards a BIG revitalization of Bloor Street West!”
– Councillor Adam Giambrone

“We are all working together to make this both a neighbourhood and a city-wide success”
– Bloordale BIA chair, Spiro Koumoudouros

“The BIG festival is an exciting and collaborative effort to further improve the neighbourhood”
– Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone

“The BIG Festival is a great day to join with local businesses, community groups and all our neighbours to celebrate our community and each other. There’s nothing bigger on Bloor!”
– MP Mario Silva

“ Another BIG success.”
– MPP Tony Ruprecht

“The BIG Festival will be a major milestone to rejuvenate Bloor Street and the business of Bloorcout BIA are extremely excited to be part of it’.
– Bloor Court BIA chair, Lance Lehman

Call to participate: The BIG FESTIVAL Saturday, June 21, 2008
Bloor Street from Christie Street to Lansdowne Avenue, Toronto, 1 PM to 9 PM

Call to Individuals and Groups | Call to Cultural Organizations and Institutions
On June 21st from Christie to Lansdowne along historic Bloor Street, The BIG Festival celebrates local business, community, arts and culture with a unique street fair featuring hundreds of events, activities and exhibitions.

Closed to traffic to celebrate summer in the city, Bloor hosts up to 600 tables that will make a line from Christie Street to Lansdowne Avenue. During the day, from 1 PM to 6 PM, the tables will be used for projects, exhibitions, commercial sales, games, garage sales, food, and information. After 6:00 PM, participants will reset their table with a tablecloth for the biggest dinner party in Toronto’s history.

Come out! Take part! Make it a day to remember!
To participate book your 8 foot table for $25 at www.bigonbloor.com

“The BIG Festival promises to continue the traditions that have made Toronto one of the world’s most livable cities” – Mayor David Miller

Call to Individuals and Groups to Participate
We encourage everyone to participate – what can you bring to the table? Suggestions: Art exhibitions, Cultural projects, Community information, Activist events, Puppet show, Play with Clay, Tips on tree care, Story telling, Garage sales, Craft demonstrations, Pet show, Portrait sketches (yes you can sell), Small theatre, Commercial tables, Bike repair, Comic books, Book Clubs, Science table, FOOD, Institutional presentations, T-shirt projects, Book readings, Learn to play Guitar, Play Group, Cultural and information tables, University class projects, Service Provider’s outreach, Garden clubs, Flower arranging, Sculptures by children, Airbrush Tattoos, Bubble blowing competition, Haircuts, Back Massages, Dog tricks, Green Markets, Chalk drawings (yes you can use the area around your table), Baseball trading cards, Stickers, Your pet goldfish, Sign painting + + +

Call to Cultural Institutions and Organizations for Culture Works
Culture Works is a precedent setting street fair for cultural institutions and organizations. Culture Works is a feature event of the BIG Festival on Bloor Street, June 21, 2009, 1 PM to 9PM. Over 100 tables have been reserved for Culture Works located on Bloor Street in the Dufferin / Lansdowne section. Please participate and bring your organization to the table. Tables can be reserved through the website at www.bigonbloor.com - recommended donation for each 8 foot tables with chairs - $25 – reserve at http://bigonbloor.com/festival/cultureworks.html (please mention Culture Works in your description to be sure that you are placed within the Culture Works Fair)

Call to groups and organizations to participate
Fairs within the Festival – book tables and create your own fair within the BIG Festival. Suggestions: The Market Place | Organic and Local Food Fair | Multicultural Events | Dog Hill, Dog Fair | Environmental Fair | Giant Garage Sale + + +

Call to Performers – bring your event to the street!
Artist Fees, BIG has managed to close the street and cover the many related costs to do so – this is our first year and we regret that do not have funding to pay artist / performers fees this year. You are welcome to pass the hat at your street performance and to sell things or make a collection at your table.

Volunteers, Donations and Sponsorship needed and appreciated – The BIG Festival is an all-volunteer event, sign on at www.bigonbloor.com

Regarding Dinner – Buy locally (we will have many vendors on-site – think Portuguese, Indian, Africa, Caribbean, local organic… (This is one of the most multi-cultural neighbourhoods in the world) Or bring a picnic or cater your table(s).
Also enjoy our beer garden…

………AND PLEASE

BOOKMARK THE DATE
Come out and enjoy the BIG Festival on Bloor Street, Christie to Lansdowne,
June 21, 1 pm to 9 pm. EVERYONE IS INVITED TO THE BIG FESTIVAL.

Have a question that the BIG website (www.bigonbloor.com) doesn’t answer?
Contact:
Dougal Bichan: Programming
dougal@bigonbloor.com, (416) 656-4893
Sid Bruyn: Production Coordinator
sid@bigonbloor.com, 416 530-4152

BIG Goals The BIG Festival is a community-building event, both locally and for the city at large. The BIG Festival moves forward our mandate to advance the economic, physical, cultural and social life of the Bloor Street by creating opportunities and events that improve and celebrate the area.

About BIG Bloor Improvement Group is a registered not-for-profit organization; our membership includes an inclusive coalition of residence groups, BIAs, politicians, stores and businesses, service providers, artists, activists, community centres, multi-cultural organizations, faith-groups and schools - and everyone that wants to help.

The BIG Festival is an all-volunteer event made possible with the support of Bloordale BIA - we need your participation to help make this a success. www.bigonbloor.com

Please forward to those that may also be interested – thank you