CaitlinMcKinlay

Glebe BIA Event Support Hiring 2026

The Glebe BIA is hiring (2) event support contractors for an upcoming and busy season in the Glebe!

The Glebe BIA represents over 400 businesses in the heart of Ottawa, in one of the city’s most dynamic and charming neighbourhoods. The BIA team is small, but mighty, and often needs extra hands to make our events happen!

If this sounds like you, please submit your maximum 2-page resume with a short letter of intent as one PDF document, emailed to Julia Rocchi (julia@intheglebe.ca), Events & Placemaking Manager by April 22, 2026.

What We Are Looking For:

We are seeking 2 part-time onsite event support employees to assist our small but mighty team in its spring & summer event operations from May to September.

We’re looking for people who:

• Love people, like to shop local and value community
• Can work on their feet, like to be outdoors and love to get their step-count high
• Have experience working at community events, outdoor festivals, or some experience working in a customer service setting (like Retail or Food & Bev)
• Quick-thinking, like to solve problems and are happy to chat face-to-face and in-person
• Live in/around downtown Ottawa, with easy access to the Glebe neighbourhood (from Bank and Isabella to Bank and Wilton)
• Work will be scheduled according to the Event Calendar

The Details:

• Must be available to work daytime on Saturdays in May and June
• The event schedule will vary depending on the month
• Tasks will vary and will include outdoor work
• Other Availability: this will be a casual and part-time role
• Compensation: The pay range is $21 – $25/hour, depending on relevant experience and skillset. Event Support will be required to invoice for hours worked.

That’s a wrap on another exciting season of Glebe Spree! Our beloved annual holiday shopping contest brought festive cheer, community connection and an extra reason to support local in the Glebe. This year’s contest saw over 19,200 entries, which totals over $2.8 million in local spending in the Glebe!

From late November through December, shoppers collected ballots with every $15 spent at participating businesses — and once again, the response was overwhelming. We’re thrilled to announce this year’s four $2,500 Grand Prize Winners: Rachel D., Ashleigh M., Laura F., and Lori K. Congratulations to all! 

We’re incredibly proud of how Glebe Spree continues to showcase the strength and vibrancy of our business community. None of it would be possible without the support of our generous Grand Prize sponsors, who help us bring this beloved campaign to life each year. 

Poulet Rouge Bank Street joined us as a Grand Prize Sponsor in 2025, and we’re excited to welcome them to the neighbourhood! This proudly Canadian healthy fast-food chain offers fresh, flavourful bowls made with high-quality ingredients and served with fast, friendly service. Whether you’re craving something light, hearty or tailored to your dietary needs, Poulet Rouge delivers well-balanced meals that fit your lifestyle. 

We also extend our sincere thanks to Amica The Glebe, another valued Grand Prize Sponsor, for their continued community support. Located at 33 Monk Street, Amica The Glebe offers elegant senior living right in the heart of our neighbourhood. With its warm, welcoming environment and full continuum of care — including Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care — residents enjoy comfort, security and dignity at every stage of life.  

On behalf of the Glebe BIA, thank you to everyone who shopped local, participated in Glebe Spree and helped make this year’s campaign such a success. We’re grateful to our sponsors, participating businesses and all the shoppers who continue to support small businesses and strengthen our local economy. 

We’ll see you again in 2026  —but until then, keep showing your Glebe love all year long! 

Grab your favourite, local seasonal latté, admire the twinkle lights on the Bank Street trees, take in the stunning storefront displays, and discover a new local gem, because the Glebe’s favourite holiday tradition is back, bigger and brighter than ever before!

Glebe Spree 2025 has officially arrived, bringing festive fun, community connection and endless chances to win a local shopping spree! From November 15 to December 31, every purchase you make at participating Glebe businesses gets you closer to winning. Whether you’re shopping for gifts, enjoying a cozy café or simply running errands, every purchase in the Glebe gets you closer to an amazing prize.

This year, the Glebe Business Improvement Area is giving you six chances to win, with two $1,000 Early Bird Prizes and four $2,500 Grand Prize Shopping Sprees up for grabs! Whether you’re hunting for holiday gifts, indulging in local eats or supporting your favourite small businesses, every purchase brings you closer to a win — right here in the heart of the Glebe.

For every $15 you spend before tax, you’ll receive a sticker. Once you’ve collected 10 stickers (that’s $150 worth of purchases), you can submit a completed Glebe Spree ballot to enter the prize draw.

Local shoppers can enter to win:

🎉 2 x $1,000 Early Bird Prizes – Submit your completed ballot by December 7 to be eligible.

🛍️ 4 x $2,500 Grand Prizes – All completed ballots submitted by December 31 will be entered into the final draw.

Glebe Spree isn’t just about prizes; it’s about celebrating the heart of the neighbourhood. As you collect stickers and explore participating shops, you’ll rediscover what makes the Glebe so special: friendly faces, charming storefronts and the festive buzz of a community coming together to keep things warm in the cold winter months.

Ballots are available now at participating businesses across the Glebe, so be sure to pick one up during your next visit. With over 120 Glebe Spree Stores, it is easier than ever to fill your ballot while supporting your favourite shops, cafes and services.

A heartfelt thank you to our 2025 sponsors: Amica the Glebe and Poulet Rouge for supporting this year’s Grand Prizes, and The Effect Healing Collective for sponsoring the Early Bird Prizes. Your generosity helps make this cherished community tradition possible.

Let’s make this holiday season one to remember. Shop local, collect your stickers and be part of something special, right here in the Glebe.

For full contest details, visit glebespree.ca

Small businesses are the heartbeat of our community. The Glebe Business Improvement Area (BIA) was thrilled to celebrate Small Business Week this month with a series of exciting events and initiatives that shone a spotlight on the incredible businesses that make our neighbourhood special. 

Running from October 19 to 25, Small Business Week is a national celebration that recognizes the vital role small businesses play in our economy and communities. Here in the Glebe, we’re home to nearly 400 diverse businesses – from cozy cafés and boutique shops to professional services and innovative startups. Each one contributes to the unique character and vibrant atmosphere that residents and visitors love about our neighbourhood. 

 

How We Celebrated Small Business Week 

Ottawa Small Business Summit 

Our week began at the Ottawa Small Business Summit, an all-day event dedicated to learning, collaboration, and inspiration. The Glebe BIA team attended alongside our OCOBIA partners, joining the Ottawa business community for a day filled with valuable insights and meaningful connections. 

The summit featured an engaging educational workshop hosted by Glebe BIA member, seoplus+, offering practical strategies to help small businesses strengthen their online presence. It was a fantastic opportunity to share ideas, learn from local experts, and connect, all while supporting Ottawa’s business community. 

Member Social 

We kicked off our local celebrations with a Member Social at the CAA North & East Ontario Head Office – a warm and welcoming morning gathering that brought together new and longstanding Glebe businesses. Fueled with coffee and a light breakfast from Glebe BIA Members Wild Oat Bakery, Olgas Catering and Whole Foods Market, members had the chance to mingle, share stories and connect over the shared challenges and triumphs of running a business. 

Our Executive Director, Darrell Cox, shared a few words about the importance of community and collaboration, followed by remarks from CAA North & East Ontario’s President, Jeff Walker, who emphasized the value of local partnerships. The morning was a wonderful reminder of the strength and spirit that defines the Glebe’s business community. 

 

Instagram Story Takeover 

To bring the celebration online, we launched our Small Business Week Instagram Story Takeover series – featuring two beloved Glebe businesses giving followers an inside look at what makes their shops unique. 

First up was The Bunker, an indoor golf simulator owned by Matt Williams. Matt shared how his business began to our 15,000 InTheGlebe Instagram followers. The pandemic inspired him to pursue his passion of golf and leave the world of accounting behind. He also showcased their state-of-the-art golf rooms, where visitors come not just to play, but to connect and have fun. His takeover highlighted the strong sense of community that defines The Bunker — and how they, in turn, support other local businesses. 

 

 

To wrap up the series, Compact Music, led by owner Ian Boyd, took followers inside their store, which they lovingly describe as an “art gallery for music.” Ian showed off their extensive collection of vinyl, CDs and DVDs, talked about the evolving experience of running a small business, and shared why customers keep coming back — for the music, the atmosphere, and the personal touch. He also offered a few gift ideas for music lovers ahead of the busy holiday season. 

 

Both Matt and Ian shared thoughtful advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: lead with passion, have fun, connect with your community, and never lose sight of what makes your business uniquely yours. 

 

Why Small Business Week Matters 

Small businesses are more than just places to shop and dine – they are where relationships are built, where neighbours become friends, and where our community identity takes shape. They create local jobs, support community initiatives, and invest in the neighbourhood’s future. 

The energy and enthusiasm we saw throughout Small Business Week reminded us why shopping locally matters so much. From the connections made at our Member Social to the stories shared during our Instagram takeovers, this week highlighted the passion and dedication of Glebe business owners. 

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Thank You 

Thank you to everyone who participated in Small Business Week. Whether you attended events, followed along on social media, or simply stopped by your favourite local business, your support makes all the difference to the entrepreneurs who call the Glebe home. 

Special thanks to CAA North and East Ontario for allowing us to use their space for our member social. A special thanks to The Bunker and Compact Music for sharing your stories with our community during our Instagram takeover series. 

While Small Business Week may be over, we encourage everyone to continue supporting local year-round. Every visit, every purchase and every recommendation helps our small businesses thrive. 

Here’s to our small businesses – the big heart of the Glebe!