Message from the Chair
Dear friends:
I don’t have to tell you that business is down so far this year in
our area. The high Canadian dollar, high gas price and the talk of
recession no doubt are causing the drop of business. Besides the
elements that we have no control of, I believe that we should
prepare ourselves by improving our image, keeping the area clean
and safe.
Our board of directors has worked very hard on your behalf
however, we need everybody to involve in order to make our area
better. If you have any questions or comments please contact
Winnie Li at 416-260-9800 or visit our office.
Best wishes!
Stephen Chan Chair, Chinatown BIA
Bright Pearl Restaurant
The 2008 Chinatown Festival will take place on August
9th and 10th. Mr. Tonny Louie is this year’s festival Chair,
please call our office 416-260-9800 for more information.
Highway Sign: We were told the highway signs will be
installed the coming September and I am sure we are all looking
forward to it!
Boarding Meeting schedule: Our meeting dates are May 14, June 11,
July 9, August 13, September 10, October 8, November 12, December
10. It is generally open to the public and our members are
encouraged to attend. Address: Unit D 2nd Floor, 287 Spadina Ave.,
Toronto, M5T 2E6. Tel: 416-260-9800.
Boarding Meeting schedule: Our meeting dates are May 14,
June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 8, November 12,
December 10. It is generally open to the public and our members
are encouraged to attend. Address: Unit D 2nd Floor, 287 Spadina
Ave., Toronto, M5T 2E6. Tel: 416-260-9800.
Pest Control: We have decided that it is our best
interest to improve both our image and keep the area free of
rodent by signing with a respectable pest control company. ORKIN
PCO Services Corp will start exterior pest control within the
Chinatown BIA boundaries from May 1, 2008 by installing 115
exterior bait stations at the back laneways, along rear of
buildings and garbage storage area. If you wish to suggest a
location, please call Brian Evans at 416-754-7070. In addition,
all new accounts will receive a 20% discount for interior pest
control programs. Please contact Mr. Brian Haggen at 416-453-9698
for more information.
Community Security: We have discussed with police about
crime activities in Chinatown area. Merchants and residents are
encouraged to report more information of criminal activities to
police. Our area is protected by two separate Police Divisions,
for the east side of Spadina, it is the 52nd Division, if you want
to discuss a non-emergency situation, please call Staff Sergeant
Shaun Narine at 416-808-5819 (email shaun.narine@torontopolice.on.ca).
West side of Spadina is protected by 14th Division, please contact
Laurie Jackson at 416-808-1500 (email laurie.jackson@torontopolice.on.ca
For Emergency Call: 911. It is important to report all criminal
activities to the police because the number of officers dispatched
to the area is governed by the number of reports.
Coordinated Street Furniture: The City is installing and
replacing new street furniture such as transit shelter,
waster/litter receptacle, Multi-newspaper Box, public message
kiosk, etc. We have submitted preferred locations for these
furniture to the City to create a better business environment.
Graffiti Removal Program: After much debate it was decided not to
go ahead with the Graffiti Removal Program because it is just too
costly (about $80,000) for our BIA. However, all owners are urged
to clean up the graffiti from the walls. This will go a long way
in ensuring that tourists, visitors, residents and merchants are
presented with a pleasant environment in which to work, shop or
visit.
Garbage collection Pilot Project: Our City Councillor Adam
Vaughan has requested our BIA to test a new way of collecting
garbage. Under the current system, the Yellow bag is picked up
Monday and Thursday and they are proposing to introduce a wheeled
garbage can similar to the blue box to substitute the yellow bag,
this box will come in various sizes and will be picked up once a
week. The City hoped to help save the environment by reducing the
number of bags used, provide a neater streetscape and save cost by
reducing the collection frequency. Eventually, these bins will be
charged, however, the City proposed to provide them free during
the trial period. They plan to start this pilot project from July
2008 and run till the end of the year. The collection of recycle
materials and organics will remain unchanged. We will send out a
separate questionnaire to you regarding this matter. We urge you
to support this program since we can save six months of yellow bag
cost and help the City by imputing our comments.
Summer Street Cleaning: Similar to last summer, the City
will provide an extra shift of street sweeper and special garbage
bins to collect coconut. We also ask all our members to help keep
our street clean by providing garbage bins within their property
and ask their staff to pick up all garbage before it get blow
around. A cleaner Chinatown is good for all of us!
Contact us:
Chinatown BIA
Unit D, 2nd Floor, 287 Spadina Ave, Toronto, M5T 2E6.
Winnie Li. Tel: 416-260-9800
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