by Kelly Weiss | May 11, 2026 | Press Releases | Letters
A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is more than a network of local businesses. It reflects the neighbourhood it serves. When a BIA is active and thriving, it signals a vibrant, connected community where people take pride in where they live, shop, gather, and even sing...
by Kelly Weiss | May 1, 2026 | BIA News, News, Press Releases | Letters
The Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas (OCOBIA) represents the eighteen Business Improvement Areas (BIA) who are local boards of the City of Ottawa and governed by the Ontario Municipal Act. BIAs are non-partisan organizations. At OCOBIA, our Political...
by Kelly Weiss | Apr 15, 2026 | Press Releases | Letters
Business Improvement Areas are a Canadian innovation, first created in Toronto in 1970 when local businesses came together on Bloor to invest in their main street’s future. The idea quickly spread globally. In 1977, Ottawa established its first BIA on Bank Street (now...
by Kelly Weiss | Mar 11, 2026 | Press Releases | Letters
Across Ottawa, Business Improvement Areas are the organizations behind our city’s main streets, bringing community partners together to shape vibrant local destinations. From live music and street festivals to murals and street art, public art installations, and...
by Kelly Weiss | Feb 9, 2026 | Press Releases | Letters
Ottawa is a big city, and like all big cities, it relies on public investment to deliver essential services such as transit, roads, public safety, parks, and infrastructure that keep the city moving. But what often goes unseen is the important role local business...
by Kelly Weiss | Jan 16, 2026 | Press Releases | Letters
Ottawa’s main streets are where neighbourhoods come to life. They are places to meet neighbours, support local businesses, and access daily needs close to home. Strong main streets turn the vision of 15 minute neighbourhoods into reality, making it easier to live,...
