Ottawa's gay and lesbian community says it wants a gay village to be officially recognized in the Capital.
While many people consider an area of Bank Street between James and Nepean Streets to be Ottawa's gay village, not everyone knows one exists in the Capital.
"I didn't even know there was a gay village in Ottawa," said one man.
That's something Ottawa's gay community hopes will change after a part of Bank Street is ripped up and revitalized this spring.
"Certainly one thing that is of great concern for our community is visibility, you know that's one thing we're sort of struggling with. I think a lot of people don't recognize that this is a burgeoning area and we're trying to sort of create that visibility," said Glenn Crawford, a promoter of Ottawa's gay village.
Suggestions to revamp the village include rainbow banners and unique street signs.
Gay village promoters say the distinction would be good for both local business and tourism in the area.
Vibrant villages in other parts of the country
While vibrant gay villages exist in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, Ottawa's gay and lesbian community says an attempt to draw attention to its gay village has largely been ignored.
Recent plans for a new look on Bank Street disregarded requests from the gay community to give the village a more visible representation.
The BIA which represents businesses in the area is now planning to poll its members on re-branding the area.
"A matter of this nature we want to put it out to the membership," said Gerry Lapage of Ottawa's BIA.
With a report from Dan Robson of the Carleton University School of Journalism
