HI, IT’S JO:
Launching January 2026 — A year-long celebration of the people behind our businesses
Across The Queensway, every storefront has a story worth sharing: early mornings, late-night problem-solving, family legacies, and the “just trying to make it work” entrepreneurs who give our neighbourhood its heartbeat.
This January, we’re proud to launch Let’s Talk Shop: The Queensway, a year-long docu-series created by Shop The Queensway BIA to spotlight the makers, bakers, builders, risk-takers, and community-shapers who make this corridor feel like home.
As construction continues along the street and our long, linear geography makes traditional festivals challenging to host, we asked ourselves an important question:
How do we bring our businesses into people’s homes when we can’t always bring people to them?
This series is our answer. It’s a storytelling project built to strengthen community pride, deepen local connections, and remind our neighbourhood why shopping local truly matters.
Why a Docu-Series? Why Now?
The Queensway isn’t built like most BIAs. We don’t have a single public square, a wide-open festival ready area, or a natural gathering hub. And with ongoing construction from Park Lawn to Kipling, hosting large events has been tougher than usual.
But that hasn’t slowed us down. We’re planning future in-person programming and, in the meantime, launching something new: a digital storytelling series that turns our business corridor into a studio, one episode at a time.
Let’s Talk Shop allows us to:
• Humanize our entrepreneurs
• Show the soul behind each storefront
• Highlight real stories rather than advertisements
• Strengthen neighbourhood identity and shop-local loyalty
• Build consistent visibility for businesses all year long
It’s community-building through storytelling, and a chance for residents to rediscover The Queensway in a fresh, fun, and approachable way.
How the Series Works
Every two weeks, we’ll release a 3–5 minute episode featuring a different member business. Each story blends genuine, documentary-style interviews with a bit of humour and local charm, shining a spotlight on the makers, mentors, and entrepreneurs who shape The Queensway every day.
Each episode ends with a simple invitation: drop by, say hello, learn something new, and support the people who keep our neighbourhood thriving.
Where It All Started: Cheers to Local Businesses
The spark for this project began at our Cheers to Local Businesses event in partnership with Great Lakes Brewery. It was a night designed to celebrate our entrepreneurs and share what’s next for the BIA.
During our Sip & Spotlight segment, we invited members to sign up for Let’s Talk Shop, and the response was immediate. Our community wants connection, visibility, and stories that reflect the heart of this neighbourhood.
From that moment, it became clear that this isn’t just a video project. It’s the beginning of a new chapter in how we strengthen our business community.
The Big Finale: A 60-minute Documentary & Film Gala
After a full year and 24 episodes, we’ll be bringing everyone together for something we’ve never done before. We’re planning a film-style celebration of our local businesses featuring a 60-minute documentary that captures the journey of The Queensway in 2026.
Think of it as our own signature BIA event, open to business owners, their teams, our board, local partners, and neighbours who want to reconnect with the people behind their favourite storefronts.
It’s a celebration of story, community, and shared pride, and the perfect way to wrap up a year of shining a spotlight on the businesses that make The Queensway unique.
See You in January
We can’t wait to introduce you to the people, the passion, and the behind-the-scenes moments that make this neighbourhood unforgettable.
Let’s Talk Shop: The Queensway launches in January 2026. Follow along, tune in, and share the stories. And most of all, rediscover our main street in a whole new way.