OTTAWA’S SMALL BUSINESS community is nothing less than a league of superheroes.
It has been the greatest honour of my life to be the Mayor of my Hometown. I love this city, I love the people of Ottawa, I love this community, I love Team Ottawa.
One of the wonderful aspects of this job is to observe the dynamics of our community and the exceptional people who contribute to the betterment of our city.
It’s inspiring to engage with the dedicated and hard-working people of Ottawa who invest in our community and give so much to our city.
In October we celebrated one of my favourite weeks – Small Business Week. Small businesses are the force that drives Ottawa’s economy. These businesses can be anything from the corner store at the end of our block, our favourite local restaurant, or a budding high-tech firm. They’re at the heart of our economy, providing jobs for thousands of Ottawa residents and helping to improve our city.
Small businesses shape our identity and bring vibrancy to our communities. In my job as Mayor, I get to travel to every part of this amazing city, from Navan to West-Carleton and all parts in-between. Everywhere I go, I’m constantly reminded of Ottawa’s strong small business community. We have business owners that bring real passion, energy, and commitment to our business community. Their persistence and their determination to serve Ottawa residents and support our local economy is incredible.
Today, we have a unique opportunity right now as a city to build a better future for our children and our grandchildren – to build a better city for everyone. We have all witnessed the resilience of our business community, despite the recent challenges. Having a strong economy built on small businesses is more than just about employment numbers and GDP. It’s about caring for people. A strong economy also gives us a strong community that can focus on other issues we are faced with like homelessness and affordable housing, addressing mental health and substance use – helping our most vulnerable.
As someone who has started and owned a few small businesses, I am aware of all that it takes to run a business. I know all the ups and downs and all the challenges of running a small business. I know the commitment, the heartache, and the courage it takes to follow your life’s passion. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Ottawa’s small business community is nothing less a than league of superheroes.
You are what makes Ottawa so special, and I applaud you all for all you do for this city.
Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa
Trending Now
The OBoT Perspective
