Culture lives and thrives on our main streets

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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 community markets, BIAs work year-round with local artists and partners, like the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition and the Ottawa Festival Network, to animate neighbourhoods and support local talent. Together with business owners, producers, and community groups, they create spaces where culture is accessible, local, and uniquely Ottawa.

The cultural economy thrives on our main streets. When residents gather for a performance, discover a local maker, or attend a community celebration, they are experiencing the impact of 18 BIAs working behind the scenes.

Strong cultural partnerships mean vibrant streets, connected communities, and a city that celebrates its creativity right outside your door.

Learn more about BIAs

What Ottawa’s Mainstreets are watching for in 2026

What Ottawa’s Mainstreets are watching for in 2026

Ottawa's municipal election is on October 26, and the decisions made by the next City Council will directly shape the future of our mainstreets. Ottawa's 18 Business Improvement Areas represent thousands of businesses across urban, suburban, and rural neighbourhoods....

OCOBIA Chair Nathalie Carrier Receives Ottawa 200th Anniversary Medal

OCOBIA Chair Nathalie Carrier Receives Ottawa 200th Anniversary Medal

Credit: Vanier BIA OCOBIA Chair and Vanier BIA Executive Director Nathalie Carrier has been presented with the Ottawa 200th Anniversary Medal by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. Commissioned to mark the City of Ottawa's bicentennial, this limited-edition medal recognizes...