There is a vacancy on the Downtown Improvement Area (DIA) Board.  If you are interested and own a commercial property or are a commercial tenant in the area,  visit the DIA website to submit an online application or come to City Hall to pick one up. Applications are due by the end of the year.

The DIA Board has also developed a system of Downtown Block Captains to welcome new businesses or operators of businesses; notify businesses of upcoming events, initiatives or important OSDIA Board agenda items and and obtain feedback from the membership and provide it to the OSDIA Board members.

The Captains will also ensure that businesses know who the point of contact is with the City for various communications, resources or concerns and act as a liaison between City staff, the OSDIA Board and the DIA membership; and facilitate meetings and cooperation among businesses.

The map belows shows the current designated Block Captains, and the area still undesignated.

Commercial property owners in the Downtown Improvement Area pay a mandatory extra levy along with their property taxes to provide for beautification, maintenance, events and parking.  The boundaries of the DIA are:

• South side of 11th Street East (to the north)
• North side of 7th Street East (to the south)
• West side of 4th Avenue East (to the east)
• Sydenham River (to the west)