The Preston Street Business Improvement Area - BIA - was established in 1987 in cooperation with Mac Harb, Alderman with the  City of Ottawa. The Association was enacted under Provincial legislation. There are over 100 businesses with an assessment value of over $3 million. 

Approximately 1000 employees work in the area which does not include the Energy, Mines and Resources campus closeby. The area generates at least $25 million per year for the Ottawa region.

Little Italy has served as the first home for Ottawa's Italian population in the past, present and future. The area is famous for producing interesting personalities and leading figures in the Ottawa community. Descendants of Irish, French and now the Asian community can also call the area home.

We have recently initiated a project to collect the stories and photos of the people and places of the early days in our village. Industry Canada's Digital Heritage Initiative has produced a great site that tells just a few of the stories of the founding of this neighbourhood.

We highly recommend this site.

http://collections.ic.gc.ca/OttawaItalians/Community/community.htm

If you have photos or stories that you feel should be part of our archive, please contact the BIA office.

Lori Mellor
Executive Director
Preston Street BIA

Additional info re: history -  Joe Cotroneo ( Pub Italia ) 232 - 2326. 248 Preston Street Corso Italia Ottawa K1R 7R4 Tel.613.231-2815 Fax 613.232-423