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Bloor Improvement Group is a dynamic volunteer coalition in Toronto, advancing the economic, physical, cultural and social life of the targeted local Bloor Street by creating opportunities and events that improve and celebrate the area. |
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First annual BIG on Bloor Festival
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BIG will be using TheStoreFront as an office space from October 2008 to January 2009. |
On Saturday June 21 from Christie to Lansdowne along historic Bloor Street, The BIG Festival celebrated local business, community, arts and culture with a unique street fair featuring hundreds of events, activities and exhibitions.
Go to The BIG Festival page |
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| Councillor Adam Giambrone and Dyan Marie co-chaired the first BIG meeting on Feb. 21, 2007, at Bloor Collegiate. 63 people attended representing a wide cross-section of organizations. Members agreed to move forward all agenda items, mainly as proposed. A Board of Directors was established. The BIG chair will be a rotating position with Sheila Pin acting as interim Secretary. Meetings will be held monthly, with community-wide public meetings set for every other month.Thank you to everyone for your generous support for a Better Bloor. The last Wendesday of each month, BIG meets in the cafeteria of Bloor CI at Dufferin & Bloor. Meetings are open for all to attend. |
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Mayor David Miller supports BIG. Read his letter here |
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"The Bloor Improvement Group is an incredible opportunity to bring people and local groups together to build community. I am excited and look forward to working with B.I.G. to make Bloor Street a safer neighbourhood, cleaner street and thriving community." "Bloordale BIA has helped initiated the idea of bringing everyone together to improve Bloor Street. We can’t do it alone but with everyone contributing we can create a dynamic, beautiful and safe street. The BIG festival is a way to start the process and the Bloordale BIA will contribute in many ways including support for storeowners to help improve the appearance of their storefront in preparation of the BIG Festival." "Wallace Emerson Community Centre is pleased to be a partner in BIG: Bloor Improvement Group and will contribute our help to make the BIG Festival a BIG event." "Congratulations to BIG for building the framework for revitalizing our neighborhood. It is in all our interest to live in a clean, green and safe community. You can certainly count on my strong support." "I will be attending the first BIG: Bloor Improvement Group's meeting, Feb 21 on Councillor Vaughan's behalf." "YES" "It is nice to hear that BIG is starting to establish a better community along the much neglected Bloor Street West. BeBloor is faced with many challenges, such as: No BIA established, lack of shops and stores, lack of parking, poor infrastructure maintenance, streetscape, lack of community connections, and lack of urban design consultations. I will represent our residents in the BIG meeting being held Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at Bloor Collegiate." "The Bloor Improvement Group provides an opportunity for our neighborhood on Bloor Street to participate in exciting projects that will bring together so many volunteers, including the students at Bloor CI . The diverse community we live and work in will benefit, we will all benefit, from the efforts we put together as a community that cares for the people of Bloor Street while helping improve an even more vibrant Davenport." |
"Bloor Street | Lansdowne area’s drug, prostitution, failed and struggling businesses continues to be a community wide concern. DIG IN has set an agenda to help with cultural projects and we look forward to being an active participate in BIG. DIG IN has hosted 3 festivals in local parks in efforts to help build a community that is Civil, Safe, Green and Clean. We are excited to link our festival efforts into a bigger festival on Bloor as part of the BIG coalition. We believe the BIG coalition offers new possibilities for making great things possible here.” "The Dufferin Grove Residents Association (DGRA) is hugely impressed by the energy and excitement BIG is generating. Our members told us they want to see Bloor St. improved and our participation in BIG is one giant step towards that goal. And we are particularly pleased to see Councillor Giambrone and Deputy Mayor Pantalone working with residents and businesses to make BIG's 2008 Bloor St. Festival a reality" "The BIG idea for an inclusive festival is an important initiative and we look forward to discussing it further." “Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre is excited to be a part of BIG. The diverse community we live and work in will only benefit by the vision that so many talented, committed and caring community members have to offer. Collaborating to revitalize our community will result in creative new ways to bring our strengths together to build an even more vibrant community.” “BIG provides an opportunity for our wonderful students at Bloor CI to participate in meaningful volunteer projects that will be good experience for the students while helping improve our neighbourhood on Bloor Street.” "BIG sounds like a good thing to introduce people to one another. I think the idea of linking people up a bit closer is great — I'm grateful BIG is doing it. People have to grab hold of their circumstances. What's to lose?" "Kent is pleased to support the development of the BIG coalition and we look forward to having our studends contribute to events that engage our students and improve the area." "Civic engagement, community and economic development, neighbourhood enhancement, unity in action: these are all BIG ideas. Great things already happen along. Bloor Street; let's work together to let the world know about them. Congratulations to each and every volunteer for the time and energy that you are devoting to this vital initiative." |
