The Riverside BIA is celebrating 40 Years in 2020/21. First formed in 1980 by a group of local business and property owners, the Queen-Broadview Village Business Improvement Area is one of the first dozen BIAs in Toronto and the world. The BIA spans Queen Street East from the Bridge (Queen Street Viaduct) to just past De Grassi Street. In 2004, the name change to the ‘Riverside’ BIA reflected the neighbourhood’s name since the 1880s. The BIA and business community it serves have seen many other changes over the decades – some very big news and others perhaps hidden gems.
To celebrate and commemorate these first 40 years, we are sharing 40 short stories of the BIA. Stay tuned for one or two new stories each week of this year and find them all here:
Story #31: Toronto Public Library – Queen/Saulter Branch
Story #30: Film & TV in Riverside
Story #29: George “Jim” Thomason & Unilever
Story #28: Better Way Cleaners, A Riverside Constant for 56 Years
Story #27: BMO & 711 Queen St E
Story #26: The Opera House – Where Were You?
Story #25: The Name Change from Queen Broadview Village to Riverside BIA
Story #24: Baird MacGregor Insurance Brokers LP
Story #23: ‘A Time for Pollinators’ Mural
Story #22: Recognizing MacFab’s Legacy in Riverside
Story #21: ‘Welcome to Riverside’ Mural
Story #20: BIA Branding Evolution
Story #19: Commemorating Albert Edelstein, Our Original Founder and Long-Time Community Member
Story #18: Commemorating Chef Scott in Toronto’s Riverside
Story #17: Bridging the Gap for Over 200 Years
Story #16: The Story of the Toronto Baseball Ground in Riverside Neighborhood
Story #14: Lynne Patterson’s Story
Story #13: Everyone Knows Riverside’s George the Barber
Story #12: ‘De Grassi Street’ vs ‘Degrassi Street’
Story #11: Nell and Natasha: Riverside’s Community Builders
Story #10: Beaches International Jazz Festival’s ‘Sounds of Leslieville & Riverside’
Story #9: What’s in a name? The Story of The Broadview Hotel in Toronto’s Riverside Neighbourhood
Story #7: It’s About Time: “Time and A Clock” Public Art in Riverside
Story #6: Change is a Brewin’ in Riverside
Story #5: Tkaranto Past / Tkaranto Future Mural at Riverside
Story #4: Ramping up the Arts in Riverside
Story #2: Dimensions Custom Framing Turns 20 Years + The Hidden Teacup
Story #1: How it all Began with the Queen-Broadview Village BIA in 1980
