Who We Are

Jeyas Balaskanthan joined the Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area (BIA) as the Executive Director in August 2023.   Prior to joining the BIA, Jeyas worked as the General Manager for the University of Waterloo Graduate Student Association.   He also worked with Wilfrid Laurier University Students Union as the director of hospitality for ten years.  Jeyas started his professional career as a Residence Manager at Laurier worked there for three years then worked at University of Waterloo as a Residence Manager for three years as well.   Jeyas has sat on various boards in the community, including the Lake Shore Optimist Club of Waterloo, the Waterloo Economic Development Committee and the Cultural and Neighbourhood Grant Committee.   Having lived in Uptown Waterloo for over twenty years Jeyas is passionate and invested in the success of the Uptown Businesses.

Prior to joining the Uptown Waterloo BIA in 2021, Jane founded IM@Events, managing social media for numerous large events and festivals as well as working with businesses across many sectors to improve their digital literacy and efforts. Jane was also previously a professor of Social Media Marketing at Conestoga College, and is a speaker, and writer with a background in English Literature. Her love for writing is what brought her into the digital environment over a decade ago where she has constantly strived to develop social media intelligence, standards and ethics. Jane is an active community member who has worked with several organizations over the years both as a volunteer and Board member. Jane originally built her personal brand around supporting local and is thrilled to bring her passion for this into her role with the Uptown BIA.

Having grown up in Waterloo Region, Christy considers the Grand River her home. Starting her career in newspaper, she worked for publications such as the Hamilton Spectator, Guelph Mercury, Echo Weekly and The Stratford Gazette. During her time on the West Coast, Christy began working in theatre, where she supported the arts through marketing, development, and patron services. This experience fueled her passion for community engagement and public service. For the past ten years, Christy’s primary role, funded by Employment Ontario, was to support job seekers, employers and community partners through the Conestoga Community Career Centre. She has also been an active volunteer with various community groups, and nonprofit organizations and is notably a Past President & Honourary Member of the Rotary Club of Festival City. After transferring to Waterloo in 2023, Christy recently left Conestoga but continues to serve the Region of Waterloo as a Community Connector for the Charles Street Re-Visioning Project. Eager to focus her energy on building community in the neighborhood where she lives, Christy is excited to contribute to the development of Uptown Waterloo.