Small BIAs don’t struggle because they lack vision. They struggle because they often inherit a model built for a different time. The traditional BIA playbook hasn’t changed much in decades,from season events, posters in store windows, to social media 'boosts', it is an endless loop of the same. Meanwhile, expectations have doubled. Budgets haven’t. If you’re leading a smaller BIA today, you’re being asked to operate like a large organization, with the staffing of a startup an

Economic development and tourism teams are taking on an expanded mandate. Supporting small businesses, revitalizing downtowns, attracting visitors, managing construction impacts, increasing local spend, and reporting clear outcomes back to Council. All while working with lean teams and carefully managed budgets.

In many organizations, disengagement is assumed to be a motivation problem. In practice, it’s often a clarity problem.

Big events get all the glory, but the months in between are where the real opportunity lies. How do you keep streets, parks, and public spaces engaging year-round? Here are some practical ideas and examples from communities across Ontario.