2026 DIA Board Election

You're Invited to Help Shape Your Downtown.

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

Nomination Period

The 2026-2030 DIA Board of Management nomination period will be open from August 1 through to August 31, 2026.

If you would like to let your name stand in the upcoming DIA Board Election, please complete this form.

Election Process

DIA members first express their desire to be on the Board by either registering themselves as a nominee or accepting a nomination of them made by someone else of is already a member of the DIA; that candidate can either accept or decline the nomination.

The nomination form can be found here: Nomination Form

Nominees must also submit a biography, headshot and additional information that will be posted to the Election Page of downtownnorthbay.ca. 

If more candidates are nominated than there are positions on the DIA Board, the nominees will be presented to the DIA 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.

Election voting period opens Monday, October 19, 2026 at 9:00am and closes Monday, October 26, 2026 at 6:00pm.

 

WHAT DOES A DIA BOARD MEMBER DO?

The BIA is a governance board which oversees the DIA through providing leadership on the strategic direction, policies, annual budget, financial accountability 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 DIA. It is with our leadership and support the Executive Director delivers on the mandate of the DIA to oversee daily operations, the development and maintenance of stakeholder and membership relationships and the delivery

Attend all regularly scheduled Board meetings (10 per year)
Attend select BIA meetings as required (Budget presentation to membership, Annual General Meeting)

 

WHAT DOES A BOARD MEMBER NEED?

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

Each Nominee is required to 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 nine (9) positions available for the 2026-2030 term. Elections for the Board will be held in each year municipal elections are held, the Membership shall elect seven (7) of the nine (9) Board Members. Seven (7) members of the Board are DIA Members, and two (2) members of the Board are council members appointed by the City of North Bay.

From the list of nominees BDA Members will be asked to vote for up to seven (7) candidates. Ideal representation includes individuals from Oak Street, Fraser Street, Ferguson Street, McIntyre Street, Main Street West and Main Street East, Wyld Street, and diversity in the types of businesses found within the DIA. If fewer than 7 candidates are nominated no vote will be required, and the DIA Board will continue to seek out interested parties to fill the available seats.

 

WHAT IS THE TERM DURATION?

The 2026-2030 term duration shall be from January 1, 2026 , 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 the City of North Bay's By-Law 167-85 subsection 2, 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 copy by 4:00pm, August 31 2026.
Once all of the nominations have been received the Board of Management will review them on or before September 11, 2026.

 

HOW DO I VOTE?

The list of nominees will be sent electronically for your review, and link to vote online will be provided. For voting members who are not online, a paper ballot with voting envelope will be mailed out September 29, 2026.

A link to vote online will be mailed to off-site property owners based on the tax list held by the City of North Bay file. If you are a property owner and do not have an office in the Downtown area you may request that we send the online ballot to you, or mail a ballot to an address of your choosing. If your place of business did not receive a link to vote online, or a ballot please contact the DIA office. You must be able to show proof of membership status to receive a ballot (proof of address within the DIA's boundaries, or your name on a business card). Voting will close on October 26, 2026 at 6:00pm.

In order to vote, you must submit your online vote, or return your completed ballot in the provided envelope to the DIA officeno later than 4:00pm on October 26, 2026.

Members may vote for up to seven (7) names on the ballot, but may in their absolute discretion vote for less than seven (7) names. Ballots marked to vote for more than seven (7) names shall be declared to be spoiled.

NOTE: We encourage you to review the biographies of all nominees before making your selection (bios will be delivered electronically and be available on the DIA website 2026 DIA Board Election page). Further, we advise you to keep in mind the benefits of having a well-rounded board that encompasses the key skill sets of Marketing, Finance, Legal, HR, Strategy, Sponsorships, Innovation, Board Governance, Stakeholder Relations, Information Technology, and represents the variety of stakeholders that make up our membership and vote accordingly.

We value diversity and welcome nominees from all businesses, backgrounds, race, religion, creed, gender, orientation, and otherwise.