A big thank you to everyone that came to the annual Bloordale Pumpkin Giveaway held in Susan Tibaldi Parkette. This event has been hosted for approximately 7 years and is a community favourite. 

Pumpkins are purchased locally through Family Fruit and Flower (1182 Bloor St W), marshmello treats were from Bakerbots and live music was performed by local artists Taylor Maslin and Nathan Beja. 

Stay tuned for the Bloordale Pumpkin Giveaway in October 2024! 

Painted by Philip Cote
(MFA, Young Spiritual Elder
Artist, Activist, Ancestral Knowledge Keeper, and Historian)

Summer 2021
Funded and Supported by: City of Toronto Outdoor Mural Grant and the Bloordale BIA

"The ancestors called this time we are in “The Eighth Fire”, a time of our return back to the original knowledge of our ancestors. It’s said the bear would leave a trail for us to follow and that would help us remember our identity and purpose. 
This will be a time of mingling of the western ways and the Indigenous ways and from this the new people will be born and they will change the world of man and mother earth will become balanced and in harmony again.
The Eighth Fire is a time to look to those original sources of knowledge. Where do we start? We start with the original family, the animal kingdom that is the source of much of our wisdom. What the Indigenous People call this knowledge is Land-based Pedagogy. Meaning that the wisdom of the land and animals from thousands of years of observation has accumulated from these experts, the animals. Original families wisdom was put into our ceremonies to help us stay close to nature where balance and harmony prevail to this day.
The Moose represents the wisdom of the forest and also the gentle teacher, a place where our young ones can learn. 
Turtle represents Turtle Island and Truth. 
Beaver represents Wisdom and the Earth.
Wolf represents Humility and Humanity. 
Raven represents Honesty and the Sky.
Bear represents Bravery and the power of the North.
Eagle represents Love and the power of the South.
Buffalo represents Respect and the power in the West."

The Bloordale BIA and community are honoured to be given this incredible opportunity to work with Philip Cote. 

About the Bloordale BIA

The Bloordale BIA is a community-oriented not-for-profit association of local business people and property owners who work in partnership with the City of Toronto to enhance the Bloordale business district, located along Bloor Street West from Dufferin St to just west of Lansdowne Ave to the first railway track. 

The BIA’s mandate is to improve, beautify and promote Bloordale as a business and shopping district through marketing, public programming and streetscape improvements.

The Project: Bloordale Magazine

The Bloordale BIA will be creating and publishing our inaugural community magazine. It is meant to highlight our member businesses, celebrate art and stories from the neighbourhood. 

What We’re Looking For

-Photographers to take photos of specific places, spaces, people or items in Bloordale for the purpose of the magazine 
-Able to provide high-resolution photos, suitable for print publication 
-Once photos have been selected, there would be royalty-free, unlimited usage of the photos for our website, social media and Bloordale Magazine/Publication or other non-profit events 

Other Details: 

-We aim to have the publication printed, finalized and distributed in early to mid-June 
-There will not be any paid advertisements from third party entities 
-The Bloordale BIA is committed to ensuring an inclusive hiring process

To Apply
​
-Please submit 4-6 samples of your past work that will be used as part of the evaluation for your application for this role
-Explain in 100-150 words your connection to Bloordale or surrounding area
-Provide your desired hourly rate or rate per photo once selected by the BIA  
-Please send any specific questions to bloordaleantiracismcommittee@gmail.com

We are accepting applications for consideration until March 31st, 2021 at 5pm
(Note that this is not limited exclusively to one photographer for the project. We would like to be able to offer multiple folks an opportunity). 

About the Bloordale BIA

The Bloordale BIA is a community-oriented not-for-profit association of local business people and property owners who work in partnership with the City of Toronto to enhance the Bloordale business district, located along Bloor Street West from Dufferin St to just west of Lansdowne Ave to the first rail way track. 

The BIA’s mandate is to improve, beautify and promote Bloordale as a business and shopping district through marketing, public programming and streetscape improvements.

The Project: Bloordale Magazine


The Bloordale BIA will be creating and publishing our inaugural community magazine. It is meant to highlight our member businesses, celebrate art and stories from the neighbourhood. It will be made available in hardcopy/print form and digitally. Refer to the following for a comparable scope of work: https://issuu.com/queenstreetwestbia/docs/long_live_queen_west_magazine

Job Description

The ideal candidate will oversee the print production, pre-press organization, and is up to date with current media and marketing trends (colours, fonts, styles, etc.)

Fundamentals for the role would include strong interpersonal skills, positive “can-do” attitude, excellent time management.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience in graphic design working on print and/or magazine publications
• Strong knowledge of relevant software programs such as Adobe Creative Suite, In Design
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Willingness to be flexible, adaptable, open to working with new ideas, open to criticism 
• Extreme attention to detail, great time management skills, able to meet deadlines

Other Details

• We aim to have the publication printed, finalized and distributed in early to mid-June 
• There will not be any paid advertisements from third party entities 
• The Bloordale BIA is committed to ensuring an inclusive hiring process
• Publication must also be made available digitally on a platform such as issuu.com

To Apply

• Please submit 4-6 samples of your past relevant/related work that will be used as part of the evaluation for your application for this role
• Explain in 100-150 words of your connection to Bloordale or surrounding area
• Why do you think you are a good fit for this role? Explain in 100 words (or less). 
• Provide 3 work related references 
• Provide your desired hourly rate (please note that we have fixed budget for this project)

We are accepting applications until Wednesday, March 17th at 4pm.

Please direct any questions to: bloordaleantiracismcommittee@gmail.com​

Bloordale Pumpkins is back!
In celebration of Fall and Halloween, we created this community initiative in the fall of 2018. It is back for it's 3rd year! 

How does it work?
Participating Bloordale businesses will be given a pumpkin to decorate, carve, dress up, paint or get creative with.  Members of the community will then need to visit the pumpkins online (by following the hashtag #BloordalePumpkins) or visiting them safely in store.

Then, members of the community will vote for their favourite pumpkins!

When does it take place? 
Pumpkins should be ready and on display in stores or windows by October 25th for voting to take place from October 26th to November 1st @ 11:59pm.

Where does voting take place? 
Vote online here OR by commenting under a picture on social media noting your favourite business pumpking followed by the hashtag #BloordalePumpkins:

i.e. TOWN #BloordalePumpkins

Voting closes on November 1st at 11:59pm. 

What are the prizes? 
The winning Business Pumpkins will win cash awards as follows: 

• 1st Place - $100
• 2nd Place - $75
• 3rd Place - $50

***Prize money is intended for the winning business to spend it on their staff/team such as buying treats or a round of coffees or beverages in celebration. 

Community Voter Prizes
There are also 4 (four) cash prizes of $25 that will be drawn at random by all qualifying email addresses that voted for their favourite pumpkins. 
*individual staff members of businesses are eligible to vote. 

When will the prizes be announced?
All prizes will be announced or winners contacted no later than November 10th, 2020. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at bloordaleinfo@gmail.com

Entries from left to right: 
The Bee Shop, Town Cards, Queen's Shop

Who Are We?


The Bloordale BIA is a Business Improvement Area that represents Bloor Street West from Dufferin  to just west of Lansdowne. We have been around since 1976 and are considered one of the oldest BIAs in the City of Toronto. Within our BIA, we are an amazing mix of service, retail, food/restaurant businesses and most of which are small independent owners. The BIA works to improve the local economy, beautify the streets and adjacent public spaces, create some marketing efforts and advocate on issues that directly impact the business community (crime, safety and even taxes!)

What We Need

• To add murals to the standard and dull concrete planters that the BIA maintains that are currently seen throughout the BIA at the following locations:
  
  • NE corner of Bloor St W/Brock
    
  • NW corner of Bloor St W/Brock
    
  • NW corner of Bloor St W/Marguretta 
    
  • SE corner of Bloor St W/St Clarens
    
  • NW corner of Bloor St W/St Clarens
    
  • NW corner of Bloor St W/Emerson
    
    
    
• Design Theme: 
  
  • Zodiac 
    
    • each of the 6 planters will represent 1 star sign each
      
    • Note that there will be 6 star signs NOT represented and will be executed in a separate initiative by the BIA separate from this project
      
  • Astrological
    
    
    

Vendor Details/Specs

• Previous samples of work supplied 
  
• An initial in-person meet and greet will be had with the Streetscape Committee 
  
• Designs will be presented to the Streetscape Committee for initial review 
  
• A minimum of 2 revisions to be included in the contract to ensure the final product meets the needs and satisfaction of the BIA 
  
• Anti-graffiti coating MUST be applied to the planters as a proactive maintenance measure
  
• The artist must also be available to fix any major tagging for a period of 3 years
  
• All finalized designs become the product, property and asset of the Bloordale Village BIA with no further commissions, royalties or financial compensatio paid
  
• The Bloordale Village BIA reserves the right to take photos, and to market the murals as they see fit acknowledging the work by the artist in communication 
  
• A point person will be assigned to the project who will respond within 3 to 4 business days to inquiries or requests during the project
  
• Must be Toronto-based 
  

Timeline for completion of project: July 15th, 2020.


Terms:

• 40% upon signing
  
• 30% upon finalized design as signed off on by the Streetscape Committee
  
• 30% upon completion of the final murals (all 6 to be completed before final payment released)
  

The budget for this project: $9500 (before tax) and is inclusive of all associated costs including materials, equipment, artist fees, anti-graffiti coating etc. 

_____________________________________________________________________

Please submit your proposal, portfolio and a minimum of 2 references  to bloordaleinfo@gmail.com Before April 3rd, 2020 at 5pm. 

Questions may be emailed regarding the project to bloordaleinfo@gmail.com. 

​