Residents, business operators and all those generally interested in the vibrancy of Canada’s capital are invited to share their opinions with the Downtown Ottawa Revitalization Task Force. The 13-member volunteer group is seeking input through a newly launched online portal aimed at gleaning ideas and gauging priorities for the downtown’s role in the life of the city and Canadian culture more broadly.
As a first step in a planned three-part engagement process over the next two months, the online survey poses 10 questions exploring views about, experiences in and aspirations for the downtown, and asks respondents to rank existing services and amenities on a scale of one to five. It will be open for responses until February 21, after which the task force plans to follow up on the major emerging themes.
“It is my firm belief that Ottawa’s downtown core is vital to the economic health and well-being of our entire city,” says Hugh Gorman, chief executive officer of Colonnade BridgePort, who sits on the task force as the representative of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Ottawa. “A vibrant core attracts tourism and talent. It fosters an environment for creativity and innovation. It becomes a catalyst for the creation of sustainable 15-minute communities, and its commercial tax base allows for city wide investment in infrastructure including public transportation, affordable housing, and other social services.”
The task force also includes representatives from the Ottawa Board of Trade, Tourism Ottawa, downtown business improvement areas (BIAs) and community associations, housing and heritage advocates, the Indigenous community and private developers. Its co-chairs are Graeme Hussey, president of the non-profit housing developer, Cahdco, which is based in Ottawa’s Centretown, and Neil Malhotra, vice president of Claridge Homes.
Yasir Naqvi, Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre, is both the task force’s creator and a member. “We need to take a deep look at the future of downtown Ottawa with all relevant and interested voices around the table,” he observed when he unveiled his plans for the task force last summer.
