Business Improvement Area

Wiarton BIA Election Notice - December 2025

Two Wiarton BIA Board Members Required

December 8, 2025

Business Improvement Area (BIA) Definition

A BIA is established by the Municipal Act and by Council by-law.  The BIA area is a specific geographic area in the downtown of Wiarton.  The map on the back of this notice shows the BIA area outlined in yellow.  The BIA area is governed by a volunteer Board of Management consisting of seven (7) members who suggest the improvement, beautification and maintenance of municipally owned land, buildings and structures in the BIA area beyond that provided at the expense of the municipality generally.  The Board of Management must also promote the BIA area as a business or shopping area.  BIAs are funded by owners of property in the BIA area with commercial or industrial assessment who pay an annual levy.  The annual levy is calculated individually for each property owner and is based upon their commercial or industrial assessment and the Board of Management budget for the year.

Responsibility of Property Owners

If you are a property owner with commercial or industrial assessment and you have business tenants, the Municipal Act states that it is your responsibility to pass information along to your tenants.  Please be sure that your tenants receive this notice. 

Recruitment for Two Board Members

Two members of the Board have resigned.  Town Council is seeking two dynamic individuals to serve on the Wiarton BIA Board of Management to fill the vacancies.  In order to qualify to be a Board member, you:

• Must be located in the BIA designated area,
• Must have business assessment (commercial or industrial) in the BIA designated area,
• May be a nominee of a corporation with business assessment in the BIA designated area,
• May be a business tenant of a property owner with business assessment in the BIA designated area (the business tenant must occupy that portion of the property which carries the business assessment,)
• Must be chosen by a vote of the membership of the BIA designated area,
• Must be appointed by Council by by-law.

Letters of Intent Required to Serve on the Board of Management (Two Vacancies)

Interested, qualified individuals are invited to submit signed letters of intent to the undersigned no later than Friday December 19, 2025 at 10:00 am.  Your letter of intent should include your name, contact information, qualifying address within the BIA designated area and must be signed by you (electronic/typewritten signatures will not be accepted).  If you are being nominated by a corporation, please provide the corporation, name and written authorization from the corporation owner.  All letters of intent should include a brief biography and explanation of why you believe that you should be chosen to serve on the Board of Management.  The letters of intent will be public documents – please do not include any information in your letter of intent that you would not consider to be public. 

Election of Members to the Board of Management

The names of those qualified and interested in serving on the BIA Board of Management, as per letters of intent received, will be included on a ballot and form part of a formal election by the membership.  An election will be conducted from the Office of the Town Clerk (Town Hall, 315 George Street Wiarton) on December 22, 2025 between the hours of 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.  Qualified members of the BIA area will be asked to provide identification prior to being given a ballot for voting.  The results of the election will be submitted to Council for consideration of making appointments to the BIA Board of Management.  Election updates, including election cancellation, will be communicated on the Town website on the BIA page.     

Angie Cathrae, Director of Legislative Services/Clerk

Town of South Bruce Peninsula, PO Box 310, 315 George Street, Wiarton ON N0H 2T0

519-534-1400 ext 122 or Toll Free 1-877-534-1400

Letters of interest to be elected to serve on the Wiarton BIA Board of Management are below, in the order that they were received.

Ann Marie Hadcock, Sand Witches Food Truck 583 Berford Street

BIA Approved Strategic Plan

The Wiarton BIA Board of Management has worked very hard to make a strategic plan that is achievable, modern and serves the BIA in an effective and responsible manner.  The text of the Plan was approved at the Board of Management meeting on November 5, 2025.  The document is being finalized and will be posted once it is in its most polished format.  Below are the highlights of the Plan.

mission statement  

 “The Wiarton Business Improvement Area nurtures and enhances the vibrant, inclusive downtown ensuring it remains a premier four-season community and tourist destination.”

vision statement

“Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Bruce Peninsula and Georgian Bay, downtown Wiarton is a place where businesses flourish, residents thrive and visitors are inspired by the unique blend of cultural offerings and community.”

strategic pillars and key initiatives 

1.        Customer Attraction

a)         Targeted Marketing by promoting key sectors of the BIA

b)         General Marketing of Natural Assets and Recreational Opportunities

c)         Utilizing Data to support marketing in targeted locations

d)         Wayfinding for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians

2.         Fostering Small-Town Appeal

a)         Collaboration with community to encourage and promote annual cultural events in the public spaces of the downtown that inspire locals and visitors to shop

3.         Beautification

a)         Flowers, trees, hanging baskets

b)         Banners and other lamp post decorations

c)         Collaboration with local artists and history lovers to support the enhancement of the downtown

d)         Maintenance above and beyond what is offered by the municipality

4.         Organizational Growth and Membership Engagement

a)         Increased communication through a regular newsletter

b)         Encourage membership to be engaged in budget process and board vacancies

c)         Collaborative economic development efforts (ie. Spruce the Bruce, RT07, OBIA Employment Education, Data sharing etc.)

d)         Ensure membership includes the increased business growth of the downtown

e)          Improving our BIA brand image

f)           Employee training/skills upgrading (for example-customer service, engaging with disabilities, etc.)

g)           Investigating shared services (examples - window washing, bathroom cleaning, recycling/garbage)

5.         Advocacy to Government

a)         Reduction in pollution relating to traffic (ie. vehicle noise/fumes)

b)         BIA boundary expansion

c)         Increased parking options

d)         Increased accessibility

e)         Access to public bathrooms 

f)         Available Wi-Fi and cellphone reception/data

g)         Supporting diverse transportation options

2018 Audited Financial Statement 

2019 Audited Financial Statement

2020 Audited Financial Statement

2021 Audited Financial Statement

2022 Audited Financial Statement

2023 Audited Financial Statement

David Nusko (Chair)

Melanie Hepburn

Deputy Mayor Caleb Hull (Deputy Chair)

Adam Lesperance

Cory Dobbin

2 vacant seats

The Director of Financial Services/Treasurer has prepared the 2026 budget using a new format.  To view the budget book, use the link.  OpenBook

The 2026 approved budget is in the chart below.  Council adopted the budget on December 2, 2025. 

The Board of Management meets on the second Monday of January, February, April, May, September, October and November at 6:00 pm in the South Bruce Peninsula Council Chambers (315 George Street Wiarton).  Meetings may be cancelled or special meetings scheduled, subject to procedure and quorum requirements. 

Delegations can be scheduled by contacting the Town Clerk.  519-534-1400 ext 122.

Agendas are posted on the Town Community Calendar. If no meeting is scheduled, no agenda or notice will be posted. 

Minutes of the meetings are available for viewing.  Minutes are posted in "draft" until the Board of Management formally adopts them by resolution. 

BIA Boundary Map