Ottawa’s economic future is being built every day by people willing to take a chance on an idea. The entrepreneur opening a storefront. The family growing a business across generations. The consultant winning a first contract. The local maker finding new customers.
Behind every business is someone with an ambition, a story and the determination to create something of value.
One of the greatest privileges of my role at the Ottawa Board of Trade is meeting these entrepreneurs. I hear about their aspirations, the challenges they are navigating and the pride they take in what they are building. And I feel genuine joy when I can support their journey, whether through an introduction, a new opportunity or simply championing their work. Because I know that when we invest in an entrepreneur’s success, we are investing in the future of our city.
October is Small Business Month, an opportunity to celebrate these contributions and consider what more we can do to help Ottawa businesses succeed.
Small businesses are the heartbeat of our economy and the character of our communities. They create jobs, introduce new ideas, develop talent and generate opportunities for others. They support community organizations, bring creativity and culture to our neighbourhoods, and give Ottawa the distinctive places, products and experiences that make people want to live, work and visit here.
Their success matters to all of us.
“When we invest in an entrepreneur’s success, we are investing in the future of our city.”
Make buying local an economic advantage
From Orléans to Kanata, across our downtown, suburban neighbourhoods and rural villages, local businesses shape the Ottawa we know and love.
Choosing local is one of the most immediate ways we can support them. But buying local is much more than community goodwill. It is an economic development strategy.
Every time an Ottawa business chooses a local supplier, service provider or partner, it helps create opportunities for another company to grow, innovate and hire. These relationships strengthen our business ecosystem, build more resilient supply chains and help keep talent, expertise and economic activity in our region.
At a time when businesses are navigating economic uncertainty and changing trade relationships, strengthening our local economy is practical, strategic and rewarding.
Through the Ottawa Board of Trade Member Marketplace and Buy Local Ottawa campaign, we are encouraging residents, employers and community leaders to make local businesses part of their everyday purchasing decisions. Together with partners including the City of Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, Invest Ottawa, the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas and the Regroupement des gens d’affaires de la Capitale, we are building greater awareness of the power of local purchasing.
For residents, it might mean discovering a neighbourhood shop, choosing a local restaurant or recommending an Ottawa service provider.
For business leaders, the opportunity is even greater. Who caters your meetings? Where do you purchase client gifts? Which companies do you consider for professional services, technology, supplies or expertise?
Imagine the collective impact if every Ottawa business committed to finding just one new local supplier, customer or business partner before the end of the year.
Small decisions, multiplied across thousands of businesses, create significant opportunity.
Help entrepreneurs build their next chapter
One thing I hear consistently from business owners is that entrepreneurship can be both incredibly rewarding and incredibly demanding.
Behind the confidence and ambition are people making difficult decisions, taking risks, creating jobs and carrying enormous responsibility. They are thinking about customers, cash flow, technology, talent and what comes next, often all at once.
And while every entrepreneurial journey is different, one thing is universal: no one builds a successful business entirely on their own.
Relationships matter. Access to experienced leaders, new ideas, potential customers and trusted advice can change the trajectory of a business.
That is why building a connected business community is central to the work of the Ottawa Board of Trade. We bring businesses together to create opportunities, share knowledge, raise their visibility and strengthen their collective voice in the decisions that shape our economy.
Whether someone is launching their first venture, scaling a growing company or preparing to pass a family business to the next generation, the right connection at the right moment can make all the difference.
On Monday, October 19, we will bring that spirit to life at the Ottawa Small Business Summit, presented with Invest Ottawa and the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas at Bayview Yards.
We will explore growth, succession, artificial intelligence and the opportunities ahead. You will experience real entrepreneur stories, practical workshops and meaningful conversations. Most importantly, we are bringing together people who can learn from one another, build relationships and take their next steps with renewed confidence.
Create the conditions for success
Celebrating entrepreneurs is important. Creating an environment where they can succeed is essential.
Small businesses need customers who can reach them, employees who can afford to live in our city, reliable transportation, access to talent and infrastructure that supports growth. They need responsive government services, predictable processes and confidence that their investments of time and money will be worthwhile.
These are not simply small business concerns. They are fundamental to Ottawa’s competitiveness and quality of life.
The upcoming municipal election provides an important opportunity to put business growth and economic opportunity at the centre of our city’s priorities.
Through our More Ottawa campaign, the Ottawa Board of Trade is championing a city where businesses can thrive, people can find opportunity, neighbourhoods are vibrant and we make measurable progress on the things that matter most.
Small business owners have an invaluable perspective on what is working, what needs to change and where Ottawa can do better. Their experience must help inform the decisions we make about our city’s future.
Because a stronger small business community means more than stronger individual businesses. It means more jobs, more innovation, more vibrant main streets, more distinctive neighbourhoods and more opportunities for the next generation.
Let’s build more opportunity together
There is something inspiring about watching an entrepreneur turn an idea into something real. A first customer. A new storefront. A growing team. A business that becomes part of the fabric of a community.
Each success adds something to Ottawa. And each of us has a role to play in creating more of them.
This Small Business Month, I have a simple challenge for Ottawa’s business leaders: make one new local business connection. Choose a new supplier. Introduce an entrepreneur to a potential customer. Share a recommendation. Open a door for someone building something extraordinary.
And to the entrepreneurs who are thinking about their next chapter, I encourage you to get connected. Join us at the Ottawa Small Business Summit, explore our #BuyLocalOttawa campaign and discover the opportunities that come from being part of the Ottawa Board of Trade’s business community.
Ottawa has the talent, creativity and ambition to build an extraordinary future. Let’s make sure the people building our businesses have every opportunity to succeed.
When small businesses thrive, Ottawa thrives.
Explore the Ottawa Board of Trade’s Buy Local campaign and register for the Ottawa Small Business Summit.
About the Author
Sueling Ching is President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade, an independent, non-partisan organization representing and connecting businesses across Canada’s Capital region.
