Economic Development

Countdown to the FIFA Women’s World Cup at Lansdowne

Ottawa - The official match schedule for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ was provisionally approved today by the FIFA Executive Committee during a meeting held in Zurich. Nine games, including one quarter-final game, will be hosted by Ottawa.

Fans can now mark their 2015 calendars with the world’s largest women’s soccer tournament that will dominate the Canadian landscape from June 6 until July 5, 2015.

Mistral Venture Partners bring breath of fresh air to Ottawa startup community

Today, Mistral Venture Partners announced the close of their first round of venture capital funding. Originally set to close at $10 million, managing director Code Cubitt, is pleased to announce that this round was oversubscribed. The Fund’s overall target is $35 million. Mistral is the first new fund to close in Ottawa in over a decade and brings a breath of fresh air to Ottawa’s cash-starved startup community.

City of Ottawa again among Canada’s Top 100 employers

Ottawa – Mayor Jim Watson today welcomed the news that the City of Ottawa has been named as one of the Top 100 employers in Canada for a second straight year in a rigorous annual survey conducted for The Globe and Mail newspaper.

“It is a remarkable accomplishment to make this list for two consecutive years,” said Mayor Watson. “This recognition is a reflection of exceptional, hard-working employees who serve the residents of Ottawa every day. Our employees help to make our city a great place to live, work, play and invest.”

Mayor's Remarks to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage

Check Against Delivery

Good morning Mr. Chair and Committee members.

On behalf of the City of Ottawa and my Council colleagues, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you this morning.

It is a great pleasure for me to address you and provide you with the City of Ottawa’s objectives for the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation in 2017.

This promises to be one of the biggest and most significant milestones in our country’s history.

JUNO Host City Kick-Off Event

Ottawa – The Mayor of Ottawa, his Worship Jim Watson, in collaboration with National Capital Commission Chief Executive Officer, Marie Lemay, the Province of Ontario, the Ontario Media Development Corporation and the 2012 JUNO Awards Host Committee would like to invite the public to attend the JUNO Host City Kick-Off Event.

Join host and JUNO Award winner Measha Brueggergosman, along with special guests, for a live performance by 2012 JUNO Award nominees, Ottawa’s own Hollerado.

Date: Wednesday March 28, 2012

Ottawa selected for IBM’s 2012 Smarter Cities Challenge

Ottawa – The City of Ottawa is one of two Canadian cities and 33 municipalities worldwide selected among 150 applicants in the IBM 2012 Smarter Cities Challenge.

As part of the Challenge Program Award, a dedicated IBM team of experts will be loaned to the City for three weeks to assist in its current land use exercise on properties surrounding the planned light-rail transit stations.

Capital Exhibition Centre officially open for business

The new 220,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility was made possible through a public-private partnership with the Shenkman Corporation, the Ottawa Airport Authority and the City of Ottawa, which invested $8.5 million towards the total cost of $39.2 million. It is expected that the CE Centre will inject $30 million annually into the local economy.

Council endorses detailed plans for building the new Lansdowne

Ottawa – City Council today approved detailed reports for the Lansdowne redevelopment, covering everything from the programming at the large new urban park to the updated financial information and awarding of air rights for the residential-commercial portion of the project.

The Council endorsement sets the stage for final approval this spring, including the legal close of the partnership with Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG,) followed by start of construction in June.

Invest Ottawa to bolster economic development

Invest Ottawa, which replaces the Ottawa Centre for Regional Innovation (OCRI), will foster start-up enterprises, attract new investment, and help existing businesses located in Ottawa expand beyond our borders. While OCRI was established in 1983 to leverage the emerging high-tech industry, the development of Invest Ottawa re-focuses the organization on further developing knowledge-based sectors such as green energy, defence and security, photonics, digital media, film and television, and life sciences.

Agreement in principle reached for Ottawa Stadium lease

Ottawa - The City of Ottawa has reached an agreement in principle with a private sector proponent for the Ottawa Stadium that will be recommended to the City’s Finance and Economic Development Committee in a report to be issued later today.

On November 9, 2011, staff presented a report to City Council outlining the process to issue a Request for Offers (RFO) to lease the Ottawa Stadium for long-term baseball use. With Council’s approval, an RFO was issued on November 15, 2011 and closed on December 12, 2011.

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