Leaders in Ottawa's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) community say there's a solid business case behind designating an area of Bank Street as a gay-friendly "village," but city hall and the local BIA have been slow to embrace the idea.
The GLBT community was disappointed last week when the city unveiled beautification plans for portions of Bank Street without any official mention, despite two years of lobbying efforts.
Glenn Crawford, who operates a graphic design studio in Ottawa's unofficial GLBT area in Centretown, said not being included was not a business-savvy move for a city that should be interested in tapping into the "pink dollar" or in retaining a vibrant and diverse nightlife.
It could help in revitalizing an otherwise downtrodden portion of the strip, he said. Is Ottawa letting pink dollars slip through its fingers?
Ottawa Business Journal, Canada
