By Steve Ball
A cooperative (also known as co-operative, co-op, or coop) is “an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise”. (https://www.ica.coop/en/cooperatives/cooperative-identity)
I like definitions. They often add clarity to an otherwise unclear concept. In my opinion, a co-op as defined above sounds like a good foundation to build on for success.
This business model reminds me of the Ottawa 2017 Bureau, which was established back in 2014 to deliver mega-events for Ottawa’s 150th Anniversary celebrations. I was fortunate to co-chair the Board of Directors with Mayor Watson, and to work with a dynamic group of directors made up of key stakeholders throughout our community.
And of course, we had the luxury of Guy Laflamme as our Executive Director with all his organizational expertise, cultural knowledge and flair for producing unique and exciting events. His 400-page business plan read like a Disney script complete with dancing fairies, a fire-breathing dragon and a 100-foot spider, a dine-in-the-sky experience at the Andaz Ottawa Byward Market, and a multi-media light show that felt like a scene from Star Wars.
In the end, the take away for me was the importance of having the right people at the table during the strategic planning stage and ensuring everyone was committed to the success of the overall plan. As a group we didn’t always agree, but I would suggest that disagreement is a healthy and necessary component for success. Talented people have strong opinions, so having a forum to express their ideas and thoughts is useful.
I will always remember the initial reaction from the board when Guy Laflamme proposed spending several million dollars to bring a mechanical dragon and spider across the Atlantic to do battle in our downtown core. It was a hard thing to imagine at the time, but as it turned out La Machine attracted more spectators in 2017 than Canada Day, and the attendee satisfaction levels were off the charts. It takes business smarts to create a vision, but it takes guts and perseverance to sell that vision to others. Well done Guy!
It’s time for Ottawa to have some tough conversations about the future of Lowertown. With just over 6 years left until the 200th anniversary of the By Ward Market we have a great opportunity work cooperatively to deliver a new vision. Perhaps the city should consider forming a By Ward Market 2027 Bureau?
The good news is we have a lot of positives to work with. We have a new police chief who fully understands the situation in Lowertown and has recently made a commitment to bring back a community-policing model and to work more closely with key stakeholders. We have the city investment in a public-realm study with the intention of improving streetscapes and traffic patterns in the Market. We have a business community that has been investing in new living spaces and new hotels and restaurants, and we are experimenting with new public events to attract more visitors. Add in the new LRT stop at William St. and there is a lot of activity to build on.
But we also need the social agencies along with the City and Province to better manage homelessness, and to work more collaboratively towards ensuring people on the streets find a permanent place to live. We need to work on longer-term social planning programs because doing business as we do today will not prepare us for what’s coming tomorrow. Homelessness and the issues that cause people to be on the streets in the first place are at a crisis level, and our streets are becoming less safe as a result.
Short-term rentals (STRs) also change the DNA of a neighbourhood. Ottawa City Council has shown true leadership by approving strict regulations regarding STRs. There is credible evidence that the By Ward Market and Lowertown on a relative basis have the highest number of commercial Airbnb units in Canada (units where the host is not present), surpassing even the Toronto Waterfront. Returning these homes to the long-term rental pool will provide more inventory for families to live in and will help to create safer and more affordable Lowertown neighbourhoods. I can say with conviction as a resident of a George Street condo, I do appreciate knowing my neighbours.
There are so many well-intentioned people who want to see the By Ward Market and Lowertown grow and flourish. Councillor Fleury is a true champion for the Ward, and we are lucky to have him fighting for us at City Hall. We also need to consider the 11 million visitors to Ottawa every year, many of whom plan to enjoy and experience all that the By Ward Market has to offer. As Canada’s Capital, it is incumbent on us to protect and nurture our key tourism asset to meet our common economic, social and cultural goals. We need visitors to feel a pride of place, and thanks to the good work from Ottawa Tourism we are well on our way to defining the spirit of our place.
Call it a movement or call it a cooperative, it really doesn’t matter as long as we remain organized and aspire to work together as a community to deliver results. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when everyone is aligned and moving in the same direction.
If you don’t believe me that this works, ask yourself: How is it possible to bring mechanical dragons and spiders to life?
Steve Ball is the President of the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association, a board member of Ottawa Tourism and the Shepherds of Good Hope, and a resident of George Street.