Heart of Orléans BIA | 245 Centrum Boulevard Orléans K1E 0A1 613.580.2424 x.23900 | info@heartoforleans.ca | heartoforleans.ca

2017

THE HEART OF ORLÉANS BIA

Message from the Chair I’ve had the privilege of serving on the Board of Management for three years, and serving a full year as Chair. Looking back on 2017, I’m pleased to share what we’ve accomplished as a team and as a small not-for-profit organization.

Some of our key achievements are:

Crafting our Clear, Powerful Voice. We wanted to equip every Board and BIA member with one simple message of what the BIA is all about. We worked hard to develop compelling messaging in plain language, that enables us to speak more effectively, and with one common voice.

Our Business Ambassadors met with most of our businesses in 2017, which was a priority this year. Our re-created toolkit for BIA members and prospective new businesses is available online to read, share, and learn about ways members can deepen their involvement in the BIA.

One of the things I am most proud of are our Vibrant Festivals and Events. The BIA was the presenting sponsor of the Orléans Craft Beer Festival and Orléans Ribfest, two of the biggest events in Orléans in 2017. We continued our weekly summer market for the second year, and Dinner Under the Stars, our signature event for 2017, was a tremendous success.

Please read on to learn more about our 2017 initiatives, which work together to reinforce the economic strength of the BIA district.

We’ve also highlighted some directions looking toward 2018. And I’d like to thank each and every one of you who participate in BIA initiatives throughout the year, we could not do this without you.

Inside this Report Our Mandate, Vision & Core Values ................................................. 2

Reporting on Pillars of the BIA:

Strategy & Governance ............................................................................. 3

Advocacy & Member Engagement .................................................. 4

Marketing & Promotion .............................................................................. 5

Streetscape & Beautification ................................................................ 6

Vibrant Festivals & Events ....................................................................... 7

Financial Statements and Auditor’s Report 2016 .................. 8

Budgets 2017 & 2018 .................................................................................. 9

Meet the Board of Management ..................................................... 10

Social Media Snapshot ............................................................................ 10

Annual Report

Kim Ziebell, Chair

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Our Vision

The BIA takes a leadership role in attracting the kind of businesses that makes the Heart of Orléans distinct. The BIA represents the heart of the community of Orléans as the place of choice for our community to shop for specialty goods, professional services, high quality service, unique dining and entertainment, and at shops that are often local and family-run businesses.

We’re committed to nurturing an engaged and enthusiastic membership that reflects and values our vibrant community.

The BIA helps to create a beautiful, trendy destination. We strive to reflect the unique heritage of the area as the original “main street” of Orléans, but also work to develop a modern St-Joseph district as a place that is a vibrant, walkable and mixed-use space.

Our Core Values

Leadership. We strive to be a strong community leader, influencing decisions and inspiring positive change.

Generating wealth. All our activities help support long-term economic development in our district.

Advocacy. We are committed to advocating for and promoting our district, and empowering our members.

Partnership. Helping our members connect and collaborate with each other, and working with key players in the broader community of Orléans.

Mandate

• Promote the area as a district

• Advocate on behalf of its members

• Help beautify and/or make improvements to streetscape

All with the goal to improve the economic strength of the district.

I’m proud to serve the business community of Orléans and work on its behalf. Each day is different at the BIA – whether we’re working to bring a festival to the district, collaborating with other economic development groups, promoting St-Joseph businesses, or bringing some beauty to the Boulevard – seeing the impact right here in Orléans is incredibly fulfilling.

-Jasmine Brown, Executive Director

It is very fulfilling working with the Heart of Orléans BIA as it allows me to be part of a close-knit community of unique, home-grown businesses and offers the chance to encourage folks from across the city to visit Orléans through the various events offered throughout the year. This year, I believe we put Orléans on the map with the Orléans Craft Beer Festival, Ribfest and our Dinner Under the Stars event. I look forward to continuing that trend next year.

-Tannis Vine, Assistant

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Highlights from 2017:

• Improving and updating our governance materials, which guide every aspect of our work. • Continuing to improve our annual strategic planning process, to focus on the things that have the most

positive impact for our members. • Third annual report to BIA membership and City Council. • Continuing to build strategic partnerships in the community. Successes include our ongoing work with the

Orléans Chamber of Commerce, the Société franco-ontarienne du partimoine et de l’histoire d’Orléans (SFOPHO), the Shenkman Arts Centre, and newer collaborations such as with the Orléans Community Garden.

Directions for 2018:

• Getting more strategic about core initiatives - they need to be highly aligned to our mission, and the BIA must have the capacity to executive them well.

Strategy & Governance

• Business for Breakfast • Did you know that the BIA partners with the Orléans Chamber of

Commerce to bring you the biggest monthly business networking event in Orléans? At Business for Breakfast you’ll meet the movers and shakers of Ottawa’s east end, hear from engaging keynote speakers, and get more plugged in to community events. Join us on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 am at the Camelot Golf and Country Club.

It has been great to work with Jasmine, Tannis and my colleague Jody Mitic in seeing the BIA excel in attracting businesses and developing a future plan for St-Joseph Boulevard to be transformed into a place where residents can walk, cycle or drive. In addition to this, it has been my pleasure to work with the BIA towards the creation of Festival Plaza where we have seen the success of the first ever Craft Beer Festival in Orléans as well as the return of the Orléans Ribfest.

-Bob Monette, Deputy Mayor and Councillor, Orléans Ward

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Highlights from 2017:

• Creating a new Member Engagement Team, as member engagement was identified as a priority for 2017. • Roll out of our Ambassador Program in 2017; face-to-face visits and member packages hand-delivered to

most BIA businesses. • Building out resources for members, including a new toolkit for BIA businesses with information on the

benefits of the BIA, initiatives to take advantage of, and how to get involved. • Improving information and benefits for prospective members and associate members. • The BIA continues to advocate on behalf of its members to all levels of government, through formal and

informal channels.

Directions for 2018:

• Capacity in a volunteer-led organization is challenging. The BIA will continue to focus on engaging members, and look to more effective ways to building our capacity on teams and volunteers on BIA initiatives.

• Focusing on ways to engage our members online, including the members’ portal.

Advocacy & Member Engagement

As Councillor for Innes Ward, I am proud to share the Heart of Orléans BIA with my council colleague, Bob Monette. I have been happy to participate in such activities as the Orléans Beer Fest and Ribfest right here in our backyard.

-Jody Mitic, Councillor, Innes Ward

Help Make a Difference! Are you looking for a way to get more involved in the local business community, help out with some of the biggest festivals in Orléans, and build lasting connections? We’d be happy to talk with you about your expertise and how we could work together!

We are actively looking to build our Teams (committees) that lead some of the most fun, challenging and meaningful initiatives in Orléans.

Joining the BIA was a way for me to make a difference in the community I grew up in. I love getting to know local business owners and helping them keep the charm of Orléans going.

-Stephanie Larente, Board Member 2016-2017

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Highlights from 2017:

• Crafted clear, powerful voice for the BIA, which has been implemented through a range of tactics, from social media engagement, to written materials, to face-to-face interactions.

• First full year of The Beat / Le rythme, our bilingual flagship marketing tool that highlights the offerings in our district, and the stories behind our businesses.

• Updating BIA banners at the roundabout and along the Boulevard, as well as refacing St-Joseph gateway signs.

• Highest engagement to date through social media channels (see Social Media Snapshot for more details). Social media continues to bring the biggest impact on community awareness of the BIA and its initiatives and events, and community participation.

Directions for 2018:

• Continue to implement the BIA’s Marketing Strategic Plan, as capacity allows. • Focus on advertising local offerings in The Beat.

Marketing & Promotion

Subscribe to The Beat / Le rythme • The Beat / Le rythme is Orléans’ only monthly, fully

bilingual e-magazine. Each issue, we publish curated content that showcases the personal stories behind our businesses, highlight upcoming festivals and events, and celebrate the history of St-Joseph Boulevard with some help from SFOPHO.

• The Beat received a MarCom Platinum award in 2017, by the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals, thanks to the creative work of Communicarium.

•

St-Joseph Boulevard is a thriving business district that offers unique services unlike the typical box-store retail areas. The BIA has provided me with an opportunity to make a difference within the community and help initiate business improvements. I look forward to working with the various board members and community representatives to promote and drive business to the “heart of Orléans”.

-Meghan Fish-Bellefleur, Board Member

I chose to establish my business in the Heart of Orléans BIA for the visibility, the sense of community and the quality of surrounding businesses.

-Renée LeBlanc, Treasurer and Chair of Marketing and Member Engagement Teams

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Highlights from 2017:

• Held community meeting in Spring 2017 to gather input on beautification projects for St-Joseph Boulevard. • Developed and implemented planter program in collaboration with Laporte’s Nursery, to bring blooms to

participating BIA businesses. • Fourth annual Spring event, Cleaning the Capital, brought together over 75 community members,

businesses, and other organizations. • The BIA spends over $10K per year to remove graffiti in the district.

Directions for 2018:

• Mindful of Stage 2 LRT coming into the district and how this will impact St-Joseph Boulevard, the BIA continues to look for avenues to fund our complete street concept for St-Joseph Boulevard.

Streetscape & Beautification

I am glad to be a part of the BIA, an organization that can create a vision for St-Joseph and then pursue it. More importantly, I feel that all cities have a heart that makes it a real community and not just bricks and mortar…and that heart for Orléans is St-Joseph Boulevard…always has been and always will be. The people of St-Joseph have to ensure we keep that Heart healthy and I choose to do that through the BIA. A long-term vision with diversity will ensure the long-term success for a street where we can all live, work and play.

-Doug Feltmate, Board Member

I am on the Board of the BIA to be in the know about the goings on in Orléans. I enjoy being part of the Orléans community and the BIA allows me to be involved in planning community events and activities. The BIA is such a great interactive association and an integral part of Orléans.

-Julie Pangilinan, Chair of the Streetscape Team

Vision for a Vibrant St-Joseph • Did you know that the Heart of Orléans BIA has a

long-term vision for streetscape? A revitalized streetscape in the BIA would provide the infrastructure needed to help grow the local economy, particularly as light rail comes to Orléans in 2022. It would also develop a more vibrant heart of the community, and encourage walking, biking and driving. Would you like to learn more, or get involved in helping the BIA make this vision a reality? Contact us!

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Highlights from 2017:

• Dinner Under the Stars, the BIA’s signature event for celebrating 2017, was a strong success, featuring local food, beer and wine, and a local venue.

• Partnering with large festivals and helping promote and showcase local content is a success we continued to build on in 2017.

• Presenting sponsor and content provider for 2nd annual Orléans Ribfest (coordinated celebrity judges, kids zone, advocated for community vendors and entertainment, and promotion).

• Presenting sponsor for 1st annual Orléans Craft Beer Festival, with 3,000 people attending over 3 days. • Partner / sponsor on several other events, including the Health and Wellness Expo, Fete Frissons, Canada

Day at Petrie Island, Carivibe, and Santa’s Parade of Lights. • 2nd year of the Heart of Orléans Marché, which featured 16 Sundays of fresh, local and handmade wares.

Directions for 2018:

• The BIA is discontinuing the Marché in 2018. Moving forward, the BIA will take lessons learned from the Marché, and focus our effects on what we do best - community building and showcasing local business and local content - by bringing this component to larger events in our district.

• Continue to promote the district as the place where community happens in Orléans.

Vibrant Festivals & Events

Ribfest 2017

I am very proud to be a part of the Heart of Orléans BIA. I have chaired the Festivals and Events activity for the last year. We have achieved the greatest event that commemorated Canada 150, Dinner Under the Stars. The success of that event makes me so proud of our community and all the people that make this beautiful place that we call Orléans.

-Rita Chalabi, former Board Member and current Chair of the Festivals & Events Team

I grew up in Orléans, I work in Orléans and I am now raising my family in this wonderful community. It was important to me to give back to my community by my experience and knowledge and what better way to start than with “The Heart” of Orléans.

-Pascale Bazinet, Chair of the Marché Team

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Financial Statement and Auditor’s Report for 2016 The BIA was audited by 3rd party audit by Ernst & Young found financial statements were presented fairly and in accordance with Canadian accounting standards. The full report is available to BIA members.

Statement of Operations, Year ended December 31, 2016

Budget 2016 $ Actual 2016 $

REVENUE

Tax revenue 190,000 198,189

Sundry revenue 10,000 20,865

Payments in lieu of taxation 200,000 219,054

EXPENSES

Salaries 81,000 78,271

Office 35,400 37,917

Advertising and promotion 42,700 19,261

Audit 1,300 1,437

Insurance 4,700 3,791

Professional and consulting 23,000 15,698

Maintenance 24,000 23,513

Furniture and equipment 500 534

Rent 2,400 4,451

215,000 184,872

Annual Surplus (Deficit) (15,000) 34,182

Accumulated Surplus, Start of Year 89,561 89,561

Accumulated Surplus, End of Year 74,561 123,743

I loved my experience working with the BIA and the Marché! The support for both the vendors and the community was amazing to see and I loved working so closely with Pascale, Tannis and Jasmine. All around it was one of the most fun and rewarding projects I have worked on.

-Dara Brown, Manager of the Heart of Orléans Marché

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Heart of Orléans BIA Budgets 2017 and 2018

Budget 2017 $ Budget 2018 $

REVENUE

General Taxes -198,000 -198,000

Remissions 5,000 5,000

Vacancy Rebate 5,000 7,000

Contribution from Reserve Funds -38,000 -40,000

Other Revenue, Events - -16,000

Other Revenue, Marché -16,000 -

Other Revenue, Beautification -9,000 -9,000

TOTAL REVENUE -251,000 -251,000

EXPENSES

Administration Expenses

Salary and Benefits 95,000 109,000

Insurance, Legal and Professional Fees 10,300 10,300

Administrative Expenses 15,400 16,500

Hospitality and Event Expenses 7,300 7,300

Office and Rent 3,800 4,200

131,800 147,300

Marketing, Promotion and Events

Postage, Translation 800 2,300

Advertising, Promotion 24,000 24,000

Consultants 15,000 15,000

Printing, Photography 10,000 10,000

Website 2,000 2,000

Events 42,000 25,000

93,800 78,300

Streetscape & Beautification

Historical Plaques 2,000 2,000

Street Assets 10,000 10,000

Graffiti Removal 10,000 10,000

Hydro 1,000 1,000

Miscellaneous 2,400 2,400

25,400 25,400

TOTAL EXPENSES 251,000 251,000

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The BIA Board and Leadership Team, L to R: Renée LeBlanc, Julie Pangilinan, Doug Feltmate, Kim Ziebell, Meghan Bellefleur, Tannis Vine (Assistant), and Jasmine Brown (Executive Director). Missing: Pascale Bazinet. Appointed Board Members: Deputy Mayor and Councillor Bob Monette, Councillor Jody Mitic.

Say hello.

Heartoforleans.ca /HeartOfOrleans @HeartOfOrleans

Please hashtag away, with #HeartOfOrleans and #TheBoulevard

Social Media Snapshot

Our social media presence continues to grow. More importantly, community members are increasingly looking to the BIA as a go-to source of local content.

• We have 28 percent more followers on Facebook, with 1857 people Liking our page (up from 1454 last year).

• Facebook Reach increased up to tenfold over the last year:

• Our top 5 posts had a reach of 431,134, which is seven times greater than last year’s reach of 61,800

• Our top 10 posts had a reach of 699,852, which is ten times greater than last year’s reach of 70,000.

• BIA Facebook fans continue to be mostly women (74 percent), and the largest age group of users is 35-44.

• We’ve also seen a 20 percent increase in Twitter followers (1639 followers, up from 1367 last year).

• We added Instagram to our social media strategy in October, to target a younger demographic.