About Us

Toronto Downtown West is the concentrate of arts, culture, hospitality, sports and business to bring a unique and vibrant urban experience (Toronto Entertainment District). Since established in 2008, the Toronto Entertainment District along with the area west from Spadina Ave. to Bathurst St. has experienced a significant transformation. A name change to Toronto Downtown West BIA provides the BIA with a more inclusive representation of the business members.

The Toronto Downtown West BIA’s mandate is to promote, improve and preserve this dynamic area of Toronto. Benefitting from economic, environmental and social factors driving downtown growth, the Downtown West has established itself as a thriving and vibrant district for living, creating, working and entertainment.

What is a BIA?

A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is an association of commercial properties and businesses within a defined area who work in partnership to create a thriving, successful and safe business area that attracts tourists, local visitors and even new businesses. This collective has the organizational and funding capacity to enhance the quality of life in its local neighbourhood and advocates for civic improvement for the benefit of all.

Toronto currently has over 80 BIAs, the largest number of any urban centre in the world.

The Water Wall mural, on the east side of the Lower Simcoe Street underpass, by lead artist Tannis Nielsen and young artists from the local Toronto Indigenous community.

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the land we are on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.