Michelle Groulx has taken on exciting new positions back-to-back, but something keeps drawing her back to the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas (OCOBIA).
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Michelle Groulx has taken on exciting new positions back-to-back, but something keeps drawing her back to the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas (OCOBIA).
“All the stuff with the United States and the tariffs and threats to our sovereignty—it kind of makes you think about having a more hyper-local focus,” she told OBJ on Thursday. “For me, I’ve always been passionate about small business and our Main Streets and our cities. That alone was making me think about how I wanted to get more involved.”
Last month, Groulx returned to OCOBIA on a part-time basis in a new role that will put her at the forefront of the organization’s ongoing advocacy efforts.
Following its fifth anniversary, OCOBIA undertook a major organizational review to restructure and develop a new five-year plan. Changes included eliminating its executive director position and reallocating financial resources to services and programs that directly support members.
As chief advocate, Groulx said her goal is to be a consistent voice and presence for the organization, representing 18 BIAs across Ottawa within the business community and at the city level.
“The organization needed a real presence and voice on a city-wide scale,” she said. “If you don’t have a dedicated person to be that voice, it’s really difficult for even a board member to wear two hats. Having someone out there speaking and advocating … It required some level of dedication and experience. And I’d say for myself, I’m able to do that part because of my experience. It’s just like riding a bike. You get back on and it’s a lot easier.”
Her recent appointment marks Groulx's third time working with the organization. She was a founding board member when the organization first formed, during her time with the Westboro BIA, and then spent nearly three years as executive director at the height of the pandemic.
She stepped away in January 2024 to become president of MBC Group, a national engineering and appraisal firm. Following the company’s acquisition by SCM Insurance Services last year, she moved to a new position as president and general manager of Phoenix Glass and Aluminum, a role she’ll maintain while working with OCOBIA.
Groulx said she was the one who approached OCOBIA about the possibility of returning in some capacity.
“I wanted to get involved and do more for our Main Street businesses,” she said. “We figured out a way to make it work so I could come back on a part-time basis. Though we all know it’s never really part-time. Your heart and your mind are always in it.”
Groulx’s initial priorities will include supporting existing BIAs through expansion efforts and creating new BIAs for business areas without representation. She will also be working with local partners like Invest Ottawa and the Ottawa Board of Trade to organize a small business summit later this year.
Her advocacy work will focus on addressing ongoing small business concerns, including the cost of doing business.
“Their margins are getting crunched, especially for Main Street businesses,” she said. “With all the costs they have, we’re talking about that and investigating it.”
Eighteen months after her departure, Groulx said the business landscape looks a lot different than it did during her time as executive director.
“There’s no (Freedom Convoy) occupation and there’s no COVID, so that’s the good part, I’d say,” she said. “It’s going from survival mode to thrive mode, and I feel this positive energy that’s really coming up. Before, the advocacy was like, ‘please keep our Main Streets from collapsing.’ Now it’s more about how we have an amazing opportunity. Everyone is wanting to support local and support Canadian. It’s a great time for our businesses to thrive.”
In a press release last month, OCOBIA said its organizational review was led by an external consultant and involved member BIAs, organizational partners and economic development stakeholders. It said the findings indicated a need to make a strategic shift to ensure the organization’s long-term viability.
“A key recommendation from the review was to introduce a part-time lead consultant role dedicated to high-impact priorities — specifically advocacy and partnership development,” the release stated. “(Groulx will) support BIA staff and Boards of Management in fostering a culture of continuous improvement and shared best practices. Michelle brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of Ottawa’s BIA landscape.”
OCOBIA represents Ottawa’s 18 business improvement areas, which collectively include more than 6,400 businesses across the city. The organization has become a key voice on issues and policies affecting local businesses and the city’s economic development.
