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 Neutrality and Candidacy policy was established to ensure that we remain politically neutral while recognizing the individual rights of staff or contractors to participate in the democratic process.
As Michelle Groulx will be filing her nomination for candidacy for Kitchissippi Ward Councillor later this May, she will be on temporary leave as Chief Advocate for OCOBIA taking effect on June 1, 2026
The OCOBIA Board has put a plan in place to ensure continuity and ongoing support for our BIAs during the election process. Board Chair, Darrell Cox and Vice-Chair, Nathalie Carrier will be the key media and public contacts through OCOBIA effective June 1, 2026.
Please direct any questions you may have to chiefadvocate@ocobia.org