OCOBIA NEWS
OCOBIA NEWS
News & Updates
This is where we share the latest news, announcements, and updates from across the OCOBIA network. From policy developments to citywide initiatives, you’ll find insights and information that matter to Ottawa’s BIAs — and the businesses they support.
A Canadian innovation powering Ottawa’s 15 minute neighbourhoods
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...
Glebe BIA to Monitor Business Impacts as Bank Street Bus Lane Pilot Moves Forward
Ottawa City Council has approved a 12-month bus lane pilot project on Bank Street in the Glebe, set to launch June 2027. The plan eliminates 17 on-street parking spaces in favour of a mix of permanent and peak-hour bus-only lanes. The Glebe BIA, which raised concerns...
Taste of Little Italy Welcomes 500 Guests for Sold-Out Preston Street Celebration
Credit: Ottawa Business Journal The Preston Street BIA hosted a sold-out Taste of Little Italy on March 24, welcoming 500 guests to the Preston Event Centre for its third annual celebration of the neighbourhood's culinary scene. Over 15 local restaurants — from Little...
BIAs as Placemakers: Catalysts for Ottawa’s Cultural Economy
Credit: Ottawa Business Journal Ottawa's Business Improvement Areas are doing more than running events — they're shaping the cultural and economic identity of their neighbourhoods. The OBJ spotlights how BIAs like Manotick and Wellington West are using signature...