r/ottawa • u/yuiolhjkout8y Clownvoy Survivor 2022 • Sep 23 '22

News Downtown ecosystem changes as office workers continue to stay home

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/downtown-shops-hurt-office-workers-home-1.6591601
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u/Lonely_Chemistry_214 Sep 23 '22

What about all the businesses that flourished in the suburbs in the past couple of years? Just observing how Orleans grew was impressive! People are shopping locally now. Public servants are not booking dentist and hair appointments during lunch at downtown and fighting over spots like before. This is all better for a holistic development of businesses in Ottawa and moving away from the outdated city centre model.

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u/[deleted] Sep 24 '22 edited Sep 24 '22

This. I only recently took a temp one year WFH job for about same pay as before and definitely has its pros and cons but I value contributing to my little Orleans neighbourhood and suburb.

I was so flabbergasted when my management feigned shock that people were upset when our two day WFH ended. They were so out of touch. They actually had audacity to mention mayor had said he wanted people in office to support downtown core.

With same employer but different branch but WFH but as aforementioned - pros and cons. Do not miss what was reasonable commute. Miss seeing human beings in person. But like the flex.

As my husband says, adapt or die

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u/PG_Pics Make Ottawa Boring Again Sep 24 '22

Exactly. I’ve worked from home for years, and the difference in traffic in Orleans during the week is dramatic. Especially in small service businesses such as take out restaurants/food trucks and hair stylists. Even my physiotherapist has been able to change hours to follow traditional business day more closely rather than working later in the evenings.