Les Gagne relieved of duties as Sparks Street BIA boss

Les Gagne, who helped overhaul Sparks Street and bring some life to the downtown Ottawa pedestrian mall, no longer heads the Sparks Street Business Improvement Area, CBC News has learned.

The BIA’s board quietly cut Gagne loose after he served for more than two years as the board's executive director.

In an email to Sparks Street merchants, the board’s treasurer said that as of Nov. 3, Gagne was "relieved of his duties as executive director of the Sparks BIA and the Sparks Street Mall Authority."

No reason was given for Gagne’s departure and members of the board have declined to comment.

Gagne also refused to comment on his departure. No details have been released about his replacement.

• Sparks Street farmers market vendors close shop

After being brought on in June 2012, Gagne’s tenure was a busy one, as he presided over several food festivals including Poutinefest and Ribfest. The self-described "eternal optimist" also brought several parties to Sparks Street, including an annual New Year’s Eve event and Latin dance parties.

Gagne had also promised a zipline for the pedestrian mall, which never came to fruition, and introduced a valet parking project to bring in revenue.

New bars open, old businesses closed

His tenure did see the introduction of new bars and restaurants, including 3 Brewers and the soon-to-be-opened Bier Markt. However, longtime fixtures have been forced to close — Holt Renfrew, The Green Dragon and Yesterday’s.

The former BIA boss also faced challenges, including backlash from restaurants after a farmers market opened up featuring vendors who sold hot food. After some restaurants protested, the market shrunk to just one vendor: Art Is In Bakery.

There was also seemingly endless construction by Public Works that stretched along the north side of the Sparks Street.

Retail analyst Barry Nabotian said the BIA will have a few opportunities in the near future, particularly with construction winding down.

"There are quite a large number of condominiums that have been completed and more people are living there, The Canadian dollar is low and that means there will be more tourism," he said Tuesday.

"Also at 90 Elgin Street, the new office tower, there will be at least 3,000 new employees there and they will be very close to Sparks Street."

Nabotian said the BIA will have to work to create the right mix of businesses to take advantage of those new opportunities and try to bring in unique, signature stores to generate excitement.

One business he said will help Sparks Street, the Bier Markt restaurant near O'Connor Street, is set to open Monday.

The BIA's website also promises details soon for one of their bigger events, the third annual New Years Eve party.