Collingwood Downtown BIA Recognized at Awards Gala

May 28, 2025

Collingwood’s charming downtown is one of the many jewels of Simcoe-Grey, and a huge draw for visitors from around the province.

Recently, the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) held their 2025 BIA Awards Gala in Simcoe-Grey, and they celebrated the remarkable achievements of Ontario’s Business Improvement Areas (BIAs).

The theme “Illuminating Success: Your Night to Shine”, recognized BIAs as the guiding lights of their communities, highlighting their dedication and transformative initiatives.

I was proud to see the Collingwood Downtown BIA receive an Award of Excellence in the category of Streetscaping & Public Realm Improvements. This honour acknowledged the outstanding and innovative Gateway Art Project called “Saga”.

Saga features two matching, 30-foot lighthouse sculptures etched with images of ships built in Collingwood. The town’s ship manufacturing history is also well documented along Collingwood’s stunning waterfront.

The artwork was inspired by the Nottawasaga River and lighthouse by the same name. In the Algonquin language, the word “saga” means “mouth of the river”.

Led by General Manager Sue Nicholson, the staff, volunteers and Board of the BIA are committed to ensuring businesses in Downtown Collingwood reach their fullest potential and thrive in today’s challenging economy.

98% of businesses in Ontario are small and employ nearly 2.5 million people across the province. Small businesses are truly the backbone of our economy.

The Ontario government is continuing to work tirelessly to ensure small businesses have the resources they need to be successful.

That is why we recently announced we are providing approximately $11 billion in relief and support for workers and businesses as we protect the province’s economy from economic uncertainty and the impact of U.S. tariffs.

We will always be staunch supporters of Ontario’s job creators.

I extend my congratulation to the Downtown Collingwood BIA. The work that you do helps to create the conditions for businesses to succeed and jobs to grow.

* Special thanks to Dave West Photography