Michelle Groulx, executive director of the Ottawa Coalition of BIAs (OCOBIA), is increasingly in demand as a key voice for small business in Ottawa. As economic pressures and downtown challenges persist, Groulx is frequently called upon by media and policymakers to represent the concerns of mainstreet businesses. She emphasizes the need for direct support, coordinated planning, and ongoing advocacy to ensure BIAs can continue driving local vibrancy and economic resilience.
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....
