Placemaking Across Borders: A Conversation with Rachel Braithwaite (OBIAA)
In this international edition of the Vicinity Podcast, we’re joined by Rachel Braithwaite, Executive Director of the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA), to explore how placemaking, governance, and business engagement differ—and align—across the UK and Canada.
🌎 What we cover:
• Rachel’s journey into the world of BIAs and her future role at OBIAA
• The key differences between UK BIDs and Ontario BIAs
• How levies are structured and collected in Canada
• Accountability, stakeholder trust, and transparency in BIA operations
• Cultural and regional dynamics, including Indigenous engagement
• The future of BIAs: innovation, equity, and digital transformation
💡 Whether you're part of a BID in the UK or a BIA in Canada, this episode is packed with insight into what makes placemaking work—and why local context matters.
🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on governance, place management, and local economic leadership.

#Placemaking #BIDs #BIAs #VicinityPodcast #LocalLeadership #OBIAA