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,...
by Michelle Groulx | Jun 26, 2025 | BIA News, News, News & Updates, Press Releases | Letters
Ottawa, ON – June 26, 2025 – Following its fifth anniversary, the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas (OCOBIA) undertook a comprehensive organizational review to chart a focused and sustainable path for the next five years. Led by an external consultant,...
by OCOBIA | Jul 19, 2023 | BIA News, News & Updates, Press Releases | Letters
— OCOBIA encourages small business owners to copy and paste this text to email directly to their MP. MP contact information per constituency can be found here – in your letter, please make sure to include your business address/postal code. Supporting Small...
