All around the world, cities are defined by their downtown neighbourhoods.
They are the heart of arts and culture, business, entertainment and living. The urban core of any city is where visitors flock, where entrepreneurs risk it all, and, where people gather; they are the foundation of renowned skylines, the centre of it all.
Famously full of energy, opportunity and people – downtowns are where cities come to life. Yet, the COVID-19 Pandemic meant life-as-usual ground to a halt and, in March 2020, city centres around the world emptied out – including ours.
In Ottawa, downtown is complex: it is history, it is power, it is work, business, dining, culture, entertainment and for some, home. This season explored the core of this city and our relationship to it, and asked, how will it change?
Season 14 of our Invested in our New Reality podcast was titled, “Downtown: Evolved” and was an eight-part conversation covering the story of Ottawa’s downtown core, from its pre-pandemic state, to now, nearly five years later, and the goals and hopes for its future.
We welcomed eight guests to the podcast this season representing a range of public and private interests, bringing varying points of view to the topic. From the President of the Ottawa Board of Trade to the city’s first-ever Nightlife Commissioner, to small business owners and powerful CEOs, this season offered a 360-degree view of the ongoing revitalization efforts.
Season 14 was guided by our extraordinary host, Sam Laprade. A local journalist and radio stalwart, Laprade is a passionate voice for this city and its residents. Well-researched, engaging and deeply committed to telling the story of this city, Laprade once again delivered a top-notch podcast season.
The guests, she says, helped shape the story by bringing their personal experience and vision to the podcast. Public representatives came to the microphone ready and able to passionately describe their civic projects, small business owners shared the highs and lows of operating downtown, and CEOs outlined why their offices and team culture have a home in the heart of the city.
“Our brave and brilliant guests were vulnerable yet hopeful about everything the National Capital Region has to offer in this transitional period,” she says. “ … and keeping it real with entrepreneurs about the challenges and opportunities of doing business in the downtown core was–for me–the highlight of this season of Invested in our New Reality.”
Unquestionably, it is people who are the true magic of any city, more so than any buildings, parks, or skyline. Throughout the season, guests returned again and again to the necessity of people to bring energy, interest, and–yes–money to the district. For downtown to continue to thrive, it must remain a destination, or home, for residents. The long-lasting impact of the pandemic which emptied offices, theatres, restaurants and streets of its people, has a lingering impact, hobbling the economy and curtailing foot traffic.
Today, there are signs of change. From exciting projects led by passionate visionaries, to new businesses and housing developments, this season revealed the plans to revisualize downtown so it may shine once again and, maybe this time, brighter than before.
SEASON 14 EPISODE GUIDE
The full season is now available.
Episode 1: We kick things off in style with guest Stephen Beckta, the chef and owner of three restaurants: Beckta, Play Food & Wine, and Gezellig. He dishes on why restaurants are only one part of what makes downtown great.
Episode 2: Matthew Holland is a business leader, family man, and foodie, and, on this episode, he shares his many reasons to love this city, including its downtown.
Episode 3: Sueling Ching is a woman with a plan, and if anyone can pull it off, she can! She discusses the Downtown Ottawa Action Agenda and explains why creating a future-ready and dynamic urban core will benefit all residents.
Episode 4: On this episode, we raise a (non-alcoholic) glass to toast Benson Mutalemwa, founder of Knyota Non-Alcoholic Drinks. Listen and discover the story of a local business owner with a brand-new downtown storefront.
Episode 5: Meet Erin Kelly, the CEO of Advanced Symbolics Inc. She joins the podcast to discuss their successful and growing company, and her thoughts on the good, the bad, and the potential of downtown.
Episode 6: New reality, new business plan! Eric McRae joins the podcast to discuss how he steered his downtown co-working business, MBO Co-working, through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Episode 7: Victor Wang of Lutendi Systems joins the podcast fresh of the company’s win at the first-ever Invest Ottawa Immigrant Founder Launchpad Pitch Final and touches on the benefits of more mixed-use developments downtown.
Episode 8: Mathieu Grondin is here for a good time and (hopefully) a long time! On this episode, he talks about his role as the first-ever Nightlife Commissioner, and his vision and hopes for a revitalized downtown–the perfect ending to an incredible season.
Thank you for listening!
All episodes are now streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Simplecast and our website at www.investottawa.ca/podcast.