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Mission Statement

“To create, promote and enhance a vital downtown business core in Fort Langley without compromising the historical character and atmosphere of the village.”

What is a BIA?

A Business Improvement Association is a self-help mechanism designed to assist local business people and property owners in upgrading and promoting their business and shopping district to further trade and commerce in their area.

The BIA provides a forum for business member participation through the Board of Directors and its members.  It also allows for a planned program to be developed with an annual budget contributed to by all its members.  The cumulative effect of BIA activities will attract and maintain customers, clients and shoppers to the commercial area as well as attracting new business to the market.

In 1996, the business people of Fort Langley voted to create a BIA area, which allowed the Township of Langley to establish a By-Law that automatically includes commercial properties and in turn the businesses within the designated area as BIA members.  Unlike other business associations, commercial property and business owners do not have to “join” the BIA.

Any commercial property owner, as well as any licensed business within an established boundary are BIA members. All have voting rights and privileges.

Associate Members

It is recognized that business outside the immediate BIA area are an integral part of the appeal of Fort Langley as a whole. It is these businesses that have, with the Board of Directors approval, the opportunity to join the Fort Langley BIA as an Associate Member and pay an annual members fee.

Associate Members have limited voting rights but can take part in the benefits of the BIA.

BIA Funding

A BIA’s main source of funding is a self-imposed annual levy on commercial properties. The BIA membership votes on a total levy amount for a five-year term.  Each commercial property owner’s share of the annual BIA budget will be proportionate to his/her share of the total taxable assessed value with the BIA’s boundaries.

In other words, if an owner owns 1% of the total taxable assessed value, the share will be 1% of the budget.

The Township of Langley collects the BIA levy annually which is listed on the commercial property owners taxes, and in turn gives the full amount to the BIA to use as directed by its members.

What is the Role of Members Businesses in the BIA?

Your participation in the BIA can be as little or as much as your time allows.

Attending General Meetings, and reading updates will keep you informed of the issues that directly affect your business and the future direction of the business community.

Your ideas and input is very valuable. The BIA is “self-run”, using the skills, participation and ideas of the membership to jointly create a successful, vibrant downtown business core.

Current Board of Directors & Staff

President - Stan Duckworth, Fort Camping

Vice-President - Larry Willoughby, The Fort Pub

Secretary/Treasurer - Jim Dyck, Frontier Building Supply Ltd.

Directors:

John Aldag, Fort Langley National Historic Site

Ted Bowman, The Fort Wine Co

Deana Grinnell, Parklane Homes

Lisa Smith, The Langley Times

Malcolm Weatherston, Mountain View Wildlife Conservation Centre

Executive Director - Shirley Stewart