2026 Annual General Meeting Awards

Submission Criteria

• Business Excellence Award

  Criteria for the Business Excellence Award can include:

  • Available to both storefront and offices
  • Minimum of 2 years of operation in the downtown
  • Eligible businesses include (but are not limited to) independent businesses, franchise businesses, corporate businesses, and property owners.
  • Excellence in customer service: overall reputation and high customer reviews (from Google/Yelp/Trip Advisor reviews)
  • Creates a positive company culture with high employee satisfaction and engagement while exhibiting genuine care for their staff
  • Reinforces positivity and helps promote downtown to other businesses as an ideal place and location to set up and do business
  • Leads and/or partners with other businesses and organizations to deliver downtown events and activations
  • Leads and/or participates in partnerships/cross promotions with other downtown businesses
  • Is well respected by their peers, and mentors and supports other downtown businesses to help them succeed
  • Has made significant investments in downtown by expanding their business, and/or purchasing and upgrading their property, and/or enhancing their building and storefront (eg. facade improvements, building improvements/renovations, etc.)
  • Participates in DTL programs and promotions (accepts DTL gift cards, participates in DTL contests, shares DTL social media posts, etc.)
  • Contributes in other innovative ways to create a positive experience and impact for downtown
  • Current LDBA or MSL board members and staff are not eligible to be nominated
  • Applicants should provide 1 - 2 examples of how they meet each criteria
• Gerald Gallacher “Heart of Downtown Award”

  

  The Heart of Downtown award is named in memory of Gerald Gallacher, in recognition of his dedication and commitment to the Downtown London BIA, its members and to the downtown as a whole. Gerald was LDBA’s chair from 2015 to 2019. He was a devoted Downtown London volunteer and a fierce advocate for positive change for the downtown. Like Gerald, recipients of either award will be organizations or individuals who have demonstrated a strong desire to improve our downtown community as a place to do business, live, learn and play. Award recipients will also share Gerald’s ability to recognize and act upon their own strengths and capabilities to creatively improve London’s downtown and work collaboratively to make things better. They also share a commitment to promote downtown positivity, confidence, vitality, love and pride, just as Gerald did.

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  Criteria for the Heart of Downtown Award can include:

  • Available to organizations or individuals with a storefront, office, or property located in the Downtown London BIA, event organizer and/or downtown promoter
  • Minimum of 2 years interacting within the downtown
  • Recognized by their peers as a strong downtown ambassador and advocate
  • Exhibits a strong sense of "Downtown Pride" and helps influence others to do the same
  • Contributes to place making/public realm investments to help improve their store and downtown (adding murals, etc.)
  • Volunteers their time to carry out downtown initiatives and projects
  • Embodies a positive and forward-looking spirit and resolve to make London’s downtown (beautification, activations, events, etc.)
  • Reinforces positivity and engages others in creating vibrancy and excitement downtown
  • Acknowledged by peers as a strong community promoter and publicly shares positive messages and stories about downtown London through social media, at events, in the media, etc.
  • Helps to create an atmosphere that promotes the appeal of living, working, and playing in downtown London.
  • Strong commitment to community building and partnerships in downtown, making a real difference and helping to set a positive example for others to follow
  • Contributes in other innovative ways to create a positive experience and impact for downtown
  • Current LDBA or MSL board members and staff are not eligible to be nominated
  • Applicants should provide 1 - 2 examples of how they meet each criteria