About Hello Downtown

The Downtown BIA was created in 2025, as the result of one of the largest business improvement areas expansions in Ottawa. The Downtown BIA is committed to supporting the revitalization of the core, collaborating with partners and stakeholders as stewards of growth for commercial, community and cultural interests, while serving as advocates for Downtown BIA members. “Hello Downtown” invites businesses and property owners, employers and employees, residents and visitors to rediscover and reinvest in the downtown core.

Land acknowledgement

We acknowledge that we are gathered in Ottawa, on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation. The name "Ottawa" comes from the Algonquin word Odawa, meaning "to trade"—a reminder that this area has long been a place of gathering, exchange, and commerce for Indigenous peoples.

Today, downtown Ottawa remains the heart of the Nation’s Capital and its main business district, layered with rich cultural and historical significance, steps away from Parliament Hill. We honor the Algonquin people’s enduring presence and stewardship of this land, and we recognize the need to walk forward in the spirit of respect, partnership, and reconciliation.