By Christina Devine, Communications, ByWard Market BIA
For the past 27 years, the ByWard Market BIA (Business Improvement Area) has represented over 600 businesses and over 200 properties, all located within an area of approximately four-square blocks. Providing opportunities for local small businesses to speak with a united voice on issues of common concern and interest, the ByWard Market BIA engages its members to be involved and informed about relevant plans and developments including parking, safety concerns, marketing initiatives, urban planning and transportation, development and construction, tourism and economic development.
Preserving the unique character of the ByWard Market as possessing a wide variety of owner-operated businesses and a farmers’ market that make the ByWard Market rich in heritage, activity and animation, the BIA’s role is to keep the ByWard Market top of mind for visitors and residents throughout the year, and to manage issues that affect its success such as safety, promotions and development.
The City of Ottawa currently has 19 BIAs that represent over 5,000 businesses in our city. In the ByWard Market, businesspeople within the specific geographical location join together with the help of their municipality to improve the area by promotions including marketing and events, while protecting its interests in government and business arenas. The ByWard Market BIA was formed in 1993 and is administered by an elected 12-member Board of Management, Executive Director Jasna Jennings and a team of communications/special events coordinators.
As a membership-based non-profit organization formed in a commercial area to promote the area as a whole, the ByWard Market BIA was created through a municipal by-law, funded by levies collected from all commercial properties within its boundaries.
Many businesses choose the ByWard Market as their home because it is Ottawa’s premier destination for shopping, dining, arts, entertainment and professional services for residents and visitors — drawing up to 50,000 visitors per weekend in the summer months.
“Our mission is to bring people to the ByWard Market so that members can turn them into customers,” says Jasna Jennings, ByWard Market BIA Executive Director. “Our role is to promote the ByWard Market to the public as a full-service, family-friendly, safe district, and to members to encourage participation and involvement in initiatives.”
One key initiative currently underway is a community art project in partnership with Shepherds of Good Hope and Options Bytown to collaborate with community members on creating artwork that will beautify the construction area on William Street surrounding fire-damaged historic buildings, which aims to inspire residents and visitors. Follow ByWard Market BIA on social media to learn more about this project.
The ByWard Market BIA encourages business community members to participate in events and promotions; engage and share on social media to amplify community initiatives, post event listings on byward-market.com; donate prizes for events and promotions; join a committee and keep the BIA informed of changes to business information to stay current.
Committees include ByWard Market BIA Safety and Security Committee, which is a group composed of ByWard Market businesses, residents, Ottawa Police Services, City of Ottawa Bylaw and area social services. The focus is safety and security within the ByWard Market and this group meets on a monthly basis with all members welcome. Given the recent announcement by Ottawa Police Service in launching three new Neighbourhood Resource Teams in 2020, focusing on ByWard Market and Lowertown as part of this safety initiative, the ByWard Market BIA is dedicated to contributing to building relationships with the local residents, businesses and non-profit groups.
As Chief Peter Sloly urges cooperation from the community, the ByWard Market BIA encourages business community leaders and members to get involved and support OPS’s new plan to tackle violent crime in Ottawa.
Find out more about the ByWard Market BIA:
By phone: 613.562.3325
By e-mail: bia@byward-market.com
Website: byward-market.com
By mail: 202-267 Dalhousie St, Ottawa, ON, K1N 7E3 Facebook: facebook.com/TheByWardMarket
Instagram: twitter.com/bywardmarketbia
Twitter: instagram.com/bywardmarket