About Us

Our mission is to bring spaces to life with compassion and intention, engagement and empowerment, where commerce is a celebration of shared values. We build our community by caring about the impact our actions have.

The Old Strathcona Business Association (OSBA) represents the interests of nearly 600 businesses in the Old Strathcona and Whyte Avenue district.

We focus on priorities voiced by our members: programs and services in the areas of cleanliness, beautification, business support, marketing, advocacy and mobility. We represent our members’ shared goals, drive creative solutions forward and take meaningful action to constantly improve the District Whyte experience.

We operate strategically at the intersection of businesses, local policymakers, non-profit organizations, and all of the people who make up our community. The district overlaps 4 neighbourhoods: Garneau, Queen Alexandra, Strathcona, and Ritchie. District Whyte is a diverse community that is reflected in the types of businesses, services, arts and culture organizations that are the backbone of what we do.

Annual Reports and Plans

What we do

There are many roles that a BIA, or business improvement area can play in the community, some of our core services at the Old Strathcona Business Association are:

What is a BIA?

Business Improvement Areas are formed by a collective group of business owners representing a specific geographic area. Together, they form an association with the purpose of promoting and improving the local economy of that business district. BIAs exist worldwide, and Canada is home to almost 350! Edmonton’s 13 diverse BIAs represent almost 4000 businesses. The Edmonton Council of Business Improvement Areas brings together voices from across the city to increase awareness and amplify advocacy efforts among stakeholders.

View the BIA map

History

In 1899 the town of Old Strathcona was considered its own municipality, separate from the City of Edmonton. In 1907, Old Strathcona received its own designation as a city, and in 1912 amalgamated with the city of Edmonton.

A defining characteristic of the Old Strathcona neighborhood is its historical buildings, many of which are more than 100 years old. The oldest building is the Strathcona Hotel, which was built by the railway in 1891. After the amalgamation of the cities, Strathcona went into an economic slump, with very little re-development occurring. Growth would remain slow in the area until the 1970’s when the area again became a hub for supplying goods and services, this growth continued through the 1990’s with many new bars and restaurants established, and the area became known for its nightlife, soon becoming Edmonton’s premiere entertainment district. Over time, retailers, and other businesses helped develop a balance between the day and night time economies, and more events took hold, such as the Edmonton International Fringe Festival, Ice on Whyte Festival, and Pride celebrations.

In 2007, the Province of Alberta granted the City of Edmonton’s request and the area was designated a Provincial Heritage Area.

View the Historical Walking Tour map