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2015 Annual Report follow the transformation
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Annual Reportfollow the transformation
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Welcome
As Ottawa’s Arts, Fashion &
Theatre District, Downtown
Rideau offers an abundance of
trendy fashion stores, exquisite
dining, captivating theatres and
a hub of cultural activity in the
heart of Ottawa’s tourism area.
Adjacent to Parliament Hill, Downtown Rideau is home to numerous national and local landmarks and attractions, including the UNESCO World Heritage Rideau Canal, National War Memorial, National Arts Centre, Arts Court, Ottawa Art Gallery, CF Rideau Centre, Shaw Centre and Fairmont Château Laurier and Westin hotels.
613-241-6211 613-241-8612 [email protected] DowntownRideau.com
1 Nicholas Street Suite 1105 Ottawa, ON, K1N 7B7
@DowntownRideau /downtownrideau Downtown Rideau BIA @DowntownRideau
#DowntownRideau
Cover photo credits (from left to right): | NAC rendering credit: Renderings: Norm Li (featuring imagery from Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Sophia Lee in Going Home Star – Truth and Reconciliation)
| OAG rendering credit: Rendering by Barry Padolsky Associates Inc. Architects / KPMB Architects [Joint Venture Architects]
| CF Rideau Centre rendering credit: Architectural renderings courtesy of CF Rideau Centre
Back Cover photo credits (from left to right): | ArtHaus rendering credit: Rendering of ArtHaus Residences, image courtesy of DevMcGill
| Rideau Station rendering credit: Rendering courtesy of Ottawa Light Rail Transit Constructors
Table of Contents01 34th Annual General Meeting ............. 03
02 Board Members & Staff ......................... 04
03 Message from the Chair ....................... 05
04 Goals & Achievements .......................... 06
05 Mandate & Vision .................................... 06
06 B.I.A. Strategies ........................................ 07
07 External Strategies ................................... 09
08 Opportunities & Challenges ................ 10
09 Catchment Area Statistics ................... 11
10 2014 Audited Statements .................... 12
11 Budget & Membership Statistics ...... 13
12 Recognition Program ............................ 15
13 Core Programs ......................................... 16
14 Affiliations .................................................. 17
15 About the B.I.A. ........................................ 18
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T H A N K Y O U T O O U R S P O N S O R S
Door Prizes• Animation Festival ($136)
2x Festival Pass + Party
• ByTowne Cinema ($30) Movie Gift Pack
• Bytown Museum ($25) Family Admission + Gift
• Cantas ($95) Designer Sweater
• Downtown Rideau B.I.A. ($125) Gift Pack
• Fairmont Château Laurier Lunch for 2 at Wilfrid’s Restaurant
• Fringe Festival ($130) undercurrents Theatre Tickets + Dominion City Brewing Gift
• Giant Tiger ($50) Gift Card
• Hudson’s Bay ($100) HBC Blanket, Gloves, Gifts
• La Bottega ($75) Gift Basket
• Les Suites Hotel ($225) 1 Premiere Night Stay
• Menchies ($25) Gift Card
• Métropolitan Brasserie ($150) Gift Cards (3 x $50)
• Milestones ($50) Gift Card
• Ottawa Art Gallery ($150) Membership + Gift Pack
• Ottawa Little Theatre ($200) Theatre Tickets (4 pairs)
• Royal Bank ($100) VISA Gift Cards (2 x $50)
• SAW Video ($15) Cultural Engineering Tote Bag
• Smokes Poutinerie ($100) Gift Cards (10 x $10)
• The Shaw Centre ($50) Highway Companion Kit
• Top of the World ($50) Gift Chips
34th Annual General Meeting1
5:30 Registration & Opening Reception
6:15 Welcome: Peggy DuCharme, DRBIA Executive Director
6:20 Call to Order & Opening Address: Donna Holtom, DRBIA Board Chair
6:25 2015 Budget: DRBIA Board Treasurer
6:30 Greetings from the City of Ottawa, Councillor Mathieu Fleury
6:35 Greetings from Ottawa Police Service, Cst. Walter Duhme
6:40 Downtown Never Slows Down Campaign Video
7:00 OLRT Rideau Station Construction Update: Alanna Lacroix, Stakeholder Relations, City of Ottawa Light Rail Planning Implementation Office
7:20 2016 Marketing Plan Overview, Peggy DuCharme, Executive Director
7:30 Recognition Awards: Alexandra Badzak, Marketing & Tourism Committee Chair
7:45 Adjournment
7:45 Door Prizes & Closing Reception
A G E N D A : T U E S D AY, J A N U A R Y 26 , 2 016 , 5: 3 0 P M
undercurrents theatre festival during Chill Factor
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• Donna Holtom (Chair) Owner, Santé Restaurant & Gallery and Holtz Spa
• Cindy VanBuskirk (Vice-Chair) General Manager, CF Rideau Centre
• Nina Iouguina (Treasurer) Partner, Avant-Garde Bar & Gallery
• Alexandra Badzak (Chair, Marketing & Tourism Committee) Director & CEO, Ottawa Art Gallery
• Eli Dagher (Chair, Clean & Safe Committee) Owner, Waller Street Brewing
• Lynn McGuigan (Chair, Governance Committee) Executive Director, Ottawa Little Theatre
• Councillor Mathieu Fleury Rideau-Vanier Ward 12
• Mo Charania Owner, Jubilee Fine Jewellers
• Kevin Jackson Owner, Giant Tiger
• Amy Munro General Manager, Real Sports Bar & Grill
• Deneen Perrin Director Public Relations, Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel
• Hector Reynoso Branch Manager, Royal Bank of Canada
• Christine Rose General Manager, Hudson’s Bay
• Peter Tilley Executive Director, Ottawa Mission
Peggy DuCharme Executive Director
Amber McKegney Events & Promotions Coordinator
Gayle Diguer Administrative Coordinator
Left to right: Amber McKegney, Peggy DuCharme, Gayle Diguer
B.I.A. Staff
DOWNTOWN RIDEAU B.I.A. is the leading voice guiding the transformation of Downtown Rideau into a world-class shopping and cultural destination.
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Welcome. 2015 was a year of municipal, stakeholder and community collaboration to
implement our plans and objectives. Through these collaborations, the Downtown
Rideau B.I.A. is benefitting from emerging opportunities associated with numerous
property development projects and investment in Downtown Rideau’s tranformation.
Our solid planning over the past several years allowed us to leverage these opportunities to support our vision and goals. This included close consultation with the City of Ottawa on the Public Realm Plans for Rideau Street and the Cultural Precinct surrounding Arts Court; Ogilvy Square, a pedestrian mall on Nicholas Street between Rideau and Besserer streets; and a 4-party partnership between the City of Ottawa, Downtown Rideau B.I.A. (DRBIA), CF Rideau Centre and ByWard Market B.I.A. resulting in the Downtown Never Slows Down advertising campaign to mitigate impacts from Ottawa Light Rail Transit (OLRT) Rideau Station construction.
Discussion continues with the City on expansion of the DRBIA’s FXpoles program. Six additional FXpoles will be installed on Rideau Street between Dalhousie and Sussex during the Public Realm construction. A modified version of the FXpole is in discussion for installation in “tight footprints” on William Mall at Rideau Street and both entrances to Ogilvy Square on Nicholas Street at Rideau and Besserer streets. The FXpoles support the DRBIA’s Illumination Vision, presented at our 2012 annual general meeting. They are multi-purpose and multi-faceted infrastructure connected by computer network and managed remotely from the DRBIA office. The FXpoles enable the DRBIA to create convenient and cost effective ambiance on the street and provide multi-media support for special event and cultural programming opportunities. We were honoured to receive a Merit Award from the International Downtowns Association for the FXpoles project.
Our Boundary Expansion process resumed after the City’s study concluded and our committee explored additional funding models. We met with proposed new boundary area members to present our budget and the benefits of joining the DRBIA. We were encouraged by their support and met with them again and existing members to discuss our boundary expansion plans collectively. Our application is with the City of Ottawa who will decide whether to support it, at which time official notification will be mailed by the city to all affected properties. Our objective is to have the process completed by first quarter 2016 in order to include the expansion in our 2016 budget
and begin representing the expanded area this year.
We worked closely with the City to achieve a balance of business needs in the new Public Realm Rideau Streetscape, especially protecting business loading, location of taxis, creating opportunity for on-street parking, addressing lighting levels, and affecting the design, size and location of transit shelter structures on the sidewalk.
The Marketing & Tourism Committee’s work with our festival and event partners and members resulted in a number of initiatives that successfully supported our brand and increased awareness of Downtown Rideau’s activities. Their partnership model has been copied by other B.I.A.s, which as you know is the highest form of accolade. The committee’s approach to develop a brand within a brand protects the DRBIA’s investment by ensuring our brand can stand alone if the partnership opportunity is removed or dissolved. Chill Factor, Lunar Cycles and Take 5 Before Jazz are all examples of this approach.
The Clean & Safe Committee continues to meet with City departments, police and stakeholder groups to address maintenance and safety issues. Coinciding with the DRBIA’s boundary expansion in 2016, the committee is seeking to introduce operations resources to implement a Street Ambassador program to be district “greeters” and report clean and safe issues to the appropriate stakeholder service for action.
Downtown Rideau is well positioned to be ready for Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations in 2017 and the opening of the OLRT Rideau Station in 2018. I invite our members to consider volunteering for one of our many committees and bring us your ideas, suggestions, and participation to support our vision for Ottawa’s Arts, Fashion & Theatre District.
d o n n A h o lt o m c h a i r , d o w n t o w n r i d e a u B o a r d o f m a n a g e m e n t
Message from the Chair
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• Advertisement in Ottawa Airport
• Develop a Street Ambassador program
• Pursue creation of bylaws specific to DRBIA as a tourism district
• Advocate for removal of empty parked buses throughout the DRBIA
• Implement new “assets” app to manage and report street fixtures/activity
• Refresh corporate identity to coincide with boundary expansion
• Redesign roadway banner program to coincide with boundary expansion
• Refresh website and app to reflect new corporate brand & improve back-end
• Create new district maps to coincide with boundary expansion
• Update member & parking database to coincide with boundary expansion
• Develop DRBIA 2016-2018 -construction communications campaign
• 2017 legacy project
Mandate & Vision5
A strong Mandate, Mission and Vision guides the B.I.A.’s activities
and planning exercises. They ensure a strong and future-
oriented organization.
M A N D AT E For the B.I.A. to promote Downtown Rideau as a shopping, dining, cultural and tourism destination and advocate for its economic viability within the City of Ottawa.
M I S S I O N For the B.I.A. to be the leading voice guiding the transformation of Downtown Rideau into a world-class shopping and cultural destination.
V I S I O N To create an inviting, world-class, quality shopping ‘Main Street’ and ‘Cultural Hub’ destination, bustling with a variety of activity and offerings.
2 015 A C H I E V E M E N T S
• Sponsored or in-kind to 13 festivals & events in DRBIA
• Supported or in-kind to 26 member events in Downtown Rideau
• Produced 3 signature events: Chill Factor, Living Flag, Lunar Cycles
• Co-produced 3 member partnership events (Take 5 Before Jazz, Downtown Rideau Night at Jazz Festival and Canada Day)
• Completed installation of 6 FXpoles
• Raised $6600 in sponsorship from FXpoles
• Received city support for construction communications campaign
• Re-engaged boundary expansion project
• Participated in an audit of homeless persons in Downtown Rideau
• Held a board strategic planning session
• Advertised in Shaw Centre kiosk directing visitors and locals to app
• Achieved inclusion of on-street parking in new Rideau Streetscape
Goals & Achievements
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Strategic Plan ObjectivesBelow are the key objectives and their ranked priority identified
during the B.I.A.’s 2014-2018 Strategic Planning process.
The Strategic Plan focuses on the first three objectives.
1. Public Spaces, Art and Renewal
2. Safe and Clean
3. Communications and Branding
4. Transit Traffic
5. Parking
6. Trucks
7. Downtown Rideau B.I.A. Resources
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Key Strategic DirectionsAlthough all of the objectives are important and need to be
considered in future planning exercises and discusions with
the City of Ottawa, it is critical for the B.I.A. to focus on the
top three key priorities during this strategic planning term
(2014-2018). The other objectives will be addressed and
woven into these three key strategic priorities and integrated
into planning discussions with the City of Ottawa:
• To enhance and animate Pedestrian Malls and The Underpass through programming and entertainment.
• To provide and maintain a clean and safe environment for visitors and residents that creates a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere.
• To enhance the B.I.A.’s image and reputation with the public and generate greater engagement and commitment from members.
B.I.A. Strategies6
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• To encourage and install public art in support
of the area’s cultural designation.
• To encourage creation of a public square to provide
an entertainment venue/gathering space for public
celebrations supporting the city’s cultural designation.
• To encourage members and the city to
enhance street and building lighting to add
sparkle and drama to Rideau Street in support
of the district’s Illumination Vision.
• To seek improvement of the pedestrian experience
along Rideau Street with ambiance elements.
• To encourage retail along Rideau Street to
open outward to animate streetscape.
• To initiate a vigorous maintenance program with
the city that includes landscaping and lighting to
improve property standards and public safety.
• To seek reduction of traffic congestion, noise and
noxious fumes to improve pedestrian environment.
• To seek the removal of interprovincial traffic
(trucks, buses, commuters) from Rideau Street.
• To seek re-routing of STO transit (Quebec
buses) and OC Transpo bus routes not servicing
Rideau Street during introduction of OLRT.
• To seek creation of on-street parking on Rideau Street
evenings and weekends to support the district’s
nighttime cultural and entertainment economy.
• To seek removal of restricted traffic turning movements
to improve accessibility and circulation in the district.
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The Downtown Rideau B.I.A.’s Strategic Plan has been developed in consideration
of other strategic planning policies and priorities impacting its district:
Policies and Plans:• Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy;
• City’s Official Plan and Secondary Plan for Rideau Street;
• City’s Cultural Plan;
• City’s Arts & Heritage Plan;
• University of Ottawa Design Strategy;
• Rideau Street Public Realm Plan;
• Rideau Renewal Plan;
• Ottawa Art Gallery and Arts Courts Plans;
• OLRT Rideau Station Plans and Ogilvy Square Plan.
Stakeholder Strategies• Turn Nicholas Street between Rideau and Laurier into
a distinctive boulevard (with mixed uses at street level) in conjunction with the expansion of the CF Rideau Centre, Ottawa Art Gallery, Arts Court and University of Ottawa.
• Link the Shaw Centre to Arts Court and University of Ottawa to provide additional meeting, reception, entertainment and cultural space opportunities for
convention and visitor markets and new business opportunities for the university and the arts.
• Relocate the heritage Land Registry Building to a more focal location within the district and create a public use for it, i.e. a visitor/e-ticketing centre.
• Create additional performing arts facilities through the University’s arts department’s expansion requirements and other property development.
City of Ottawa’s Key Strategic Directions • Promote Downtown Rideau as a location for innovative arts and culture entrepreneurs.
• Unlock the heritage resources of Rideau Street and elsewhere in the district.
• Plan for the removal of the truck route along Rideau Street and in Downtown Rideau.
• Return the disjointed road network to a traditional grid network.
• Plan a better pedestrian connection to the University of Ottawa.
• Promote residential intensification on Rideau Street above retail/commercial.
7 External Strategies Supporting Vision
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D E V E L O P M E N T I S S U E S & A C T I V I T Y
There continues to be significant property development activity
occurring in Downtown Rideau over the next 3 years.
• The Downtown Rideau B.I.A. (DRBIA) will continue to advocate for a city coordinated approach to development activity to minimize impact on community and maximize construction efficiencies.
• The DRBIA will continue to advocate for the removal of the interprovincial truck route on Rideau Street and for short-term measures to minimize impact from trucks.
• The DRBIA will continue to advocate for analysis of decisions affecting transportation uses including business loading, interprovincial traffic, transit, taxis, bicycles, road closures and pedestrians, especially where high-volumes conflict at several intersections such as Rideau/King Edward and Rideau/Dalhousie.
• The DRBIA will continue to encourage arts-related uses and performance/exhibit space in new development projects, as well as public art to support Downtown Rideau’s Vision and the City’s Official Plan and Cultural Plan.
• The Ottawa Light Rail Transit (OLRT) tunnel under Rideau Street is required to significantly reduce bus volumes on Rideau Street from route-driven service to spine-fed service. Concern remains over Rideau Street’s ability to serve two transit lines’ growth projections (OC Transpo and STO).
• The DRBIA will continue to recommend that the reconstruction of the Alexandria Bridge includes transit options (light rail or bus weight load requirements).
• The Department of National Defense (DND) complex
may be a future development site (if DND chooses to relocate off the site and out of the district).
• The DRBIA will continue to encourage building a “traditional” transit terminal outside Downtown Rideau to provide “lay-up” space for OC Transpo bus parking. Such a terminal could also accommodate tour bus parking requirements east of the canal.
• The DRBIA will continue to advocate to add on-street parking on Rideau Street during evenings and weekend hours and inclusion of public off-street public parking facilities in new property developments.
• The DRBIA will continue to encourage the creation of a special tourism designation and bylaws specific to Downtown Rideau in providing clean, safe and welcoming services to visitors and address increased pedestrian volumes resulting from the OLRT Rideau Station.
• The DRBIA will continue to request OC Transpo Special Constables law enforcement jurisdiction at the surface of the OLRT Rideau Station on Rideau Street between Sussex and Dalhousie as an additional security resource in this high-call police service location.
• The DRBIA will continue to request to add OC Transpo CCTV camera network to the Rideau Street surface of OLRT Rideau Station to assist Ottawa Police Service and OC Transpo Special Constables with monitoring transit services and public space at this high-call police service location.
Opportunities & Challenges8
Future Rideau Station Opening 2018
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57.5%male
42.5%female
51.9%age 20-39
R E S I D E N T S
$275,000daily transit ridership at Freiman Mall on Rideau Street
T R A N S I T
3.3 Millionannual visitors to Downtown Attractions
V I S I T O R S
19,980 18,782visits June visits January
W E B S I T E : H I G H E S T T R A F F I C ( 2 0 1 5 )
P E D E S T R I A N C O U N T S ( 2 0 1 3 W I N T E R D A I L Y A V E R A G E )
25,000 Rideau at Freiman Mall
V E H I C L E C O U N T S ( 2 0 0 9 S U M M E R D A I L Y A V E R A G E S )
16,850 Rideau at Dalhousie
32,800 Rideau at King Edward
40,550 Rideau at Freiman Mall
P E D E S T R I A N C O U N T S ( 2 0 1 3 S U M M E R D A I L Y A V E R A G E )
943,272161,601visits pages viewed
W E B S I T E ( 2 0 1 5 )
3,359,295hits
Catchment Area Statistics9
S O C I A L M E D I A
411followers
3,811followers
1,124likes
3,640 views
1,253unique app users
20,552(3km radius)
R E S I D E N T S
48.9%$50,000+
23.0%$100,000+
I N C O M E ( $ )
57.5%English
19.3%French
20.1%other
L A N G U A G E
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2014 Audited Statements10
N O T E S T O F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
1. Basis of Presentation—The financial statements of the Rideau Business Improvement Area (B.I.A.) are the representation of management prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted for the public sector as prescribed by the Public Sector Accounting Board of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. Since a precise determination of many assets and liabilities is dependent upon future events, the preparation of periodic financial statements necessarily involves the use of estimates and approximations. These estimates and approximations have been made using careful judgement.
2. Accrual Accounting— Revenues and expenditures are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. The accrual basis of accounting recognizes revenues as they become available and measurable; expenditures are recognized as they are incurred and measurable as a result of receipt of goods or services.
3. Capital Assets—Capital assets are initially recorded at cost and amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Capital expenditures that do not generate future economic benefit to the B.I.A. are charged to operations in the year of acquisition.
4. Financial Instruments—The financial instruments of the B.I.A. consist of cash and accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Unless otherwise
noted, it is management’s opinion that the B.I.A. is not exposed to significant interest rate, currency or credit risks arising from these financial instruments.
5. Tax Revenue—Annually, the City of Ottawa bills and collects tax levies as well as payment in lieu of taxes on behalf of the B.I.A. Taxation revenue consists of non-exchange transactions. It is recognized in the period to which the assessment relates and reasonable estimates of amounts can be made. Annual revenue also includes adjustments related to reassessments or appeals related to prior years.
6. Related Party Transactions—The B.I.A. purchases certain services from companies controlled by the Board of Directors’ members and company executives in the normal course of business at commercial rates. At the end of the year, the amounts due to related parties are included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
7.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS -- prepared by Ernst & Young LLPyearendDecember31
2014 Actuals 2013 ActualsREVENUEStax levy (2012 levy collected was $705,660 less remissions for actual) 714,117 666,001other revenue 156,607 21,247payments in lieu of taxation 8,875 10,208interest earned on reserves 1,200 1,200
880,799 698,656EXPENDITURESadvertising & promotion 214,564 168,324 salaries, medical benefits, professional development & consultants 179,682 158,174 ground services 47,647 80,604 office 191,926 226,890 security services 20,898 35,413 printing & reproduction - 2,827 rent 32,130 38,650 furniture & equipment 5,399 12,246 insurance 5,057 3,626 audit fees 1,021 1,115 depreciation 5,148 2,578
703,472 730,447 Excess of revenues over expenditures(expenditures over revenues) 177,327 -31,791
increase (decrease) in fund balances for the year 177,327 -31,791fund position, beginning years 112,673 144,464fund position, end of year 290,000 112,673
S TAT E M E N T O F O P E R AT I O N S : P R E P A R E D B Y E R N S T & Y O U N G L L PY E A R E N D D E C E M B E R 3 1 , 2 0 1 4
2013 18,596 -6,125
$12,471
Capital Assets Equipment Accumulated Amortization
Net Book Value
2012 11,682 -3,547
$8,135
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2 0 1 5 R E V E N U E ( A C T U A L - U N A U D I T E D )
$806,497
2 0 1 6 R E V E N U E ( B U D G E T )
$812,723
2 0 1 5 E X P E N S E S ( A C T U A L - U N A U D I T E D )
$796,473
2 0 1 6 E X P E N S E S ( B U D G E T )
$812,723
Administration (37%)
Operations (36%)
Marketing (23%)
Special Projects (4%)
Levy (92%)
Supplemental (3%)
Grants (2%)
Other (2%)
Payment in lieu (1%)
Budget & Membership Statistics
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Levy (93%)
Grants (3%)
Other (3%)
Payment in Lieu (1%)
Supplementary (0%)
Administration (38%)
Operations (39%)
Marketing (20%)
Special Projects (3%)
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M E M B E R S H I P B Y C A T E G O R Y ( E X C L U D I N G E X P A N S I O N A R E A )
Con
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Acc
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Ass
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Prof
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(8%
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(14%
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Gov
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(3%
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Hea
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Serv
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(9%
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Downtown Rideau Certificate of Recognition Award
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The Downtown Rideau B.I.A. annually hosts a Recognition Program acknowledging
contributions from its membership and community partners who support the B.I.A.’s
vision of a shopping, dining, cultural and tourism destination for Ottawa’s Arts,
Fashion & Theatre District.
Certificate of Recognition Program
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P R O P E R T Y I M P R O V E M E N T S
Bytown MuseumRefreshments & Gift Shop
CF Rideau CentreWiFi
Club MonacoRelocation Reno
Femme de CarriereRelocation Reno
Hudson’s BayStore Reno, Exterior Sign
LCBORelocation Reno
NordstromRelocation Reno
Shaw CentreExterior Sign
Shoppers Drug MartRelocation Reno
Tiffany & Co.New Store Reno
WLKNNew Store Reno
C O M M U N I T Y P A R T N E R S
City of Ottawa, Councillor Fleury officeOLRT Rideau Station, City Marketing & Communications
City of Ottawa, Culture DepartmentCommunity Art Programming on Waller Mall
M E M B E R P R O M O T I O N A L
Bytown MuseumChill Factor, Colonel By Day
City of Ottawa, Arts CourtLunar Cycles
Holtz SpaChill Factor
IFCOChill Factor, Dogme, Lunar Cycles
MilestonesCanada Day Temporary Patios
Ottawa International Animation FestivalLunar Cycles
Ottawa Art GalleryChill Factor, Downtown Rideau Night at TD Ottawa Jazz Festival, Lunar Cycles
Ottawa Dance DirectiveLunar Cycles
Ottawa Fringe Festivalundercurrents theatre festival at Chill Factor
Métropolitain BrasserieTake 5 Before Jazz, Canada Day
Real Sports OttawaChill Factor, Canada Day Temporary Patios
Santé RestaurantChill Factor, Take 5 Before Jazz, Canada Day Temporary Patios
SAW GalleryLunar Cycles
SAW Video Media Art CentreChill Factor, Lunar Cycles
The Shore ClubTake 5 Before Jazz
Top of the WorldCanada Day on Rideau Street
Westin Hotel Take 5 Before Jazz
W I N D O W D I S P L AY S
Cantas
Fancy Sox
Harry Rosen
Hudson’s Bay
Guess
Kate Spade New York
LCBO
Merry Marry
Nordstrom
Shoppers Drug Mart
Trivium
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A D V O C A C Y
The Downtown Rideau B.I.A. represents Downtown
Rideau businesses and organizations providing an
opportunity for members to speak with a united
voice on issues of common concern and a variety
of interests. Thereby increasing their influence on
municipal policies and decisions that affect them:
• Business recruitment/retention, revitalization and redevelopment
• Promoting the area’s vision of a shopping and cultural destination
• Government, membership, community and media relations
• Parking, transportation and transit issues
• Public consultation, public policy development and review, bylaw enforcement and social issues
M A I N T E N A N C E
The Downtown Rideau B.I.A. strives to create a
welcoming experience in Downtown Rideau through
clean and safe programs that offer a competitive
edge and quality place in which to live, work, shop
and visit. To ensure it maintains an impeccable
appearance, the DRBIA pursues an acceptable level
of standard ‘basic’ municipal services and implements
maintenance programs to supplement basic services:
• Spring cleaning: pressure washing, painting B.I.A. furnishings, removal of winter debris and graffiti
• Downtown Rideau Street Detail program: collecting litter and cigarette butts, removing posters and weeds, and foliage maintenance
• Weekly graffiti removal and daily poster/flyer removal
• Monitors maintenance of city service providers: transit shelters, vending boxes, bicycle racks, waste receptacles, etc.
• Encouraging B.I.A. members to maintain stellar property standards and report any concerning property standards
t h e n At i o n A l A r t s c e n t r e h A s B e e n A p p r o v e d f o r A r e fA c i n G , A n i n i t i At i v e h e l p e d B Y d o W n t o W n r i d e A u .
Core Programs13
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M A R K E T I N G
Marketing Downtown Rideau as Ottawa’s Art, Fashion & Theatre District —
a shopping, dining, cultural and tourism destination — is the mandate of
the B.I.A. It achieves this through a number and variety of programming
and promotional initiatives:
• Promotional brochures, postcards, posters, A-frames, FXpoles, website, app, social media and advertising
• Special events, activities, media relations, consumer data
• Pageantry: murals, decor, banners, public art
• Promotion and sponsorship development
• Facilitating cross-promotion partnerships between members and member-to-member communications
S A F E T Y
Safety programs compliment maintenance services. Both are essential to providing
a superior ‘quality of life’ experience in Downtown Rideau. The B.I.A. pursues, in
consultation with police and area stakeholders, the creation, development and
management of a variety of safety programs to support a “welcoming” experience.
• Downtown Rideau Street Ambassadors, district appearance audits, lighting inspections
• Ambiance to discourage chronic loitering (music & lighting)
• Social service outreach, safety seminars, lighting audits and social enterprise services
• Have a Heart, Give Smart Ottawa panhandling awareness program
• Kindness Meters donation boxes to help the homeless
The Downtown Rideau B.I.A. works with other organizations and levels of
government sharing its knowledge and representing its members’ interests while
advocating for an economically viable district and building support for its vision.
C O M M U N I T Y
• Ottawa Festivals (member)
• Ottawa Tourism (member)
• Ottawa Council of B.I.A.s (member)
• Rideau Public Realm Project (stakeholder)
P R O V I N C I A L
• Ontario B.I.A.s Association (Executive Director, Past-President)
N A T I O N A L
• Downtowns Canada (Executive Director is a committee member)
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
• International Downtowns Association (IDA) (Executive Director sits as a board member, co-chairs the Canadian Committee, and is a member of IDA’s Annual Conference Committee)
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W H O
Downtown Rideau is the trade name of the Downtown Rideau
Business Improvement Area (DRBIA)—a 23-block area representing
425+ businesses and organizations surrounding Rideau Street
east of Parliament Hill. All commercial properties within the
DRBIA boundary are automatically members of the B.I.A.
W H AT
The DRBIA is permitted under Section 204 to 215 of the Ontario
Municipal Act and municipal bylaw, which allows the city to
designate an area as a B.I.A. and create a Board of Management. The
B.I.A. has the authority to undertake initiatives on municipal land
within the B.I.A. beyond those provided by the city. Its mandate
is to promote a defined boundary as a distinct district.
W H Y
The DRBIA spearheads a number of initiatives that promote Downtown
Rideau to the advantage of all properties within its boundary. Through the
DRBIA members become more involved and informed about plans and
developments that affect them. These include issues such as property
development, city policies, policing, parking, by-laws, traffic and street
maintenance. The B.I.A. provides an advocacy role for its members
allowing the area to speak with a united voice, thereby increasing their
influence at City Hall on policies and decisions that affect them.
H O W
The DRBIA offers its members assistance through information and support
by keeping its members informed of events and issues of interest or concern
through newsletters, e-bulletins, website and social media, and offering
cooperation on marketing, research and promotional partnerships.
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Downtown Rideau Facts
Created in 1981 (over 34 years)
Property investment 2014-2018 = $1.1 billion
Retail, Arts and Theatre District Designation in City’s Official Plan
425+ Businesses & organizations (tenants)
$10 million in City contribution in public capital improvement projects
Tourism Designation (retail open on most statutory holidays)
308 properties in the dirstrict (existing boundary)
Location of the Rideau Canal (UNESCO World Heritage Status)
Highest B.I.A. property tax base in Ottawa ($26+ million annually)
Location of CF Rideau Centre and Shaw Centre
$809.5 million property assessment base
Location of Ottawa Art Gallery and Arts Court
2nd largest B.I.A. membership in Ottawa
Location of Westin, Château Laurier, Novotel and Les Suites Hotels
$5.25 million B.I.A. contribution in public capital improvement projects
