Think of some popular tourist destinations in Ottawa.
Parliament Hill.
The Byward Market.
The Glebe?
The Glebe Business Improvement Area says the south Ottawa neighbourhood has become a major destination for tourists and locals alike, noting its proximity to the Rideau Canal and, perhaps more significantly, the recent redevelopment of Lansdowne Park into a residential, retail, and sports and entertainment hub.
“This is a very different area than it was even a year ago,” says Glebe BIA Executive Director Andrew Peck. “This is a place that can handle tens of thousands of people at the same time, all doing different things.”
That’s why the BIA plans to ask City Hall to grant local businesses the option to stay open on statutory holidays, giving them a chance to capitalize on the Glebe’s newfound popularity. It would put the Glebe on par with Ottawa’s Byward Market and The Rideau Centre.
The issue was thrust into the public conversation when Whole Foods at Lansdowne Park defied the current by-law and opened on Good Friday and Easter Sunday of this year. But Peck says the application was already in the works before that happened.
“There is a lot of interest,” says Bena Gwozdecky at the small family-run boutique, Cats R Us – specializing in gifts and supplies for cat lovers. “We think it will do really well for businesses here and for tourists alike who are visiting the area and would like a chance to come in and browse.”
“I certainly see over the last year that there’s definitely a lot more tourists coming into the area,” echoes Cathy Wright at The Papery down the street.
The flipside, of course, is that workers would now be asked to come in on a traditional day off.
Fawn Leslie juggles a part-time job at Ready Set Go with full-time school at nearby Carleton University. “I’m not entirely for it, just because I kind of like having that day off,” she says.
Jason Andrews at the Imperial Barber Shop agrees. “I think it’s nice that we close sometimes.”
Andrew Peck says the BIA is interested in opinions on the proposal. He says once the application is submitted to City Hall next week there will be opportunity for public consultations.
Let us know what you think.
