Balance Orléans
Bringing Balance to Orléans
Balance Orléans was launched in 2018 to raise awareness of the lack of major employers in Orléans and the disproportionate concentration of federal government jobs elsewhere in the region. The initiative sought to advocate for a more balanced distribution of employment opportunities and to advance a stronger vision for economic development and redevelopment in Orléans.
The Balance Orléans Task Force, comprised of the BIA and local business leaders, worked to encourage the community to speak with one voice to political leaders: Orléans must be supported to grow as a dynamic and economically strong community alongside the rest of the National Capital Region.
Today, that advocacy continues through the #WhyNotOrléans movement, which builds on this foundation by rallying residents, businesses, and community champions to champion the future of Orléans and ensure the east end receives the attention, investment, and opportunities it deserves.
By the Numbers
The federal government is Ottawa’s largest employer, yet the Balance Orléans Task Force found that fewer than 50 federal jobs were located in Orléans—less than half of one percent.
In a community known for its highly educated and bilingual workforce, most residents still leave the east end every day for employment elsewhere in the city.
With light rail arriving in Orléans, the opportunity to rethink that imbalance is clear.
Through the #WhyNotOrléans movement, the community is asking a simple but powerful question: why shouldn’t more jobs and opportunities be located where people already live?