On March 24, Ottawa’s business community came together at a sold-out Mayor’s Breakfast with Chief Eric Stubbs of the Ottawa Police Service (OPS), hosted by the Ottawa Board of Trade and the Ottawa Business Journal, for a conversation on how economic growth, downtown revitalization, and public safety are shaping the city’s future.
Downtown Safety Plan and Policing Strategy
Police Chief Eric Stubbs provided a detailed overview of the new downtown core safety plan. The plan focuses on visible, sustained presence in the ByWard Market, Rideau Street, Centretown, Chinatown, and the Parliamentary District during the busy summer season.
Fourteen new neighborhood resource team members will join the effort, supported by officers on bikes, foot patrol, and horseback. Tactical, street crime, and guns and gangs units will conduct targeted enforcement against retail theft, drug trafficking, and prolific offenders.
Chief Stubbs also stressed that safety initiatives must balance enforcement with compassion. OPS is working closely with community partners to address the underlying social challenges that contribute to instability downtown. A formal review of the plan will take place in October to evaluate results and adjust strategies where needed.
Broader Policing Challenges and Innovations
As Canada’s capital, Ottawa faces unique policing demands. The number of demonstrations and diplomatic security requirements continues to grow and place extra pressure on municipal resources. To help offset these responsibilities, the police service has secured additional federal funding and is seeking further support to ensure these duties can be managed without affecting community policing elsewhere in the city.
OPS is also modernizing its structure. Its transition to a district policing model will be fully implemented by January 2027, with a new South District facility opening in May of next year to serve fast-growing suburban communities. This approach will allow for more localized, responsive policing adapted to the needs of rural, suburban, and urban neighborhoods.
Technology is also becoming a key part of this evolution. A pilot program for body-worn cameras is underway, and the service intends to roll out cameras throughout the entire force pending police board approval. The technology includes built-in translation features that have already helped officers communicate quickly with non-English speakers.
Public Safety and Community Wellbeing
A thriving city is built on safety and trust, and both were central themes at the breakfast. Mayor Sutcliffe highlighted the expansion of the ANCHOR program, an alternative crisis response model that sends trained mental health professionals instead of police to certain calls. Following strong results from its pilot, ANCHOR will soon serve the ByWard Market and Lowertown neighborhoods.
The 2026 city budget also includes the largest investment increase in the Ottawa Police Service in more than two decades. This funding has supported the hiring of dozens of new officers over the past three years and expanded the city’s ability to provide effective community policing. Mayor Sutcliffe emphasized that these initiatives are essential to building confidence among residents, visitors, and businesses, all of whom depend on safe and welcoming public spaces.
ByWard Market Revitalization
Ottawa City Council recently approved a new action plan to refresh and renew the ByWard Market, one of Ottawa’s most historic and visited areas. The plan focuses on transforming key spaces to attract more visitors, improve safety, and strengthen local commerce year-round.
Major projects include the redevelopment of the ByWard Market building, turning the 70 Clarence Street parking garage into a new mixed-use site, and redesigning the York Street area into a flexible plaza for public events and gatherings.
Private investment is already aligning with the city’s plan. The soon-to-open History Ottawa live music venue promises to add new energy to the area and attract visitors to local restaurants and retailers. Together, these public and private projects mark the most significant transformation the Market has seen in years and set a long-term vision for its evolution as a cultural and economic hub.
Economic Growth and Business Confidence
Ottawa’s technology sector gained a significant boost with one of our Mayor’s Breakfast sponsors Fortinet’s announcement that it will add 500 new employees to its Ottawa operations, nearly doubling its workforce. The expansion reflects continued confidence in the city’s tech talent and the growing strength of its cybersecurity ecosystem.
Investment is also growing in the defense and national security sector, where hundreds of local firms are contributing to innovation and supply-chain development as federal spending in this area increases. Combined with steady job creation and a stable business environment, these trends position Ottawa for sustainable growth in the years ahead.
Looking Ahead
For the Ottawa Board of Trade, these public safety commitments are not separate from economic strategy. They are a core part of our Downtown Ottawa Action Agenda and our work to build a more inclusive city.
A vibrant downtown depends on streets, transit hubs, and public spaces that feel safe, welcoming, and accessible to everyone who lives, works, visits, or does business there.
As we advance priorities like inclusive growth, downtown revitalization, and a stronger visitor economy, safety is a shared responsibility and a shared opportunity. Business leaders, community partners, and public agencies all have a role to play in creating a downtown where people want to spend time, open businesses, and invest for the long term.
Missed the event? Join us on April 21, 2026 at our next Mayor’s Breakfast with the Honourable Prabmeet Sarkaria, Ontario’s Minister of Transportation and Member of Provincial Parliament for Brampton South.
You can find photos from the breakfast here.