BIA showcases downtown with award gala

It was a night of celebration for the Downtown BIA.

Thursday night marked their second annual awards, hosted at the Senator Hotel.

On top of having 20 different restaurants in the downtown contribute some food, new and current businesses, as well as longstanding contributors to the downtown were honoured.

BIA Executive Director Noella Rinaldo says it was a great night to showcase everyone that’s put effort into their buildings.

Rinaldo was especially thankful for the host Senator Hotel to allow other businesses to bring their own food in, even with the Senator’s recent revamping of their restaurant.

“It was wonderful for people to see the restaurants, and the variety that we have in the downtown area,” she said.

Councillor Michael Doody, who took home the Leadership Award, says the night itself was fabulous.

“There’s nothing more heartwarming to volunteers than saying ‘thank you,'” he said, “You can write out the biggest cheque that you want but just saying ‘thank you’ to the people that make things happen, that’s a great thing.”

He says he has a great deal of respect for the work done by the BIA over the years.

“To do the job that Noella has been able to do, and for us as a Board of Directors to give her full support, we think is one of the reasons that downtown is doing so well,” he said.

Doody mentions how when he arrived in Timmins, downtown was the place to be.

“There was no Timmins Square, there wasn’t the type of building we have on the outskirts of Downtown Timmins,” he said, adding they’ve been adding to the downtown one business at a time.

He adds new people are finding out the BIA is a great environment and a great place to invest.

Last year, this event went from the old Tweed and Hickory building on Third Avenue.

This year, the Senator Hotel. What does 2018 have in store?

Rinaldo says they may even have a brand new focus, with them conducting a strategic plan.

But rest assured, the awards will be back in 2018.