Capital Current introduces people who have had an impact on the city.
Who is she?
Tracey Clark is the former CEO of the prominent local coffee chain Bridgehead. Under her leadership, Bridgehead grew into an institution in Ottawa. Clark has now sliced into another venture with Linden Pizza, which debuted in April.
Her business ventures follow a certain pattern. “Really it’s about social contact and a sense of community,” she says.
What’s her background?
Clark acquired Bridgehead in 2000 after careers in the technology sector, international development and strategic advice. A former tennis player who moved to Ottawa at 11, she first studied physics at university before switching to earn a Masters in Business Administration (MBA). That led to a fellowship with the Aga Khan Foundation, as well as work with the Bangladesh Rehabilitation Assistance Committee (BRAC). Later, she set up a management development program for engineers and scientists at the high tech firm Newbridge.
What is she known for in Ottawa?
When Bridgehead, then owned by Oxfam Canada, faced financial difficulties, Clark bought the rights to the name and relaunched it as a fair-trade coffee hub. In 2019, Bridgehead was sold to a Toronto firm for $9.5 million. Clark stayed on as the company’s chief culture officer until 2021 and is now no longer associated. Today, her focus is on Linden Pizza.
“Pizza is a lot like coffee,” she said. “It’s an everyday thing that’s really comforting.” A graduate of the San Francisco Baking Institute, she says she’s also fascinated by fermentation and regenerative agriculture.
What do others say about her?
This year, Clark, who is the daughter of former regional chair Peter Clark, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ottawa Business Journal and the Ottawa Board of Trade, recognizing her leadership, innovation and community impact. The Board of Trade said about her: “An entrepreneur, advisor, and advocate, Tracey embodies the spirit of integrity and innovation that defines Ottawa’s business community.”
A little know fact about Tracey Clark
An avid hiker and camper, Clark recently completed the Grand Traverse in Gaspésie at the age of 61.
“A lot of people feel you need to sit to meditate … for me it’s being in motion, walking and finding every moving meditation I can.” In her next decade, she hopes to walk many sections of the Appalachian Trail.
In his final message to his partner, Clark’s favourite poet Seamus Heaney wrote “Don’t be afraid.” The sentiment has guided her and every community she’s built along the way.
