Message from the CEO
Dear OBOT Members,I hope you and your family are well. Spring is here. An exciting time of renewal for ourselves, our businesses, and our community!I wish to thank you for your continued support of our work at the Ottawa Board of Trade. It is true that we exist to serve you, our local businesses. However, in doing so we serve our whole community: every citizen, every child, every cause. You drive our economy and spur our growth so that together, we can provide meaningful work, quality of life and solutions to big challenges.In these last three years, you have demonstrated innovation, resilience, and a willingness to work together to support local business, your community, and your employees. Thank you!The first quarter of this year we have been focused on advocating for an economic growth agenda that will drive affordable, inclusive, and sustainable city building. We submitted budget recommendations at all levels of government, calling for priorities and policies that cultivate a competitive and predictable environment in which business can thrive as well as investments in innovative infrastructure for the future.We convened and supported tables around affordable housing, downtown revitalization, and destination development. We partnered with the City of Ottawa and key economic partners to engage business and community leaders on matters related to the new arena, the ByWard Market, talent, and regional economic development. We have promoted the enhancement of our airport and the acquisition of new routes. And we have advocated for the support of local small businesses who are still mitigating the impact of the pandemic while navigating these uncertain times.We continue to work with our colleagues at the Ontario and Canadian Chambers of Commerce, as well as our coalition of large city Chambers at the Canadian Global Cities Council on matters that impact our local businesses at the provincial and national levels of decision making.In this all this work, one thing remains clear. Radical collaboration is essential to reaching our full potential, as individuals, businesses and as Canada’s Capital Region. That is why we remain determined to bring leaders and experts together, find new ways of creating win-win scenarios and harness the passion of our employees, entrepreneurs, and executives.To that end, we have carefully curated a day of key conversations for our annual City Building Summit: Build Up Ottawa. Please join us on April 25, 2023, at the Shaw Centre to connect, learn and share your ideas about the future of Ottawa. We are pleased to welcome our new Mayor to bring opening remarks and experts from the private and public sectors to address key issues, emerging trends, and the next big things.If you know business and community leaders interested in the future of our city, invite them. If you know young leaders who ARE the future of our city, invite them! This will be a sell out event so please save your spot today.Lastly, I wish to thank our members who volunteer their time and expertise through our board of directors, our committees, and councils. There would be no voice of business in Ottawa without YOU! It is an honour to work alongside you, our partners and our staff team to support business success and community prosperity in our region. Yours in prosperity,SuelingSueling Ching | President & CEO | Ottawa Board of Trade