Canada: July 8, 2007. India-born Canadian poet and writer Stephen Gill was elected as co-chair of the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) of Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, in the last meeting of the directors on June 21st. Award-winning poet and writer of several books was unanimously elected. His name was proposed by Brian Merkely, and seconded by Bernadette Clément, City Councillor. The meeting was chaired by Charlene MacLennan, Administrative Support, Eastern Ontario Training Board. Bryan Merkley is the president of a notable educational institute, Cornwall Career College, and also of Solutions that provides recruitment services. Bernadette Clement, a municipal councillor and a lawyer by profession, is the representative of City of Cornwall Council. She received the largest number of votes in the last municipal election. Other member of the Board of Directors, include the city councillors Denis Carr; Denis Thibault; a prominent corporate lawyer John MacDonald; and Sgt. Pierre Pilon, a repreentive of Cornwall Police Services. Others in attendance include Gaye Adams, Marketing Consultant; Gaetan Chennier, owner of Chennier Office Interior; Brenda Wagar, owner of Wagar & Holland LLP; and artist Jim Butler. Stephen Gill is pleased with this new responsibility because it would give him a different opportunity to do something for his city. In the past, he was very active with the cultural and literary activities of the city. He also tried in the past to run for a seat in the municipal election. Stephen Gill is a director of the Children's Aid Society of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry (SD&G). The DBIA aims at building a more beautiful and more healthy environment for the downtown area to attract more businesses and bring more prosperity. The area is within the walking distance of the Seaway River and the office of the municipal corporation, main police station, banks, main library, a large shopping mall and other amenities. On top of all these, it is a safe area to walk any time of the day or night and incentives for businesses are available.