Sari vs. Dim Sum – Business Improvement Areas and the Branding of Toronto's Ethnic Neighbourhoods

Abstract

Under the umbrella of Toronto's city motto, ‘Diversity our Strength’, ethnically labelled Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) have become the object of branding strategies. While these branding processes generate tourist places and multicultural neighbourhoods for the creative and cosmopolitan, they challenge social cohesion. Branding often leads to urban revitalisation and thus causes the displacement of diverse communities and migrant enterprises through rising rents. Furthermore, ethnic place‐making and branding activity can create local conflicts around identity and urban images in which migrant agency plays a central role. This paper compares two ethnically‐branded BIAs in a political‐economy perspective to show that marketability between ethnic groups varies. It provides systematic analysis of urban policies towards the branding of migrant entrepreneurial neighbourhoods in Toronto. It further shows how heterogeneous power structures influence ethnic entrepreneurial neighbourhoods.

Business Improvement Areas and the Role of the Visitor Economy in the Survival, Recovery, and Progression of Main Streets in the Context of COVID-19

“…Additionally, there is even less of an understanding of the parallels between the goals of BIAs and the visitor economy, and how visitors may present opportunities for BIAs to reach these goals. Current literature acknowledges a connection between BIAs and tourism (Ha & Grunwell, 2014;Hackworth & Rekers, 2005;Houstoun & Levy, 2003;Ratcliffe & Flanagan, 2004;Schmiz, 2019), however there is very limited understanding about what this relationship entails and the economic and social implications. Furthermore, these gaps in the literature are widened as a result of COVID-19.…”

“…The literature on BIAs acknowledges a connection between BIAs and tourism (Ha & Grunwell, 2014;Hackworth & Rekers, 2005;Houstoun & Levy, 2003;Ratcliffe & Flanagan, 2004;Schmiz, 2019), however there is very little understanding about what this relationship entails and the economic and social implications. There is extremely limited research that has specifically or exclusively explored the topic of main streets, BIAs, and tourism.…”

“…goals. Current literature acknowledges a connection between BIAs and tourism(Ha & Grunwell, 2014;Hackworth & Rekers, 2005;Houstoun & Levy, 2003;Ratcliffe & Flanagan, 2004;Schmiz, 2019), however there is very limited understanding about what this relationship entails and the economic and social implications. Furthermore, these gaps in the literature are widened as a result of COVID-19.…”