Blog

The Weekly: Top 5 Updates & Reminders

POSTED ON May 26, 2023 BY Justine Smith

1. Roy Thomson Hall Rental Opportunity

The courtyard offers a unique and versatile outdoor setting with over 6,900 square feet of space, surrounded by the PATH on two sides. Perfect for a range of opportunities to engage residents, tourists, visitors, and the downtown working population. Ideas might include retail pop ups, outdoor entertainment initiatives with food and beverage service, extended patio space for local restaurants, multiple vendor events, such as local markets or festivals, art installations or other interactive engagements, product displays and activations and more. For more information, please review the attached RFP.

If you are interested in this opportunity or have any questions, please contact Jennifer Shah at jennifer.shah@mh-rth.com.

2. Funding Available for Restaurant Owners- Upgrade your Patio

The City of Toronto’s CaféTO Property Improvement Program provides restaurant, bar, and café owners with a matching grant of up to $7,500 covering 50 per cent of the cost of eligible improvements to patios in the curb lane, on sidewalks and on private property.

Funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for South Ontario, this program is part of the Toronto Main Street Recovery and Rebuild Initiative. Applications are now open and will be accepted until Friday, June 30, or when funds are expended. Several financial supports are available to businesses and BIAs participating in CaféTO this year. In 2023, the City also continues to provide a 15 per cent reduction in the municipal property tax rate for eligible small business properties.

• Information about other grants and small business supports is available at www.toronto.ca/business-incentives. (https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/business-operation-growth/business-incentives/)
• Information about patios on private property is available on the City’s website.
• More details about CaféTO, including guidebooks, are available at www.toronto.ca/CafeTO.
• Priority will be given to applicants with temporary curb lane platforms. Learn more and apply.

3. Toronto Employment Survey

Throughout the summer, surveyors visit each and every business establishment in the City of Toronto.The surveyors collect information about:

  • the number of employees
  • type of work
  • full- and part-time employees

The information collected is treated as strictly confidential. The data is only released to the public in aggregate form. This allows employment patterns to be studied without revealing specific information on individual businesses.

Watch out for a surveyor at your business this summer and count your business in.

Toronto Employment Survey -more details

Take the Survey

4. Opportunity for 2SLGBTQI+ Youth Entrepreneurs for Business Mentorship

The Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) is accepting applications for their OUT for Business Youth Entrepreneur program. Entrepreneurs ages 18 to 39 with a registered business in Canada that identify as 2SLGBTQI+ are encouraged to apply for a chance to network with current business leaders who provide both team and one-on-one mentorship opportunities. Apply before May 26. 

Learn more and apply.

5. Destination Toronto Panel Discussion

Are you working to become more sustainable?
If so, join Destination Toronto’s EDGE event next week on “Telling Your Sustainability Story”.
This panel discussion will provide marketing tips to highlight your business’s sustainability efforts, in a way that captures the right audience.

Attendance is free and breakfast will be provided.
Learn more and to Register.

Dana Duncanson | Director of Marketing & Communications
dduncanson@yourexperienceawaits.ca