Fonds 178 - Lower Lonsdale Business Association fonds

The Lower Lonsdale Business Association (LLBA) began its activities in 1984 operating under both the names Lonsdale Merchants Association and Lonsdale at the Quay Merchants Association. Originally established to further the aims of the Town Centre Re-enhancement Project and to address issues related to parking availability in the Lower Lonsdale area, the LLBA's first formal activity was to organize a street festival to celebrate the completion of the Re-enhancement Project.

In 1990 the association formally changed its name to the Lower Lonsdale Business Association. On Aug. 24th 1990 the LLBA became a recognised association under the Provincial Societies Act with an executive board consisting of five local business owners and operators: Sean Braddick (president), Ron Kurucz (vice-president), Heidi Cant (secretary), Bonnie Olsen (Treasurer) and Sylvia Braddick (community programmer). Community members included local business owners, operators, or employees representing their business employer and individuals from local non-profit societies.

The mission of the LLBA is to serve the economic interests of its membership and to promote the social interests of other communities at large through combined efforts with other community based organizations to achieve a better social and economic environment in Lower Lonsdale.

LLBA activities include involvement in other community programs such as the Community Policing Centre, Gateway Committee, Lower Lonsdale Steering Committee and Committee Action Network; the publication of a newsletter; and participation in other community sponsored events and festivals, such as the Lower Lonsdale Fall Festival, the Clam Chowder Festival and 911 Relay.

Records pertaining to both the Community Policing Centre and Lower Lonsdale Fall Festival illustrate Vivian Kranenburg's (secretary of the LLBA 1993-2005) involvement with these community groups as a representative of the LLBA.