This month, we’re celebrating our 30th anniversary! Our birthday was just a few days ago on Friday. To celebrate, we’ve been meeting with former OVC Board members, and some others who have been along for the ride. We’re reflecting on three decades of tourism and considering what the future may hold. Join us, as we look back on local tourism’s evolution, some Ottawa Visitors Center history, and a special guest’s unique perspectives.

This entry’s special guest is Marla Pearson, the Commissioner of Streets & Public Improvements (Public Property). She has overseen major renovations to multiple city parks, the development of Bill’s Barking Lot (the first dog park in Ottawa), and more. She first explained her background in Ottawa and at the City.

“Having lived in Ottawa for most of my life and served as a City of Ottawa Commissioner for the last seven years, I have had the opportunity to work closely with OVC on various events,” Marla said.

“While I have long been familiar with the organization, being involved has given me a deeper appreciation for the work that happens behind the scenes. I truly believe this partnership has been instrumental in putting Ottawa on the map.”

The collaboration between the OVC, the City of Ottawa, and other organizations allows everything to come full circle. We’ve been exploring the differing facets of local tourism throughout this series, to focus on just how important working together truly is. Our community partners and others know a lot about what goes on behind the scenes here. We’re glad Marla mentioned this, because our work allows us to share our lovely community with tourists near and far, and we’ve been so happy to share these behind the scenes interviews with everyone! We next asked Marla what tourism, in relation to Ottawa, means to her.

“Tourism has not only brought success to our small businesses, but has also brought in new neighbors who fell in love with our town,” she said.

These small and local businesses are one of the many pieces of the mosaic that is Ottawa. That’s why we’re the Middle of Everywhere – a colorful blend of people, interests, and more. As tourism increases, we’ll see more tourists who may eventually decide to become locals, or even see former locals return. This all just contributes to making our mosaic bigger and better than ever. We’re always happy to help out a new arrival in town with a Hello Neighbor packet too! Since we’re getting reflective for our 30th birthday, we next asked Marla how she feels tourism has evolved over the last 30 years in Ottawa.

“Over the years, social media has played a huge part in bringing tourism to Ottawa. The fact that we are reaching so many more people than we were 30 years ago, is huge. I know personally, when I see an event or ad from another town that piques my interest, I make a point to check it out,” she explained.

Nowadays, people from all over can use social media to learn about Ottawa. Our Facebook and Instagram accounts allow us to connect with more people than ever before. It allows us to post blogs like these and updates on the latest happenings, so that everyone can know about our great community. Especially important, we can let people know about all of the great events and attractions in town. We asked Marla if she had a favorite event or attraction from over the years.

“I really enjoy the Fall Festival and the Festival of Lights Parade. I also enjoyed hiding ornaments around town and in the parks, for the Hot Glass Hunt,” said Marla.

Ottawa’s assortment of iconic events are yet another draw to the community. There have been man beloved events and festivals in town throughout the years, some of which are no longer with us. We asked Marla if there are any events that she’d like to return, or if she would prefer to see something new.

“I love parades. I really do miss the Friendship Parade,” she said.

The Friendship Parade was another of our beloved events. In a town like Ottawa, the possibilities for festivals, attractions, and more, are almost endless. Perhaps one day, the town could see a returned or revitalized version of this iconic parade. Only time will tell, but we can’t wait to keep sharing the history, heart, and stories of this community – for years to come. To round out our interview, we asked Marla if she had any closing thoughts on looking to the future of Ottawa tourism.

“The success of tourism relies on organizations like OVC, the Chamber of Commerce, The Events Board, and Volunteers. It is a lot of work and right now we have the best.”

Many thanks to Marla! Our interview series for our 30th anniversary is winding down, but we still have a few left for you! Stay tuned on the rest of our blog or our Facebook page. Thank you for 30 years in the Middle of Everywhere.