The SHOPTALK tour continues, and we couldn't make our way through the east coast without stopping at Birling, the skate shop & coffee shop in Canada's capital. Skater owned and operated, Birling has become a core staple in Ottawa, holding down the community and putting in work behind the scenes to foster the skate culture in a city people don't often associate with skateboarding. But Ottawa has a lot to offer, with skaters like Spencer Hamilton and Wade Desarmo hailing from this place, it's a city with way more cool than you might think. We sat down with Adam, one of the four minds behind Birling, to chat about the Ottawa skate scene and what Birling is doing to make it a Canadian skateboarding destination.
CSB: What is the Birling origin story? Is there a special story behind the name?
Birling: Birling is a skateboard shop and café located in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. It was founded in April 2017 by four friends that grew up skateboarding together. We’ve always believed that skateshops which are owned and operated by people who actively skate in their communities are the best kind, and Ottawa didn’t have that kind of shop at the time. While visiting other cities across the world, we’ve check out these kinds of shops and have seen the positive impact that they can bring. Going out and skating with our community, listening to them and acting on their needs/wants is the most important thing we do, and often, those same needs/wants are ours as well! We are skaters in Ottawa too, after all. It’s in the best interest of the shop to have the Ottawa skate scene be as great as it can be. That’s what we’re always working towards.
“Birling” is a verb used to describe rotating and balancing on a log in the water with your feet. It’s a log driving term and a nod to Ottawa’s historical roots with the lumber industry. We incorporate elements of Ottawa’s history into a lot of our graphics. It’s a fun and consistent theme with endless subjects to consider. It makes for great talking points with customers too! Birling is also a poetic analogy for skateboarding. We balance and rotate on wood using our feet as well…we just prefer streets to rivers.
CSB: It seems that community building and storytelling are at the heart of what Birling is about. Why are these important pillars for you? How have they benefited your business?
Birling: So much pride and many emotions are involved in skateshops. People don’t really buy Birling T-shirts because they need a T-shirt. They buy one because (hopefully) they’re stoked on what we do, and what we represent. We want to earn that stoke and give our customers concrete answers to the question “what’s Birling all about?” when they are asked about their T-shirt in the future. For that reason and others, we always want to do more than just sell skate gear. We organize lots of skate events in Ottawa, we document the scene through photography and videography, we help build skateparks here, we organize free skateboard clinics….all of that falls under the category of “community building”. It’s important to not only do these things but to communicate what we’re doing properly. We want people to realize that although there are many places where you can buy Spitfires (all over the world), buying them from Birling helps us to do more of these community building activities which positively impact Ottawa.
CSB: Why do you love the Ottawa skate scene so much? What makes it a special place to skate?
Birling: Ottawa is a humble city. A lot of the reasons that people stay here or move here are considered more “mature” for example – starting a family, employment etc. Skaters that are super talented and interested in pursuing skating more seriously tend to move away. This creates a skateboard community in Ottawa consisting primarily of more everyday, working class folks, perhaps not crazy talented but down to earth, with good attitudes…and because they’re not all 100% focused on skating, they tend to be more well rounded! Ottawa’s got all kinds of skaters with different careers, interests, and passions. We love that variety! People just skate for fun here. Ottawa’s skate scene is welcoming, friendly, laid back and cozy, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have spots! We have a decent amount of fun skateparks and skate spots around here. It may not be flashy but Ottawa’s skate scene is rad.
CSB: Why do you think skate shops are so integral to the culture of skateboarding, especially in Canada?
Birling: The social aspect of skateboarding culture is very important, and within that context, physical spaces are crucial. The recent pandemic taught us that virtual spaces cannot replace physical spaces and therefore areas where skaters can meet and hangout are essential. Skateparks, skate spots and skate shops are the best for this. A well curated and stocked skateshop is a beautiful thing to walk into! They’re like our churches. It’s amazing to be able to visit a space, breathe in the local skateboarding culture and socialize. Skateshops are also for many folks an introduction to this activity so they play a huge role in getting new participants (and sometimes their parents) excited about it.
Another thing to consider is the fact that skateboard brands are huge players within our culture in many ways. The partnerships that skate shops develop with brands are key in making events as best as they can be. We brainstorm the ideas and they come in with the resources to make them happen. Events like “Go Skateboarding Day” or video premiers are made so much better with prizes, cash, food or drinks. Skateboarding brands make that happen through their partnerships with skate shops.
Canada needs all the help it can get with regards to nurturing the excitement of skateboarding because our winters tend to dampen that excitement easily. We need spaces, and fun events year round to keep the fire going! Skate shops work to constantly add fuel to this fire.
CSB: Do you have any big goals for Birling? What is the legacy you hope to leave behind with your shop?
Birling: As described above, our main goal is to make our local skate scene as best as possible. We want to work with the city and other partners to help create new skaters, as well as infrastructure for them to use (both indoor and outdoor). We want to continue doing fun things and hopefully be a shop that Ottawa skaters can be proud of. More specifically, a goal for us would be to keep street skating alive. There’s nothing wrong with skating parks, but it’d be a shame if nobody would street skate anymore. We worked with RDS (talk about partnerships with brands!) to install a beautiful granite bench at one of Ottawa’s oldest skateboard spots – “Archives”. That’s the kind of stuff we’re super proud of and hope to continue doing.
There's no doubt that Birling stands as a testament to the power of community and passion within skateboarding. By blending Ottawa’s rich history with a commitment to fostering a vibrant, inclusive skate scene, the shop has become more than just a retail space—it’s a cornerstone of local culture. Through events, partnerships, and a dedication to preserving the art of street skating, Birling continues to nurture the true spirit of skateboarding in O-town. Their goal is clear: to leave a lasting legacy that supports and grows the community, ensuring that Ottawa remains a special place for skaters of all backgrounds.
Want to support Birling? You can shop online at www.birlingtheottawa.com or follow them on IG at @birlingtheott