Crystal Wiesner was the first person to receive a weekly prize as part of the “Picture It. Downtown” campaign, after submitting this photo she took of a friend during a visit to Zak’s Diner in the market.
With the click of a camera, the mayor’s new project may bring more clients to the city’s downtown shops and businesses.
But some are concerned with the mayor’s approach.
The “Picture It. Downtown” campaign encourages residents to explore eight BIAs – including Bank Street, Preston Street, Chinatown and Sparks Street – and take pictures of themselves having fun in these areas.
After extensive construction throughout the downtown core, the 51-day bus strike and a rough go with the economy, the mayor says he hopes to bring residents into the affected businesses.
“That’s tough on those vendors,” says Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien. “So as long as they’re getting some business at this time of the year, then they’ll make it through to next year when things will be markedly better.”
The city is working in conjunction with the BIAs during the six-week campaign, which ends Nov. 19.
Lori Mellor, executive director for the Preston Street BIA, says they were delighted with the mayor and city council’s decision to assist the businesses in overcoming the impacts of the bus strike and construction.
“We are less than delighted, however, about the process and end result of the campaign.”
She says she feels the BIAs were not allowed to have a say in the final plan.
“We are concerned that taxpayers’ money could have been better spent,” she says.
Yoav D’Vaja, the owner of Bread and Sons Bakery on Bank Street, also expressed concern with the project.
Although he says he is supportive of the mayor's promotional campaign, he says he is not sure enough citizens will be aware of it.
The promotion is detailed in a press release on the city’s website, which has a link to the campaign’s own online page. From there, residents can send in their photos to be eligible to win prizes.
There are 35 daily gift certificate prizes and five weekly prizes. Nine grand prize gift certificates for downtown businesses are valued at a minimum of $500 and one worth $1,000.
But D’Vaja says he does not think people have a way to find out about the site.
“We need to think how to invest our energy in the most efficient way,” D’Vaja says. “I’m not sure this is the way.”
But if the campaign goes as planned, businesses such as Bread and Sons may see more dough rolling in.
“I frequently go downtown, so it’s difficult for me to think of those who don’t feel they need to go,” says Crystal Wiesner, a graduate of the School of Photographic Arts of Ottawa. “But I hope it opens their eyes to what’s there – the hidden treasures.”
Last January, Wiesner and a friend went for lunch at Zak’s Diner in the market, and while waiting for their food to arrive, her friend stacked salt shakers and creamers. Wiesner captured the moment on camera and later uploaded it to the website after hearing about the campaign.
“I just entered some images thinking, ‘Why not?’” says Wiesner, whose photo won the first weekly prize of the campaign. “It was very shocking getting the e-mail [stating I had won],” she says.
Ottawa Centre MPP Yasir Naqvi says he is always supportive of initiatives to support the city’s businesses.
“It’s creating another way of getting people engaged again and saying, ‘Look, we live in the nation’s capital – we have a lot of historical significance to the core of our city,’ ” he says. “What better way to be a tourist again in your own town?”