Your expertise and passion for the downtown, combined with your desire to work in cooperation and positivity with your fellow members is what shapes Downtown Oakville.  We invite you to apply this expertise as a BIA Board member and help ensure downtown’s success for years to come. 

 

WHAT IS A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA (BIA)?  

 

A BIA allows local businesses and property owners to join together and with the support of the municipality, to organize, finance and carry out physical improvement (in the areas beyond that provided by the municipality) and promote the area as a business district, within established boundaries. The Downtown Oakville BIA boundaries are from the east side of Navy St. to the west side of Allan St. and from Randall St. to the north side of Robinson St.  

 

The Downtown Oakville BIA is led by a volunteer Board of Management comprised of elected members and one member of Town Council.  The Board’s term of office is four years, concurrent with Town Council.  The Board of Management is elected for consideration by the general membership and then officially appointed by Town Council.  

 

ELECTION PROCESS 

 

BIA members first express their desire to be on the Board by either registering themself as a nominee or accepting a nomination of them made by someone else.  To register as a nominee, you must have the support of at least two other BIA members.  To nominate a candidate that candidate must have the support of one other member.  That candidate can either accept or decline the nomination.  The nomination form is found in Appendix A.  The form will also be circulated again electronically the opening day of nominations. 

 

Nominees must also submit a nominee biography, found in Appendix B.  The form will also be circulated again electronically the opening day of nominations. Nomination period opens September 5, 2026 and closes October 5th, 2026. 

 

If more candidates are nominated than there are positions on the BIA Board the nominees will be presented to the BIA Members for voting.  Members may vote for one candidate per available seat. Those candidates with the most votes will be presented to Council for approval and formal appointment to the Board.  If a lesser number of candidates are nominated than the number of open positions on the Board, those candidates will be presented to Council for approval and formal appointment.  The Board will continue to recruit to fill open positions. 

 

WHO CAN BE NOMINATED? 

 

Criteria to be eligible to serve on the Downtown Oakville Board of Management: 

• Member or a shareholder, director, or employee of a Member who has the written consent of the Member to run for, and if elected to serve as, a Board Member; or 

• Citizen that resides in Oakville; 

• At least eighteen (18) years of age; 

• Not be a person who has been found under the Substitute Decisions Act, 1992 or under the Mental Health Act to be incapable of managing property or who has been found incapable by a court in Canada or elsewhere; 

• Not have the status of bankrupt; and 

• Complete and sign Appendix A: Term Nomination Form and Appendix B: Nominee Biography below 

 

WHAT DOES A BIA BOARD MEMBER DO? 

 

• The BIA is a governance board which oversees the BIA through providing leadership on the strategic direction, policies, annual budget, financial accountability, annual business plans with our Executive Director consistent with our mandate: 

• To improve, beautify and maintain public lands and buildings within the BIA, beyond that which is provided by the municipality at large, and 

• To promote the area as a business and shopping area through marketing, events/activations and beautification 

• The Board of Directors acts as a collective decision-making body elected and appointed by the membership. Directors do not have any individual authority to make decisions on behalf of the Downtown BIA. It is with our leadership and support the Executive Director delivers on the mandate of the BIA to oversee daily operations, the development and maintenance of stakeholder and membership relationships and the delivery 

• Attend all regularly scheduled Board meetings (11 per year) 

• Attend select BIA and/or Town of Oakville meetings as required 

 

WHAT DOES A BOARD MEMBER NEED? 

 

First and foremost, each Board member must have a keen interest in the affairs of downtown Oakville as well as a commitment to serve and represent the best interests of all businesses in downtown.  

 

Further, to ensure the BIA members have a Board that is well positioned to represent the key functions of the BIA we are looking for individuals with expertise in the following categories: (see Appendix C): Marketing, Strategy, Finance, Legal, HR, Sponsorship/Partnerships, Innovation, Board Governance, Stakeholder Relations, Information Technology 

 

Each Nominee is required to indicate which category(s) he/she has experience in and provide a brief bio on his/her experience and/or training.  Bio must be maximum 250 words or less, point form accepted.  

 

HOW MANY POSITIONS ARE THERE?  

 

There are eight (8) positions available for the 2027-2030 term.  

 

Elections for the Board will be held in each year municipal elections are held, the Membership shall elect eight (8) of the nine (9) Board Members.   

 

Six (6) members of the Board are BIA Members, two (2) members of the Board can be citizens who reside in Oakville but may not necessarily be BIA Members, and one (1) member is elected by Town Council.  

 

WHAT IS THE TERM DURATION?  

 

The 2027 -2030 term duration shall be from January 1, 2027 to January 31, 2031 such that one month of cross-over exists between incoming and outgoing boards.    

 

A vacancy shall occur where a Board Member resigns from office, is no longer eligible pursuant to subsection 11.0 Vacancies of the Downtown Oakville BIA Constitution, experiences sickness or extenuating circumstances approved by the Board, or is absent from 30% of regularly scheduled board meetings without being authorized to do so by resolution of the Board.   

 

HOW DO I BECOME A NOMINEE?  

 

To register as a nominee, fill out the Nomination Form and have two fellow BIA member support your nomination by signing to nominate you as a candidate for the BIA Board of Management Election and return the form to the BIA office by email (info@oakvilledowntown.com) or in-person (146 Lakeshore Rd. E.) by 5:00pm, October 5th 2026.  

 

HOW DO I NOMINATE SOMEONE?  

 

Simply fill out the form below, including securing a second nominator, and have the nominee sign it.  

 

HOW DO I VOTE?  

 

The list of nominees will be distributed for member review by mid-October. Details and dates for the voting process to follow. 

 

COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS  

 

Council may refuse to appoint a person elected, in which case Council may leave the position vacant or direct that a Special Meeting of the Membership be held. If Council refuses to appoint a person elected and directs that a Special Meeting be held, then the Board will conduct a new election.  

 

REMUNERATION  

 

Board Members shall receive no remuneration, either directly or indirectly, for services rendered as a Board Member, but may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in representing the BIA upon approval of the Board.