City council’s next challenge

Re: Ottawa did well in hosting Canada 150, Mayor Jim Watson, Dec. 27.

The “epic year” of 2017 was due to two factors: the excellent quality of people in the national capital, and the corresponding quality of leadership at City Hall represented by a supremely competent mayor and qualified city council. Ottawa needed to be noticed nationally and internationally. In 2017, we can say “mission accomplished.”

The issue, however, is to have a vision and a plan of sustained energy and visibility to make Ottawa a potential destination for tourists and businesses. 2017 was a step in that direction.

But to have years of excellence in the future, we need some of the following:

Continued civic engagement and interest by the population in lifting the city from its image as a stale and boring place.

Continued confidence and quality of elected officials at city hall.

A plan of action to revamp and enlarge the city’s infrastructure.

The rejuvenation and modernization of the By Ward Market area to attract the young and millennials.

An aggressive marketing campaign in the United States.

The success of the La Machine and its four days of magic in July was a striking example of how hungry the people of Ottawa and surrounding areas are to innovate and entertain new ideas and adventures. Elie Mikhael Nasrallah, Ottawa.