ottawa tourism board of directors

Media release: Ottawa Tourism announces board of directors for coming year

Tourism industry reviews the rebuilding year that was 2022.

OTTAWA, June 9, 2023 —At its Annual General Meeting yesterday at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Ottawa Tourism confirmed its volunteer Board of Directors for 2023-2024 (names and titles below). Representatives from the organization’s 482 member businesses reviewed the previous year’s accomplishments and networked among a general feeling of optimism.

Memorable opportunities, obstacles, and accomplishments in 2022 included:

• the ending of most global travel restraints introduced during the pandemic and the transition into a recovery mindset;
• an illegal occupation of the city’s downtown core and slow return to in-office work;
• meaningful steps forward in the implementation of the Destination Stewardship Plan and Ottawa Tourism’s Strategic Plan.

“The tourism industry in Ottawa is well-positioned and ready for recovery in 2023 and beyond,” says Stefanie Siska, co-owner of C’est Bon Ottawa and Chair of the Board of Ottawa Tourism. “I look forward to working with the incoming board of directors to build on the achievements of 2022.”

“I’m proud of the work Ottawa Tourism and the board has done over the past year, through sometimes challenging circumstances,” says Michael Crockatt, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism. “The progress we have made on diversity and inclusion, as well as community engagement, puts us in a much stronger position to represent all that Ottawa has to offer, to visitors from across the globe.”

Ottawa Tourism’s Board of Directors for 2023-2024:

• Stefanie Siska, C’est Bon Ottawa, Chair of the Board
• Colin Morrison, Ottawa Embassy Hotel and Suites, Past Chair of the Board
• Stéphane Pelletier, AC Hotel by Marriott, Chair of the Travel Trade Committee
• Chris Pierce, Les Suites Hotel, Ottawa, Chair of the Marketing Committee
• Geneviève Dumas, Fairmont Château Laurier, Chair of Meetings & Conventions Committee
• Nyle Kelly, Brookstreet Hotel, Chair of the MAT Management Committee
• Cindy VanBuskirk, City of Ottawa
• Steve Ball, Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association
• Joel Tkach, Ottawa International Airport Authority
• Nina Kressler, Shaw Centre
• Paul Akehurst, Intertask Conferences and JPdL Ottawa
• Sofia Santiso-Borsten, Zak’s Diner
• Marc Forgette, Makatew Workshops
• Liliane Lê, National Gallery of Canada
• Anthony Leblanc, Ottawa Senators
• Kondwani Mwase, National Arts Centre

About Ottawa Tourism

Through its values of inclusivity, trust, collaboration, and innovation, Ottawa Tourism pursues its vision to be one of Canada’s most visited, sustainable, vibrant, and appealing urban destinations, as well as the tourism authority for key economic development and city-building decisions in Ottawa. Before the pandemic, the industry welcomed an estimated 11 million visitors annually and generated $3 billion in economic output.

For more information, please contact: Julia Thomson Manager, Destination Development [email protected]

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General inquiries: 1-833-864-7839 [email protected]

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Stefanie Siska To Lead Ottawa Tourism Board

This is a release from Ottawa Tourism:

At its Annual General Meeting yesterday at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Ottawa Tourism confirmed its volunteer Board of Directors for 2023-2024 (names and titles below). Representatives from the organization’s 482 member businesses reviewed the previous year’s accomplishments and networked among a general feeling of optimism.

Memorable opportunities, obstacles, and accomplishments in 2022 included:

• the ending of most global travel restraints introduced during the pandemic and the transition into a recovery mindset;
• an illegal occupation of the city’s downtown core and slow return to in-office work;
• meaningful steps forward in the implementation of the Destination Stewardship Plan and Ottawa Tourism’s Strategic Plan.

“The tourism industry in Ottawa is well-positioned and ready for recovery in 2023 and beyond,” says Stefanie Siska, co-owner of C’est Bon Ottawa and Chair of the Board of Ottawa Tourism. “I look forward to working with the incoming board of directors to build on the achievements of 2022.”

Roads To Close For Italian Festival

“I’m proud of the work Ottawa Tourism and the board has done over the past year, through sometimes challenging circumstances,” says Michael Crockatt, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism. “The progress we have made on diversity and inclusion, as well as community engagement, puts us in a much stronger position to represent all that Ottawa has to offer, to visitors from across the globe.”

Ottawa Tourism’s Board of Directors for 2023-2024:

• Stefanie Siska, C’est Bon Ottawa, Chair of the Board
• Colin Morrison, Ottawa Embassy Hotel and Suites, Past Chair of the Board
• Stéphane Pelletier, AC Hotel by Marriott, Chair of the Travel Trade Committee
• Chris Pierce, Les Suites Hotel, Ottawa, Chair of the Marketing Committee
• Geneviève Dumas, Fairmont Château Laurier, Chair of Meetings & Conventions Committee
• Nyle Kelly, Brookstreet Hotel, Chair of the MAT Management Committee
• Cindy VanBuskirk, City of Ottawa
• Steve Ball, Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association
• Joel Tkach, Ottawa International Airport Authority
• Nina Kressler, Shaw Centre
• Paul Akehurst, Intertask Conferences and JPdL Ottawa
• Sofia Santiso-Borsten, Zak’s Diner
• Marc Forgette, Makatew Workshops
• Liliane Lê, National Gallery of Canada
• Anthony Leblanc, Ottawa Senators
• Kondwani Mwase, National Arts Centre

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Michael Crockatt named Ottawa Tourism President & CEO

Feb 11, 2016   |   Industry News   Tourism Industry

Ottawa Tourism’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Crockatt as President & Chief Executive Officer of Ottawa Tourism effective March 7, 2016.

“After an extensive national search that attracted candidates from across Canada and the United States, I am delighted that we been able to secure Michael for this important tourism leadership position,” said Geoff Publow, Chair of the Ottawa Tourism Board of Directors. Crockatt will take over from Interim President & CEO Dick Brown who has filled in since June 2015.

“I am excited and proud to be joining the amazing team at Ottawa Tourism. Representing our destination and helping to attract and welcome visitors to Ottawa is an honour and a privilege. With Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017, Ottawa will be the place to be. Our job at Ottawa Tourism is to maintain the momentum that is generated in 2017 and continue to grow Ottawa’s tourism sector which is the third largest economic contributor in the city,” said Michael Crockatt.

Crockatt has an extensive background in the Canadian travel and tourism sector, starting his career in Winnipeg as Director of Marketing for cargo and passenger services with the Winnipeg Airports Authority. In Ottawa, Crockatt served as Vice President, Business Development & Marketing with the Ottawa International Airport Authority for over eight years before he moved on to the position of Senior Vice President, Air Service & Business Development with InterVISTAS Consulting.

“The entire InterVISTAS team is proud to see Michael moving on to such a prestigious leadership position in the tourism industry,” said Deborah T. Meehan, President & CEO, InterVISTAS Consulting. “Michael developed strong, valued relationships with our aviation and tourism clients in Canada, and his presence will be missed.”

Beyond his professional engagement in the tourism industry, Crockatt has been a tireless contributor through his volunteer involvement. Currently he is the Chair of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors for the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), and a Past Chair of the Board of Directors of Ottawa Tourism. He has been recognized as the Ottawa Tourism Volunteer of the Year, has been a recipient of the Ottawa Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 and Airport Business Magazine’s Top 40 under 40.

“With his deep understanding and involvement with Ottawa’s business and tourism community and the respect industry partners have for Michael, it is a very exciting time for Ottawa Tourism,” said Geoff Publow.

About Ottawa Tourism Ottawa Tourism provides destination marketing, strategic direction and leadership in cooperation with members and partners to attract visitors, tours and conventions to Ottawa and Canada’s capital region. Its vision is to build recognition of Ottawa as an outstanding four-season tourism destination.

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Annual Ottawa Tourism Meeting Focuses on Millennial Marketing Trends

• By: Ottawalife Contributor
• Posted: June 10, 2019
• Category: Uncategorized

Photo credit: Joanne Clifford via Flickr

On Tuesday June 4 th , Ottawa Tourism’s Annual General Meeting concluded with a new Board of Directors as well as newfound ideas regarding marketing to the city’s millennial population.

The meeting’s main concerns were the 2019-20 Board of Directors and discussion surrounding modernized marketing tactics.

In attempts to better understand millennials as one of Canada’s most influential consumer groups, Ottawa Tourism brought in David Coletto.

Coletto, CEO and founding partner of the local research firm Abacus Data, is the leader of Abacus’s Canadian Millenial Research Practice. Coletto shared some of his research, concentrating on millennial consumer trends and asserting the importance of research-based marketing decisions.

Conversations engaged in millennial marketing followed in which voices such as Rachel Kerr of Andaz Byward Market, Laurence de Monitgny St-Onge of the Canadian Museum of Nature, OT Social Media Specialist Sofie Sharom, OT Marketing Specialist Courtney Merchand , and OT President and CEO Michael Crockatt, participated.

“We look forward to continuing to work with our members, partners and Board of Directors to continue the growth of Ottawa‘s visitor economy”, says OT President and CEO Michael Crockatt.

Ottawa Tourism’s Board of Directors 2019-20:

• John Swettenham, Chair of the Board, Canadian Museum of Nature
• Ross Meredith, Past Chair of the Board, The Westin Ottawa
• Zubair Siddiqi, Chair of the Meetings and Conventions Committee, Delta Ottawa City Centre
• Mariève Desmarais, Chair of the Rural Tourism Committee, Prescott-Russell Tourism
• David Smythe, Chair of the Marketing Committee, Lord Elgin Hotel
• Colin Morrison, Chair of the Travel Trade Committee, Ottawa Embassy Hotel & Suites
• John Cosentino, Chair of the Municipal Accommodation Tax Management Committee, Albert at Bay Suites Hotel
• Nina Kressler, Shaw Centre
• Joel Tkach, Ottawa International Airport Authority
• Cindy VanBuskirk, City of Ottawa
• Steve Ball, Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association
• Paul Akehurst, Intertask Group of Companies
• Steve Wilson, Escape Manor
• Kelly Eyamie, Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum
• Peggy DuCharme, Downtown Rideau BIA
• Stefanie Siska, C’est Bon Cooking
• Heather Dawson, Ottawa Senators Hockey Club

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The Team Behind the Scenes

The success of all Shaw Centre events relies on our team of passionate event professionals and leaders.

Board of Directors

Debra Armstrong

Board Member

Cynthia Bland

Michael Crockatt

Ann Matejicka

Jagdeep Perhar

Stéphanie Plante

Fred Sherman

Kay Stanley

Sean Webster

Jim Armour is a Vice President at Summa and has extensive knowledge of media relations, communications, advocacy, and advertising. His broad skill set allows clients to take an integrated approach to achieve their objectives.

Before joining Summa, Mr. Armour served as Director of Communications and Marketing at the Canadian Medical Association. He played a crucial role in their efforts to improve access, reduce wait times, and address Canada’s doctor shortage.

Mr. Armour worked on Parliament Hill from 1994 to 2000 and 2002 to 2005. He was the Communications Director for two Leaders of the Official Opposition and helped brand the launch of the Canadian Alliance and the Conservative Party of Canada. Jim’s interest in marketing strategy and tactics was furthered by his two years with one of Atlantic Canada’s top advertising agencies.

Originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Mr. Armour has a B.A. (Hons) from McGill and an M.A. in Newfoundland History from Memorial University. He also earned his APR accreditation from the Canadian Public Relations Society and a CAAP designation from the Institute of Communication Agencies.

Outside of the office, Jim serves on the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario boards, the Canadian Pharmacists Association, and the Gambling Research Exchange of Ontario. He also sits on the editorial board of the International Journal of Communication in Healthcare.

Skate Canada’s Chief Executive Officer, Debra Armstrong, is a lawyer by trade. Before joining Skate Canada, she served as Chief Executive Officer of MBNA Canada Bank and Senior Vice President at Toronto Dominion Bank following TD’s acquisition of MBNA. Debra has developed considerable experience in business transformations throughout her career.

She has strong governance experience and is a past member of the Board of Governors at Carleton University, where she also Chaired its Audit and Finance Committee.

Past directorships include the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health and Volleyball Canada. She is currently a co-chair of the Winter Sport Caucus Group and serves on the Nominating Committee of the Canadian Olympic Committee.

Cynthia is the Founder and CEO of Voice Found, an organization with a mission to prevent child sexual abuse and human trafficking. 

Before founding Voice Found, Cynthia enjoyed a successful career in senior sales, marketing, and education roles. Cynthia is intimately familiar with the many challenges and opportunities of delivering conferences and events. She has first-hand experience successfully managing several events internationally and domestically.

Cynthia’s leadership and innovation have been recognized by organizations and individuals alike. She is a winner of the Wise 50 over 50 awards, named a ‘KickAss’ Canadian, and a recipient of the 2020-2021 Attorney General’s Victim Services Award.

Michael is a recognized leader in tourism and aviation in Canada. Before joining Ottawa Tourism, Michael served as Senior Vice President with InterVISTAS Consulting. He was responsible for the firm’s airline, air service development, and tourism practices in Canada.

Michael has over 15 years of experience at the management level with two of Canada’s major airports: the Winnipeg Airports Authority and the Ottawa International Airport Authority.

Michael is very active within the tourism industry and other business groups. He is a Board member of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and the Ottawa International Hockey Festival. Michael serves as a member of the Program Advisory Committee for the Bachelor of Tourism & Hospitality Management Degree Program at Algonquin College. He has also been a Board member of the Ottawa 2017 Bureau, Invest Ottawa, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), Ottawa Tourism, and Ottawa’s Tourism Development Council.

In 2017, Michael was elected a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, recognizing his contributions to Canada. Michael’s business leadership and volunteerism have been formally recognized by many stakeholders, such as Airport Business Magazine, the Ottawa Business Journal, and Ottawa’s tourism industry.

Michael has a Master’s degree in Geography from the University of Manitoba and is a Certified Barbecue Judge.

Yilong is a broker at Coldwell Bankers Sarazen Realty and the president of a not-for-profit organization called the Canada Sichuan Cultural Exchange Centre. A successful businesswoman, Yilong has more than 12 years of international entrepreneurial experience.

She brings a unique set of skills and knowledge to the table. A seasoned veteran in world-class event planning, Yilong has organized dozens of major events, with numbers of attendees exceeding 100,000.

She is also an established member of the food industry. Yilong was a successful restaurateur, and she operated multiple restaurants in both Canada and overseas. She is currently providing cuisine consulting to businesses looking to invest in the Canadian market.

Yilong is passionate about connecting people by exchanging food, culture, and ideas. She has won multiple awards for her contribution to her community.

Ann Matejicka grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and moved to Ottawa in 2001. She is the Sr. Legislative and Government Affairs Representative for the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA Canada) with extensive experience in government relations, labour relations, advocacy, policy development, issues management, and strategic communications.

Ms. Matejicka has a passion for public service and before joining ALPA, Int’l, she has worked in the Federal Public Service and on Parliament Hill (2001-2015). Initially working for a Member of Parliament and then in the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition up until 2006, Ms. Matejicka went on to serve in numerous Ministerial offices in senior roles including Director of Communications, Director of Issues Management, and Chief of Staff for close to a decade.

Ms. Matejicka has been an active volunteer over the last number of years serving as Chair of the Parent School Council of her children’s school, as well as Team Manager for their competitive basketball team. She has also served as a Board Member and Executive Member of a federal political riding association.

Ms. Matejicka has a B.A. (Political Science) from the University of Winnipeg; and a Diploma (Creative Communications) from Red River College.

David was a partner of Collins Barrow Ottawa LLP. He has worked primarily in the federal and local government (municipalities, school boards, and hospitals) sectors.

David also guided and advised his partners and clients concerning complex and unusual public sector audit and accounting issues.

David is the past Chair of the Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) now (CPAC). He has been associated with PSAB for over 20 years as the chair of PSAB, a member of PSAB, its predecessor PSAAB or as a task force chair. He has worked closely with many of the auditor generals and comptrollers of the federal and provincial governments in the development of accounting policies for use by governments in Canada. David chaired the task force that developed the background, associates’ exposure draft, exposure draft and recommendations respecting the financial reporting entity (PSAB 1300).

David was elected a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario in 1979 and was president of the Public Accountants Council for the Province of Ontario in 1996/97.

David has many management skills gained through his involvement in significant government assignments and professional committees. He has been on the leading edge of the development of accountability frameworks, including the design of performance reporting involving the measurement of outcomes and outputs.

After he retired from public practice, David was appointed to the Ottawa Transition Board, which was charged with developing the plan for the amalgamation of the Regional Municipality of Ottawa Carleton with all of its lower-tier municipalities, which commenced operations in January 1, 2001.

Jagdeep is a Royal Lepage Team Realty broker and the President and CEO of Multicorp Realty Inc, a property management company managing a real estate portfolio of over $50M.

He is actively involved in community service and currently serves as chair of the advisory committee for Indo Canada Ottawa Business Chamber (ICOBC) and on the board of directors of the Barrhaven Business Improvement Area (BBIA) and the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation (QCHF).

He is also a member of the H.M. Tory Society of Carleton University, and in 2016 he was inducted as “the Knight” in the Order of St. George. Jagdeep is an active supporter of, and regular contributor to, the Ottawa Heart and Stroke Foundation, Shelter foundation, the Ottawa Sikh Society, the Liver foundation, the Queensway Carleton Hospital and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

He is also a lifetime Patron of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. His community service and dedication to society have made him a proud recipient of the “Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal” from the Governor General of Canada, “The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers” by the Governor General of Canada, “The Volunteer Service Award” by Govt or Ontario and the Lifetime award of excellence from Royal Lepage.

Stéphanie grew up in Southwestern Ontario and moved to Ottawa in 2004. She has spent her entire career promoting and protecting our democratic institutions and infrastructure.

She is passionate about Rideau-Vanier and the well-being of those who need a helping hand and worked closely with public health outreach to assist with the pandemic response in Rideau-Vanier.

A resident of Ward 12 for almost 20 years and proud francophone, she has led committees and advocated for numerous programs and human rights organizations, including Twice Upon a Time, Action Sandy Hill, the Parent’s Council at Francojeunesse, Refugee613, Take Me Outside, Run Ottawa, Equal Voice, and others. In 2017, she acted as a surrogate for an LGBTQIA+ couple.

Stéphanie cares deeply about walkable, safe, and green neighbourhoods and ensuring that we have spaces and places that welcome everyone. In 2020, in consultation with Inuit and First Nations communities, Stéphanie led the naming of the Annie Pootoogook Park and oversaw the first celebration of World Inuit Day.

Stéphanie holds a Master’s in Political Science from the University of Windsor and has taught a course on municipal governance for two years at the Faculty of Common Law at the University of Ottawa. She currently lives in Sandy Hill with her family.

Fred Sherman believes that “…the most meaningful way to succeed is to help others succeed.”

A seasoned public affairs professional, he brings world-class expertise in public policy, change management, collaborative leadership and tactical engagement.

He is the Principal of Hill Solutions, through which he helps individuals and organizations successfully navigate 21st-century change. His portfolio includes national-scale initiatives for Canada’s Digital Policy Forum, the Public Service Commission, the Treasury Board, Health Canada, National Defence and the Parliament of Canada. He counsels political stakeholders, public servants, business executives and academic institutions.

Notably, he is the only person to have crafted BOTH the historic 1995 Black History Month and the 2014 Lincoln Alexander Day motions unanimously adopted by the Parliament of Canada.

Fred has served on community boards, including the University of Windsor Board of Governors, the United Way, the Social Planning Council of Ottawa, and Leadership Ottawa. He co-founded a University of Ottawa Law Faculty Endowment Fund and coached youth in the Gloucester Cumberland Basketball Association.

A University of Windsor alumnus, Fred Sherman is the partner to Denise Siele and proud father to Fred Sherman III.

Kay is an energetic change agent with extensive experience within educational and governmental environments. She has demonstrated leadership in both professional and voluntary organizations.

As a skilled communicator, Kay has a solid track record advocating for humanitarian values and professional ethics.

Kay has held many leadership positions, including Assistant Deputy Minister at the Treasury Board Secretariat, Assistant Deputy Minister at the Health Promotion and Programs Branch, and Assistant Deputy Solicitor General of Canada. In addition, she has held leadership roles in various professional associations, such as the President of the Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada and the President of the Teachers’ Federation of Carleton.

Kay’s achievements include creating a 1,100-member amalgamated elementary teachers’ federation and organizing the Overseas Teachers’ Association working on behalf of the Department of National Defence.  Kay’s humanitarian efforts included leading Canadian delegations to international conferences hosted by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, the Commonwealth Secretariat for Women’s Affairs, and the InterAmerican Commission for Women, among many others.

Kay has contributed to the community through her numerous volunteer roles. She worked alongside organizations such as the National Capital Commission, KILMORIE Heritage Society, May Court Hospice, Governor General’s Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case, and the Ottawa Hospital Board of Governors. Kay was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers in recognition of her significant, sustained, and unpaid contributions to her community.

Sean is the Managing Director of the Chelsea Strategy Group and is a Senior Associate of GT&Co. He previously served as Vice President Government & Stakeholder Relations – Canada for Canopy Growth Corporation, a leading Canadian federally licensed producer of cannabis. He has also held senior positions in the Canadian pharmaceutical sector, including Vice President – Public Affairs for Shoppers Drug Mart as well as UCB Canada, Solvay Pharma Canada and Eli Lilly Canada Inc. Sean has also held positions with Enbridge, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London, U.K. and as a Ministerial Assistant at the House of Commons in Ottawa.

In a volunteer capacity Sean served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Ottawa Convention Centre from 2018 until 2022 and is a former Vice-Chair of Exhibition Place in Toronto. He also served on the Board of Providence Healthcare in Toronto and has volunteered for several community and health associations.

Sean graduated with an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the Bayes School of Business at City, University of London, UK, where he subsequently served as a tutor. He is also a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree.

Nina Kressler

President & CEO

Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer

Loretta Briard

General Manager

Carly Grace

Director of Sales

Director of Marketing and Partnerships

Alexandra Tanguay

Director of Events

Amanda Young

Director of Hospitality Services

Patrick Turcot

Executive Chef

Blake Rainville

Senior Manager of Facilities

Manager of Facilities

Ngozi Iloabuchi

Human Resource Manager

Karen Wiersma

Senior Account Manager, Convention Sales

Matthew Blackburn

Account Manager, Convention Sales

Adam Hassen

Account Manager, Local Sales

Krynn Wrigley

Kaasi Muthiah

Sales Coordinator

Events Services Manager

Event Services Manager

Jawad Alami

Heidi Danson

Georgia Gauthier

Ajeena Alias

Gabrielle Plesko

Event Services Coordinator

Trisha Richardson

Marketing & Partnerships Manager

Heather Lyall

Graphic Design Coordinator

Sharon Cholette

Administrative Coordinator

Application Support Analyst

Monalisa Pedlar

Executive Assistant

Nina assumed the role of President and CEO of the Shaw Centre on June 1, 2015. Prior to her appointment, Nina was the General Manager of the Centre’s Food and Facilities operation managed by Aramark Sports and Entertainment.

A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Nina has over 30 years of senior management experience in hotels, convention centres, food and beverage and gaming. With experience in B2B and B2C sales and operations, Nina has led teams in all areas of the hospitality and corporate function. Nina began her career with Sheraton Hotels in Halifax as Director of Sales and Marketing and progressed to more senior roles as Vice President, Sales and Marketing with Trade Centre Limited in Halifax, Vice President of Business Development with the Toronto Congress Centre before moving to Ottawa to join the Shaw Centre.

In 2019, Nina achieved her ICD.D designation and currently serves on the board of Ottawa Tourism as Director, and Chair of Ottawa Tourism’s Finance Committee, Chair, Convention Centres of Canada, and Chair, Tourism Industry Association of Canada. Nina is a volunteer speaker at McGill and Concordia University as well as a volunteer at the annual Royal Hospital Fundraiser for Mental Health.

Nina’s passion for always delivering exceptional customer experiences is engrained in her DNA and reflects in the Shaw Centre achieving the Service Excellence Award at the 2016 Ontario Business Achievement Awards and the prestigious award from AIPC in 2021 as the Best Convention Centre in the World voted upon by clientele from across the globe.

Dan has been with the Shaw Centre since 2002 (formerly named the Ottawa Congress Centre and Ottawa Convention Centre) and currently holds the position of Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Dan was responsible for formulating the financial benefits of the new Shaw Centre. Before joining the Shaw Centre, Dan worked for several organizations in the Ottawa region. Dan acquired his CMA designation in 1995.

Loretta has been with the Shaw Centre for over 25 years (formerly named the Ottawa Congress Centre and Ottawa Convention Centre) and held the role of Director of Events.

In 2015, she became the Shaw Centre’s General Manager. Her passion for the hospitality industry began at 14 when she was bussing tables as a part-time job, and she has never wavered from this career path.  Loretta’s drive to become a member of this profession led her to an education in Hospitality Management & Food Nutrition Management.

She leads a team diverse in personalities and skills, and she is proud to be part of such an inspired group. Every event is unique, and Loretta likes the challenge of making it the perfect fit at the Shaw Centre. She enjoys taking advantage of the Shaw Centre’s leading-edge technology and service abilities.

Loretta enjoys a good glass of port and time spent with family and close friends. She loves taking a day trip to local towns and communities to explore their unique heritage, charm and food.

Kim joined the Shaw Centre in the Controller role in July 2019, where she continues to pursue her passion for finance and accounting.

She enjoys reading, volunteering, and staying active.

Kim is a proud Ottawan who has lived most of her life in the Nation’s Capital. After starting her career with the Federal Government, she worked at various organizations, including Cosmic Adventures, Source for Sports, Calian, Algonquin College, VON Canada, CBC, and Family Services Ottawa. She was admitted into membership of the Certified General Accountants of Canada in 2014 and maintained her membership with CPA Canada.

Carly was born in Ottawa but spent most of her childhood overseas. She completed her undergraduate at Queen’s University and promptly moved to Whistler, where her passion for the hospitality industry began.

While working for The Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler, she concurrently completed her Master of Business Administrative through Guelph University. Upon completing her MBA, Carly was offered a position with Vancouver Organizing Committee during the 2010 Olympic Games, managing emergency response planning for both athletes’ villages. Following the Olympics, Carly returned to Ottawa to be closer to her family and quickly re-established herself at The Westin Ottawa. Throughout her career with the Westin, Carly held the positions of Sales Manager, Event Manager, Director of Group Sales and Director of Events.

Before joining the Shaw Centre in December 2019, Carly took on the Director of Sales role with JPdL, a local destination management company. Carly’s work experience has been dedicated to delivering incredible guest experiences and exceeding client expectations.

Carly enjoys swimming, dabbling in the world of triathlons, hitting the gym, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Josh was born and raised in the Ottawa Valley before moving to Ottawa to complete a diploma at Algonquin College in Business Administration and a post-graduate diploma in Sports Business Management. Josh relocated to Toronto after graduation and worked at Tennis Canada for the Rogers Cup and the Ontario Cycling Association before returning to Ottawa to take a position as Manager of Partnerships with Canada Soccer.

At Canada Soccer, Josh was responsible for building relationships with organizational partners and generating value on their behalf during various events throughout the year. After nearly five years at Canada Soccer, he accepted a sales position at Festival Promotions to expand his portfolio of skills. At Festival Promotions, Josh developed and managed an extensive client base, including several large-scale Canadian brands.

When Josh isn’t building business relationships, he enjoys travelling with his wife and keeping active. As a sports enthusiast, Josh spends his free time exploring Ottawa by bicycle in the summer and takes advantage of Ottawa’s wonderful cross-country skiing trails during the winter.

Alexandra was born in Germany and has called the Capital region home for over 20 years. Her passion for events started early when she worked as a Banquet Server for weddings and social functions at a local ski resort.

Alexandra graduated from Algonquin College with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, leading to her first event management roles at the Embassy West Hotel and the former Delta Ottawa Hotel and Suites.

As a former Event Services Manager at the Shaw Centre, Alexandra worked on various exciting events, including the Grey Cup, the Ottawa Gatineau International Auto Show, and multiple events of all scales.

Now overseeing the planning department at the Shaw Centre, Alexandra is thrilled to ensure that every event at the Shaw Centre is a success.

On weekends, you can find Alexandra spending time with her family or planning her next trip worldwide.

Amanda is originally from outside of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Her love for hospitality and adventure brought her to the Rocky Mountains, where she worked at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge for nine years. In Jasper, Amanda took on many leadership roles throughout the hotel, which helped her build a foundation in customer service and managing events.

In 2014, Amanda moved to Ottawa and started working at the Shaw Centre in the Operations Department and, most recently, as the Senior Operations Manager. Over the past five years, she has been a dedicated team member and has managed many events, including the 2017 Grey Cup and the Juno Awards. Amanda is delighted to take the next step by overseeing some of the most exciting events in the City as the Operations Department.

Amanda enjoys making pottery, travelling, and volunteering at the Ottawa Food Bank in her spare time.

Patrick Turcot, a Quebec-born Executive Chef with a wealth of culinary experience, brings a remarkable background to the table. Starting his journey at the Institute of Tourism and Hospitality of Quebec, Chef Turcot discovered his love for cooking as a teenager.

His culinary journey includes notable achievements, such as earning a pro-level Chef 2 certification from the Culinary Institute of America. He also serves on the boards of Algonquin College and la Cité College, showcasing his dedication to culinary education. Additionally, he’s a member of Chaine des Rotisseurs, highlighting his commitment to culinary excellence.

Chef Turcot’s career has taken him to esteemed establishments across North America, including Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Chateau Frontenac, Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, and Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu. Drawing inspiration from his travels, Chef Turcot’s cuisine blends classical French techniques with contemporary influences. His time in Arizona allowed him to experiment with regional flavors, while in Quebec, he became a passionate advocate for local producers and culinary tourism.

In summary, Chef Patrick Turcot’s journey is marked by a love for cooking, a dedication to education, and a passion for promoting local cuisine, making him a respected figure in the culinary industry.

Blake has been with the Shaw Centre since it first re-opened in 2011 as the Ottawa Convention Centre (formerly known as the Ottawa Congress Centre), where he first held the position of Maintenance Operator.

He’s since grown with the organization as a Technical Services Manager, ensuring a safe environment for all Shaw Centre staff and clients. He now holds the Senior Manager of Facilities role, managing the Centre’s housekeeping, engineering, uniform, and linen teams.

Blake has a Building Environmental Systems Operator Class 2 Certificate from Algonquin College, a Facilities Management Certificate (FMC), and is working towards completing a Facilities Management Administrator (FMA) designation from BOMI Canada.

Born and raised in the Hamilton area, Drew grew up on a dairy farm and helped run various family businesses until 2005, when he moved away to attend an Industrial Engineering program at Mohawk College.

After finishing college, he moved to Vancouver in 2008, lived, worked, and played in Vancouver, BC, until 2011, when returning to Ontario. In 2013 Drew settled in Ottawa and started working as a Building Operator at the Ottawa Marriott. In 2019 he attended the Building Environmental Systems Operator course at Algonquin College, which he completed in early 2021.  

In late 2020 he started with the engineering department at the Shaw Centre as the work control assistant, where he managed the scheduling of contractors and keeping them on schedule. He also assisted the engineering staff with completing tasks and advised the team when any issues arose. He was promoted to Manager of Facilities in August of 2022. He manages the engineering, housekeeping, linen, and receiving departments in this new role.  

Drew enjoys the outdoors in his spare time and takes advantage of the parks in the Ottawa area, either hiking or stand-up paddleboarding in the summer. During the winter, he enjoys going downhill skiing or ice skating.  

Ngozi was born and raised in Nigeria, where she earned her law degree and practiced for four years.

In 2010 she obtained a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Bradford University in England. She holds the Certified Human Resource Professional designation from HRPA in Ontario.

She loves HR and has been fortunate to grow her professional network across several countries. She worked in various HR capacities serving businesses in the financial service, manufacturing, not-for-profit, and supply chain industries.

Before joining the Shaw Centre, Ngozi worked with Walmart Canada as a People Business Partner, growing the talent pipeline while driving business initiatives for continuous improvement in one of the Ontario distribution centers.

Ngozi considers herself an extrovert who enjoys making social connections and learning from people. She has a wanderlust gene and cherishes every opportunity to see the world’s diversity. When she’s not creating relationships, she volunteers for causes of interest and serves on the United Way/Centraide Stormont-Dundas & Glengarry board. Cooking is her therapy session and artistic expression. In her spare time, she devotes time to her family. You will find them taking walks, visiting parks, cycling, or discovering adventures together while creating lasting memories.

Karen graduated from the Algonquin College Hotel and Restaurant Program, where her passion for the hospitality industry began.

She spent a year in the industry in Banff but ultimately returned to Ottawa to be closer to her family. Having spent over 18 years working at various hotels in Ottawa, Karen has gained experience in the front desk departments, reservations management, and as a Conference Services Manager for 6 of those years. Karen found herself in a sales role at the Delta Ottawa Hotel and Suites, where she learned what it takes to surpass client expectations.

In her spare time, you can find Karen at the dog park with her dog Bayler or entertaining family and friends. Karen is also an avid sports fan cheering on Ottawa Senators and Ottawa Redblacks!

Born in Montreal and raised in Toronto, Matt relocated to Ottawa over ten years ago after completing a business diploma from Seneca College.

He furthered his education by obtaining a degree in communications at Wilfrid Laurier University. Matt brings over 20 years of experience in the service and hospitality industry, including five years as an Account Manager with a Toronto-based marketing company. He also played a role in opening restaurants in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and Ottawa.

Before joining Shaw Centre, Matthew was a vital part of the management team at Nordstrom. Matthew developed excellent customer service skills and a commitment to providing above-and-beyond experiences during his time there.

Matt joined the team at the Shaw Centre in 2016 as a Local Sales Manager and worked his way up to his current position as National Account Manager specializing in SMERF and Corporate markets. His familiarity with the building – and its operations – make him a knowledgeable team member. Today, Matthew applies his knowledge of business and management when planning events.

When Matthew is not busy creating extraordinary events, you can catch him at the many live sporting events around the city or spending time with his family.

Helen is originally from Guelph, Ontario. She made her way to Ottawa after being accepted to Carleton University. She fell in love with the city and has remained here ever since.

Helen has worked in the hospitality industry for most of her professional life. To kick start her career, she gained employment with Westin Ottawa, where she worked for 21 years as a Sales Manager. She is well versed in markets such as; SMERF, Tour & Travel, and Government.

Helen thrives in a fast-paced sales environment, making the convention sales market a perfect fit. Helen loves all aspects of event planning and has planned events from start to finish. She’s also worked as an Account Manager for other prominent players in the hospitality industry, such as the Sheraton Ottawa.

Helen loves to be creative. You’ll find her making all kinds of arts and crafts and knitting slippers, hats, and mittens that she makes for all her family and friends. She is also an avid baker! Growing up, Helen spent time with her grandmother, who worked in a bakery and taught her how to make the perfect loaf of bread and other delicious pastries. You’ll find her curled up on the couch watching her favourite Netflix shows with her three daughters.

Adam grew up in a small town in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) before heading to Toronto for post-secondary education. After obtaining his degree, he returned to school to complete a Post-Grad Diploma in Sport and Event Marketing, which led to career opportunities at MEC and the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) before joining the Shaw Centre team.

Adam organized road races, cycling events, and triathlons at MEC around the GTA. While in Toronto, he had the pleasure of coaching Varsity Cross Country at George Brown and the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). As a runner, he was voted MVP for four years and was named coach of the year at UTM in his last year of coaching.

At CCS, he worked with youth across Eastern Ontario. He helped plan Relay for Life events from start to finish by empowering and teaching youth about philanthropy and raising millions of dollars for cancer research and support services.

Adam relocated to Ottawa with his partner and daughter; he loves that Ottawa has so much to offer his family. He enjoys the outdoors, whether for a round of golf, playing softball, pickup basketball, or going for hikes. He describes himself as an extrovert who likes to meet new people and doesn’t shy away from new experiences!

Born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Krynn relocated to Ottawa over 15 years ago to pursue studies in Hotel Restaurant Management and Business Marketing at Algonquin College .  

She brings over 20 years of experience in the service and hospitality industry, including 10 years working at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club as part of the team that brought the LPGAs to Ottawa. Krynn also worked for an Ottawa-based media company for 4 years in a business development capacity, bringing food and cooking shows produced in Ottawa to broadcasters worldwide.  

As a service-oriented professional, Krynn loves meeting new people and developing relationships into long-lasting partnerships. She thrives on exceeding expectations and learning new skills.  

Krynn has considered Ottawa home for the last 15+ years and loves to enjoy everything this city offers, including its many festivals and stellar outdoor hiking and skiing trails, specifically in Gatineau Park. When she’s not working, she enjoys traveling to faraway places and learning new languages, such as French and Spanish. A foodie at heart, Krynn constantly discovers new recipes and enjoys exploring Ottawa’s excellent and ever-evolving culinary scene with friends.  

Kaasi was born and raised in Chennai, located in the south of India. Home to the second largest beach in the world, Marina Beach, where Kaasi spent most of his childhood playing soccer and feasting on street food.

He completed his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Chennai and then moved to Ottawa to pursue his graduate diploma in Marketing Management and Sports Business Management from Algonquin College.

Most of his experience was gained from his internships with the Ottawa Sports Entertainment Group in Business Intelligence, where he worked on gameday operations and supported account managers from ticketing to marketing administration. At Archery Canada, he set up fundraisers for the NPO. In his role as a Property Manager within a real estate company, Kaasi gained in-depth knowledge of the residential and hospitality industries.

Outside of work, Kaasi is a passionate sports fan! He spends most of his time watching soccer and F1 and participates in an amateur league throughout the week. He enjoys travelling locally and keeps himself busy by planning trips!

Greg was born and raised in rural Ottawa in the small town of Manotick. Over the years, Greg enjoyed watching his hometown grow into a beautiful metropolitan community. He loves the region and has pursued his career here in Ottawa.

After graduating from Carleton University, Greg entered a career in Event Management, focusing on sports and live entertainment. Culminating almost 30 years of event management experience, he has held various roles across several major facilities and organizations in Ottawa, including OHL, CFL and NHL.

Greg brings tremendous knowledge and experience in all aspects of events and operations. He is well-versed in trade, consumer, and social events. Greg prides himself on his superior attention to detail while delivering excellent customer service. He thrives in the hustle and bustle of the event planning industry, and his proven leadership skills have led him to execute successful events.

When Greg isn’t busy creating extraordinary experiences, you’ll find him enjoying the great outdoors. A wilderness enthusiast, Greg spends his free time kayaking, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, and doing other social sports as the seasons permit.

Kyla was born and raised in Collingwood, Ontario, in the Blue Mountains. Her optimistic spirit and passion for working with people have led her to pursue a career in hospitality.

She excelled as a student at Georgian College, where she completed her advanced diploma in Hotel and Resort Administration Management.

After graduating, the mountains called Kyla, and she moved to Banff, Alberta. In her five years there, she flourished and gained invaluable experience in food and beverage operations for top-tier establishments such as the Fairmont Banff Springs and the Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts.

After her ventures on Canada’s west coast, Kyla moved closer to family and friends. She earned a job with the Ottawa Marriott as an Event Manager, where she grew her skills and fell in love with the Capital as her new home.

When Kyla isn’t creating her next event, she enjoys snuggling up on the couch with a nice glass of wine while she plans her next vacation!

Jawad was born and raised in Tangier, Morocco. At a young age, he was always curious about travelling the globe to explore countries, cultures, cuisines, and architecture. His passion for travel led him to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Operational Management of Hotels and Restaurants and a Master’s Degree in Strategy and Management of Hotel Operations.

He took full advantage of his studies and started his career in event planning as a Sales Executive at Mövenpick Hotels in Morocco in 2015. After moving to work with a national hotel brand, he had the opportunity to travel to different countries around the globe (Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Czech Republic, Qatar, and Morocco to name a few). He presented and promoted the countries as tourist destinations and his employer at worldwide events.

He relocated to Ottawa in 2020 and worked as a Sales and Event Supervisor for Bytown Catering. He planned various events, primarily weddings, and excitedly shared the six years of event planning knowledge he acquired around the globe.

Outside work, he enjoys discovering the rest of Canada and capturing his finds through photography. His passion for cuisine brings him to restaurants and bars to uncover new dishes. He also enjoys watching sports, specifically basketball, soccer, and hockey.

Born and raised in Ottawa, Heidi graduated from Algonquin College with a Diploma in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing, before heading off to Cape Breton University to complete her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.

Heidi returned to Ottawa after graduation and worked in the not-for-profit sector while completing her Wedding Planners certificate from the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada and her Social Media Certificate from Algonquin College.

While Heidi has worked in administration, marketing, and advocacy, her passion has always been event planning. She spent the last ten years working at the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, planning and overseeing all major events, including an international women’s conference in Jerusalem. At the diocese, she designed a provincial-wide meeting and the annual AGMs, curated online and hybrid events, and grew their online presence through successful social media campaigns.

A charitable mindset was ingrained in Heidi from a young age. When she isn’t working, she often volunteers in the Ottawa community. Heidi has volunteered with the Ottawa Police Cadet Corps for over 20 years, receiving multiple awards for her dedication. In 2015, Heidi launched the Women Helping Women Purse Project, where she gathered purses filled with various products, specifically feminine hygiene products, and donated them to Ottawa’s most vulnerable population. Thanks to her connections to the Ottawa Police, they offered their space and support, and the project grew to donate over 4,000 filled purses each year for three years. Heidi also sits on the Board of Directors for Kid-Safe Productions, which offers drama workshops and performances about kids’ mental health in a post-pandemic world.

Heidi enjoys spending her free time with her husband and dogs while exploring nature and travelling locally. In the winter, Heidi is usually on her snowmobile or hiking through the snow-covered trails. In the warmer months, Heidi enjoys playing softball, stand-up paddling, and visiting local community events.

Georgia originates from Kingston, Ontario, where the majority of her family resides. Her journey led her to Humber College in Toronto, where she pursued Funeral Service, graduating in 2007. With a dedicated start as an apprentice and junior funeral director, Georgia honed her skills before relocating to Ottawa in 2009, where she dedicated herself to the funeral industry for the past 14 years.

Throughout her tenure, Georgia found a passion for logistics and planning within the funeral service. However, with the onset of the pandemic and the arrival of her daughter in 2019, Georgia sought a transition into larger-scale events and corporate venues, seeking new challenges and opportunities.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Georgia finds joy in daily yoga and long walks, relishing the opportunity to be active and embrace the outdoors. She cherishes active moments with her four-year-old daughter, whether enjoying playtime in the park or engaging in backyard adventures.

Family holds a special place in Georgia’s heart, whether embarking on travels together, reconnecting with loved ones outside of Ottawa, or unwinding at the cottage. Additionally, Georgia’s affection for feline companionship shines through, as she shares her home with two beloved cats.

Ajeena was born and raised in Kerala in the south end of India. She moved to Canada in 2018 and completed a post-graduate diploma with honours in Event Management and Marketing Management at Algonquin College.

Her passion for events started as a hobby and into part-time employment as a floral designer, which gradually turned into an event design business. Since the start of her career, Ajeena has independently conducted over 60 events in India with unique event designs. In 2014, she was selected among the top 10 women entrepreneur by the Times of India.

Ajeena first stepped foot into the Shaw Centre as a volunteer for the annual wedding show in 2018 as a part of her event management program, which opened the path to her hospitality career in Canada. She assisted many leading wedding planners in Ottawa and gained more than three years of hands-on experience in the wedding industry. Returning to the Shaw Centre and being a part of their outstanding team is considered one of the most incredible moments in her life.

When she’s not planning events, she spends her spare time travelling with her husband and exploring Canada’s scenic and cultural landmarks. She considers herself a social butterfly who likes spending time with her family, friends, and community.

Gabrielle was born and raised in London, Ontario.

Fluently bilingual in French and English, she pursued her education away from home in Ottawa, ON, at La Cité College in the Public Relations program. To further her education, she obtained a certification in event planning. Joining the Shaw Center as their Event Services Coordinator is a new and exciting chapter in her young professional career.  

Outside of work, her love for music keeps her busy as she is a classically trained pianist. In addition to her passion for music, Gabrielle enjoys cooking and baking treats for her close friends and family. You can find her relaxing with a nice book in a big comfy chair at the end of a long day.  

Trisha comes to the Shaw Centre with a passion for hospitality. After moving out of her hometown of Vankleek Hill, Ontario, she obtained her diploma from Algonquin College’s Hospitality and Restaurant Management program.

From there, she spread her wings and moved to Kananaskis, Alberta. A little slice of heaven nestled in the mountains. After her west coast adventures, she decided it was time to further her education and pursued her honorary degree in Hospitality and Tourism from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She then pursued a career in hospitality career here in Ottawa – a place she’s happy to call home.

Her career started at the Ottawa Marriott Hotel as the Sales and Marketing Coordinator. She learned the ins and outs of the hospitality industry here. Assisting her managers with sales initiatives and enhancing their social media platforms, it was in this role that Trisha discovered her passion for hospitality marketing. She joins the Shaw Centre with sheer excitement and can’t wait to learn and develop her skills.

Trisha ventures into the city in her spare time, discovering local events, new foodie scenes, and live music. On the weekends, she’s socializing with friends or travelling to her hometown to spend time on the family farm.

Heather has lived her whole life in Ottawa. She graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design from Algonquin College.

Her freelance career involved working with companies such as Fireball, Nordstrom, and 604 Records. One of her most significant accomplishments was contributing to the social media marketing of Grammy award nominee Josh Ramsay’s debut solo record. She has created various works, including posters, logos, motion graphics, and annual reports.

When Heather isn’t designing, she’s at her favourite artists’ concerts or home watching the latest true crime documentary.

Sharon grew up in Mississauga, Ontario, and various other provinces throughout her childhood and eventually claimed Ottawa as her place to call home.

She started her career in retail, but after taking a course in business administration, she decided to pursue a different career path. She’s worked in organizations such as the Ottawa Life Sciences Council, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and Mortgage Brokers of Ottawa.

Sharon has dedicated almost 14 years of her professional life to the Shaw Centre and has worked through the transition from the Ottawa Convention Centre to the rebuilding of the current Shaw Centre. In her time at the Centre, she’s worked in various administrative roles supporting the sales team and ensuring all administrative duties are completed efficiently and effectively.

She loves to spend time at the cottage with her two daughters, family, and friends. Sharon loves to relax and snuggle up on the couch with her cat Jack and a good documentary!

Lee was born and raised in Ottawa and has been lucky enough to call the city home her entire life. She is one of the Shaw Centre’s longest-standing employees – committed to the company for over 22 years.

She’s worked in various positions, such as the Account Coordinator role, where she provided administrative support to the Sales and Marketing Teams. She then pursued a Senior Administrative job, supporting the Vice President and Sales Director.

She found her true passion within the Finance department. Lee is responsible for the financial aspects of receivables. Her extensive knowledge of the building and company has championed her as our property management system expert, and she has mastered the entire database. Lee maintains the database to ensure its functionality for all users and trains new staff on the system.

You’ll find her in the wilderness camping with her husband and daughter when she’s not maintaining the database or tracking receivables. Lee has a passion for travel, and she enjoys enduring new experiences. She’s a kid at heart, so if there’s a theme park nearby, you can bet she’s there too!

Mona has had an interesting journey, beginning in Quezon City, Philippines, and immigrating to Canada as a toddler.

Mona has worked in various industries in administrative roles, including Telecommunications, Manufacturing, Healthcare and Post-Graduate Education. Her current position at the Shaw Centre is her first in the Hospitality and Tourism sector. Mona finds her work in administration fulfilling as she genuinely enjoys helping others.

Mona recently relocated to Gananoque, Ontario, from the GTA where she plans to make her permanent residence with her husband. She enjoys the beauty of the Thousand Islands and spends much of her free time with her new grandson.  She is an avid Formula 1 fan and hopes to one day watch a race at the Silverstone Circuit in England. Mona also considers herself a big foodie and enjoys cooking and entertaining her family and friends.

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Ottawa Tourism

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Founded in 1970, Ottawa Tourism has been bringing visitors, tours, media and conventions to Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region for 50 years! Ottawa Tourism is governed by a Board of Directors and is the Destination Marketing Organization for Ottawa and its surrounding region. Through industry leadership and destination marketing, Ottawa Tourism, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization, works together with more than 450 tourism-related member businesses to profile Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region as a diverse place to visit. From the city’s cultural gems to award-winning attractions and restaurants, we showcase the best of what Canada’s capital has to offer. Ottawa Tourism is a committed tourism industry player that strives to promote the city on the regional, national and international stages to increase visitation and enhance economic impact for the industry and its membership. Whether you’re organizing a major convention or just coming to explore Ottawa on your own, see how Ottawa Tourism and its members can help to make your experience memorable!

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Board of Directors

Rebecca Mackenzie

Passionate about the interconnection between food, agriculture, tourism, arts, and culture, Rebecca has been instrumental in developing tourism products including Prince Edward County’s award-winning Taste Trail & Arts Trail and the Culinary Tourism Alliance’s Feast On® certification program. In her role at the Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA), Rebecca manages highly participatory and asset-based community development projects at the local, regional, provincial, and national levels. Rebecca oversees programming, partnership development, and develop comprehensive marketing partnerships to increase awareness of Canada’s food tourism experiences. Rebecca has contributed her expertise to a variety of industry boards including the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Sustainable Development Goals Working Group. She has written curriculum for Centennial Colleges Food Tourism Post Graduate Program, contributed chapters to the 2nd UNWTO Global Report on Gastronomic Tourism, produced a chapter on Transforming the Terroir into a Tourist Destination to the Routledge Handbook of Gastronomic Tourism (release date of fall 2019). Rebecca completed a Master of Arts in Global Leadership at Royal Roads University in 2021 with a specific interest in sustainable tourism and is a part-time professor at George Brown College in their Food Tourism Entrepreneurship program. Born and raised in Toronto, Rebecca spent her summers in rural Prince Edward County. In grade 12 year, she sailed with West Island Colleges Class Afloat on a 156-foot-tall ship to 20 countries in Europe and Africa – an experience that rooted her passion for travel, adventure, and taste of place! She continues to split my time between Toronto (week) and Prince Edward County (weekends) sharing her adventures with her husband and two teenage sons.

Michael Crockatt

Michael is a recognized leader in travel and tourism in Canada. In his current role, he leads Ottawa’s official destination organization, which spearheads sales and marketing initiatives for attracting visitors to Canada’s capital, while also making investments in the long-term stewardship and development of the destination. He is a Board member with Destinations International, the Shaw Centre, the Ottawa International Hockey Festival, and he is a member of the Advisory Committee for the Hospitality & Tourism Management Degree Program at Algonquin College. He is the Co-Chair of the Canadian Destination Leadership Council with Destinations International; he has been the Board Chair of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and the Ottawa Board of Trade; and he has also served on the boards of the Ottawa 2017 Bureau and Invest Ottawa. Michael has a Master’s degree in Geography from the University of Manitoba, he is a Certified Barbecue Judge, and a Manitoba Marriage Commissioner. 

Andrew Weir

Dionne Bishop

Dionne Bishop is the founder of Events by Dionne Inc. With 15 years experience in the event and marketing industries, Dionne has planned and overseen corporate and social events across major markets in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean. Dionne is known for her ability to strategically plan creative and results driven events that help her clients increase brand engagement and authentically connect them to diverse audiences.  

As an active member of the International Live Events Association (ILEA) Toronto Chapter, Dionne served as its President in 2015 - 2016.  She became Gala Chair in 2017 and now sits on the MPI Toronto DEI Task Force and as a Board Member of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO).

David MacLachlan

Kevin Eshkawkogan

Kevin is an Anishnabek and is a member of the M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island. Kevin has been a key player in the development of Indigenous cultural tourism in Ontario since 2003. Kevin was an integral part of the development and growth of the Great Sprit Circle Trail (GSCT) on Manitoulin Island, one of the country’s most renowned Indigenous tourism organizations that provides culturally authentic Indigenous experiences to visitors along with marketing support to Indigenous operators.

He has provided leadership to GSCT for over 15 years and has imparted his guidance to countless individuals throughout Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada, and beyond. Kevin works tirelessly to unite Indigenous tourism providers, grow market reach and bring meaningful employment opportunities to the region. Kevin is a mentor and visionary who works closely with his community to ensure sustainable and organic growth within the Indigenous tourism industry. In 2015, Kevin was named the Tourism Champion of the Year by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario. He has also been recognized by numerous media outlets for his accomplishments within the industry.

Kevin sits on a variety of boards including the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO). He has also helped establish ITO, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), Northeastern Ontario Tourism, Destination Northern Ontario, the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre, and many other tourism organizations and businesses. He also sits on the Destination Ontario Sector Advisory Committee, Tourism Skillsnet Ontario Council, and the Trans Canada Trail Indigenous Advisory Committee.

Anne-Marie Forcier

Glen Shackleton

Claudia Dessanti

Claudia leads a broad range of policy initiatives to support Ontario’s business community. Claudia founded and co-chairs the OCC’s Energy Policy Council, oversees the Ontario Economic Report, and leads work around environment, energy, data, regional economic development, procurement, housing, diversity and inclusion, and more. She also serves on the Toronto Region Conservation Authority’s Partners in Project Green Executive Management Committee and the Advisory Board for Innovate Cities. In previous roles, Claudia researched mortgage markets for National Bank Financial and measured social impact for Charity Intelligence. She has a Master’s degree from the University of Oxford and a BA from the University of Toronto.  

Greg Elmhirst

Neil Pakey is the President & CEO at Nieuport Aviation, winners of the Most Spectacular Business Recovery award in Ontario in 2022. He has served as the CEO of the Shannon Airport Group on Ireland, the CEO of Peel Airports Group in the U.K., as Managing Director of Liverpool John Lennon Airport and the Senior VP Network Marketing at the Vantage Airports Group. Neil holds a Master of Science in Transport Planning and Management and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Neil was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Central Lancashire for services to Tourism, was Chair of the Mersey Tourism Board in Liverpool and was named the IOD Director of the Year for Merseyside in 2007.  

Isabelle deBruyn

Paul Di Ianni

Paul Di Ianni is the Town of Lincoln’s first Director of Economic Development and Communications. After spending close to a decade working in Toronto at Queen’s Park and in the private sector, both focusing on economic development and stakeholder relations, Paul is now devoted to assisting businesses in Lincoln, driving retention and expansion, innovation, and entrepreneurship activities. Following his time at Queen’s Park, Paul worked in public affairs for Edelman Public Relations, the world’s largest PR firm. While at Edelman, Paul led the team that successfully advocated for foreign direct investment in Ontario for both the Ontario Ministries of Economic Development and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, among other clients. Paul holds both a combined Honours Degree in History and Political Science and a Master of Arts in in Political Science from McMaster University.  

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Appointment of five members to the Board of Directors of Destination Canada

From: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

News release

The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, today announced the appointment of four new members and the reappointment of a current member to the Board of Directors of Destination Canada, effective June 23, 2022.

June 28, 2022  — Ottawa, Ontario

The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, today announced the appointment of four new members and the reappointment of a current member to the Board of Directors of Destination Canada, effective June 23, 2022. These appointments were made following an open, transparent and merit-based selection process.

New members

Brenda Holder is currently Vice-Chair of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and Chair of Indigenous Tourism Alberta, serving hundreds of Indigenous tourism businesses across Canada. She has been active in the tourism sector for the last 22 years and is the owner of Mahikan Trails, an innovative Indigenous-owned soft adventure company that specializes in guiding, traditional camps, team building and instructional programs.

Benjamin Ryan holds an MSc in Financial Economics from the University of Oxford. He is currently Chief Commercial Officer of Air North, Yukon's Airline. He is a member of the Board of the Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon (TIAY); member of the Mät'àtäna Steering Committee, overseeing investment analysis for a first-of-its-kind high-end Indigenous tourism resort in Yukon in partnership with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations; and member of the Yukon Tourism Development Strategy Governance Task Force.

Martin Soucy has been Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance de l'industrie touristique du Québec since 2016 and has held executive positions in the Quebec tourism sector since 1994. He holds an MBA from the School of Management at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).

Natalie Thiesen is currently Vice-President of Tourism at Economic Development Winnipeg (Tourism Winnipeg) and has held executive positions in that organization since 2011. Since 2014, she has been a volunteer board member of Festival du Voyageur, for which she is currently President. She holds a Master of Arts in Tourism Management from Royal Roads University, a Bachelor of Commerce from the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University, and a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from the University of Winnipeg.

Reappointed member

Julie Canning , a Destination Canada board member since 2018, is the owner of Banff Trail Riders, the largest Western outfitting operation with a working herd of over 300 animals in Banff National Park. She has been recognized by Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, making its list of the Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds In Sales and Marketing.

Destination Canada's mission is to create demand for Canadian tourism products by marketing Canada as a four-season premier tourism destination. In addition, its Business Events team leverages in-depth global market analysis to target international clusters aligned with Canada's priority economic sectors. Destination Canada delivers on its mission by leading research, building alignment with the public and private sectors, and working with partners to support destination development.

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected global tourism. Destination Canada, a federal Crown corporation, has been agile in expanding its focus from international marketing to domestic marketing to encourage the safe travel of Canadians within our borders and support Canada's tourism sector during this challenging period. It has established a strong foundation to support the sector's recovery and future resilience.

"People overwhelmingly benefit from tourism in their communities. From large urban centres to rural towns to the ancestral territories of the First Nations, tourism provides well-paying jobs, growth potential for local businesses and opportunities for social connection. The appointees announced today have an excellent track record in the tourism sector. Their wealth of experience and knowledge will help support the recovery and ensure the growth of Canada's visitor economy, steering Destination Canada to attract even more international visitors. I wish to extend my most sincere thanks to two departing members of Destination Canada's Board of Directors, Patti Balsillie and Patricia Macdonald. Their contribution to Canada's tourism sector has truly been outstanding." — The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance

"Our Board of Directors is instrumental in guiding the strategic direction of Destination Canada as we work to drive recovery and resilience for the thousands of tourism businesses and millions of employees across the country. With the addition of these new board members, we are well positioned to seize the tremendous opportunity ahead, enhancing Canada's competitiveness as a destination for business and leisure travellers, enticing high-value guests to our shores and generating high-quality Canadian jobs. Together, we will build greater resilience for our industry over the long term. I also want to extend my deep gratitude to Patti Balsillie and Patricia Macdonald, whose board terms have expired, for their expertise and leadership, especially during the extremely challenging times caused by the pandemic." — The Honourable Liza Frulla, P.C., C.M., O.Q., Chair of the Board of Directors, Destination Canada

Quick facts

In 2019, a record 22.1 million tourists travelled to Canada.

Tourism expenditures reached an estimated $104.4 billion that year.

In 2019, tourism directly supported approximately 692,000 jobs in communities across Canada and contributed an estimated $45.1 billion in gross domestic product.

To ensure that Canada is a destination of choice when domestic and international travel resumes more fully, the Government of Canada provided an additional $100 million over three years to Destination Canada for marketing campaigns to encourage Canadians and international visitors to discover and explore the country.

Associated links

• Destination Canada
• Tourism in Canada

Marie-Pier Baril A/Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance 343-576-4131 [email protected]

Media Relations Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada [email protected]

Stay connected

Follow @cdntourism on Twitter and Instagram , and join the conversation using #cdntourismjobs.

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Ottawa's tourism industry — finally! — sees signs of recovery in 2023

Tour buses are filling up and the 2023 Tulip Festival drew an impressive half-million visitors. Local businesses have good reason to feel optimistic again.

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If you want to know how Ottawa’s tourism sector is doing, look no further than the meeting point outside the Ottawa School of Art in the ByWard Market. Next to the towering totem pole on George Street, tour groups congregate as their buses line up.

Not only are there more tour buses, but they are carrying with them more tourists, says Stefanie Siska, co-owner of C’est Bon Cooking, a Dalhousie business that conducts culinary walking tours in the ByWard Market.

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On a recent Wednesday afternoon, Siska herself ushered 10 Dutch tourists, who themselves were tour operators, on a food-filled walk through the ByWard Market. Over two and a half hours, the visitors stopped at a half-dozen of C’est Bon’s 30-odd partners in the Market for samples and stories.

After curds and Oka cheese at International Cheese, a chicken tikka wrap at Shafali Bazaar, a duck prosciutto salad at Clarendon Tavern, and a mustard tasting at Canada in a Basket, the inevitable finish was a BeaverTail at the inaugural stand on George Street.

“We tell them they are honorary Ottawans because it (a BeaverTail) is a rite of passage,” Siska says.

The overdue positivity comes after a terrible 2020 and 2021, which were COVID-ridden, and the beginning of a recovery in 2022, which itself was delayed in Ottawa by the convoy occupation.

Siska says that this year, she and other local tourism entrepreneurs are finally optimistic about business bouncing back to pre-pandemic levels.

“There’s a lot of anticipation for the comeback of the industry,” says Siska, who is also the incoming chair of Ottawa Tourism’s board of directors. “We can see it on the horizon and it’s coming fast.”

The indirect effects of the pandemic, such as inflation and labour shortages, continue to buffet the industry. Still, it’s possible the city could reach the same visitation levels of 2019, which was a banner year, says Michael Crockatt, the president and CEO of Ottawa Tourism. “There are definitely lots of reasons for our community to be optimistic about the contributions that tourism is going to make again to our economy.”

Jo Riding, executive director of the Canadian Tulip Festival, is excited that her event, which ran from May 12 to 22, drew a half-million visitors, including 250,000 people during its opening weekend alone.

Because the event this year used new technology to measure attendance, it’s hard for Riding to compare the turnout in 2023 to rough estimates made in past years. She feels that this year’s crowds matched last year’s record turnout, and that the 2023 crowds would have been larger had there not been “a drastic dip in the temperature” during the festival.

This year, the festival drew larger night-time crowds due to special programming as well as sound and light shows at Commissioners Park, Riding says. And the shuttles to Dow’s Lake from downtown hotels had to upsize to double-deckers, she says.

Meanwhile, the public mood regarding the pandemic has shifted from last year to this year, she adds. Visitors are more carefree.

“You can feel the difference, the increased level of comfort (regarding COVID-19),” Riding says. “People are chatting more. They’re smiling more… Less fear, less worries, longer stays, later visits. It’s really palpable.”

While the pandemic may have erased our memories of tourists flocking to the nation’s capital, Crockatt says that 2017—the year Ottawa hosted the event-filled Canada 150 bonanza—set Ottawa on a path toward greater tourism-related prosperity.

Six years ago, Ottawa hosted the Juno Awards, the Grey Cup, and the NHL 100 Classic outdoor hockey game. There was an Interprovincial Picnic on the Bridge on July 2 and Canada’s Table, a late-August gourmet dinner party on Wellington Street.

That year, the Ottawa Welcomes the World series at Lansdowne Park attracted more than 230,000 guests. More than 325,000 people made their way underground to the future Lyon Station of the LRT for the multimedia show Kontinuum. Most impressively, 750,000 people took in the La Machine exhibition over four days in July.

Also in 2017, the Shaw Centre welcomed almost double the number of conventions and delegates compared with previous years, as organizations and associations brought their gatherings to Ottawa in celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary.

After such an exceptional year, the expectation was that Ottawa would see a drop-off in tourism numbers and revenue. But then 2018 matched 2017, Crockatt says. And 2019 surpassed them both, setting a new benchmark.

The stereotyped criticisms about Ottawa being a boring government town dissipated, he says, especially for younger tourists. Ottawa Tourism was expecting even more growth in 2020.

Instead, COVID-19 devastated the tourism and hospitality industry, Ottawa’s second-largest private-sector employer after the tech sector.

Even after lockdowns and capacity limits fell by the wayside, the indirect effects of the pandemic continued to challenge Ottawa’s tourism industry.

The hollowing out of downtown, as many workers stayed in their home offices, hurt tourism.

For example, the absence of downtown workers led to many restaurants cutting back their hours of operation, closing early in the week or foregoing lunch service. The result was fewer dining options for tourists, who told friends back home, says Crockatt. “The stories they tell, those impact our brand.”

Remote work also means fewer business travelers come to Ottawa. Videoconferencing replaced in-person meetings, so lobbyists and consultants had less reason to travel to Ottawa.

While tourism businesses had hoped for a big rebound last year, the pandemonium and illegal occupation in Ottawa’s downtown discouraged tourists from visiting in February 2022. For weeks after, there were negative feelings about wanting to visit Ottawa, according to Ottawa Tourism’s measures of Canadian’s sentiment.

“We were dead last in almost every metric,” says Crockatt. “Anyone booking future travel in Ottawa wasn’t going to come here. They were going to book somewhere else.”

Meanwhile, the ongoing inflation that affects the economies in Canada and abroad is a tricky matter to figure into consideration of the tourism industry. Crockatt says inflation may well de-stimulate travel due to rising costs. But for those who do travel to Ottawa, spending will be higher.

Before the pandemic, visitors spent $2.2 billion each year in Ottawa.

And it’s been well-known since the end of lockdowns and the return of in-person dining that finding staff has been a major hurdle for tourism and hospitality businesses.

C’est Bon employs specialized chefs for cooking classes and tour guides, and Siska says staffing was “a rollercoaster” during the pandemic.

“We couldn’t give anybody a promise of work, not knowing if we would be at capacity,” Siska says. “It was hard to try to staff somebody if we didn’t know if the income was going to be there.”

But in the past six months, Siska says it’s been easier to hire people. “The interest (in working) has come back.”

Nonetheless, the hospitality industry faces an enduring and daunting challenge with respect to staffing, says Altaf Sovani, the former academic chair of Algonquin College’s school of hospitality and tourism.

Last fall, Sovani published his book Labor Crisis In Hospitality, Tourism & Event Industry: Finding Innovative Solutions for Recruitment and Retention of Millennials. Its thesis was that even before the pandemic, hospitality workers were seeing their job satisfaction decline, and that after COVID-19 struck, it prompted an exodus that will only be fully addressed with systemic issues in the industry are addressed.

“This is not going to go away very soon,” Sovani says. “It’s going to stay here for a while, before we get to whatever the norm is.”

In the capital region’s hotel industry, for example, roughly 20 per cent of the workforce is missing, says Steve Ball, president of the Ottawa-Gatineau Hotel Association. Between his 63 members, there were 565 jobs, ranging from room attendants to senior positions, that needed filling in February.

“There’s not a quick fix,” he says. To cope with short-staffing, hotels are making more use of technology and changing how they provide services to guests.

Millennials want careers that provide benefits and a better work-life balance in the industry, Sovani says. He adds that the tourism and hospitality industries, academia and government will have to row in the same direction to address labour shortages.

Still, the industry in Ottawa does have developments to cheer about in 2023.

Many hope that the June 27 launch of Air France’s direct, five-days-a-week flights between Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport and Ottawa will be a boon to tourism in the capital.

“We are already marketing the heck out of it,” says Crockatt, who recently sent staff to Paris to woo tour operators and travel media.

Air France’s inclusion of Ottawa in its extensive network comes after the rollback in recent years of Air Canada’s direct flights connecting Ottawa and London.

And before the end of this year, the Montreal-based high-end hotel group RIMAP Hospitality will open its first hotel in Ottawa— the 24-storey, 159-room AC Hotel Marriott on Rideau Street.

RIMAP is placing a half-billion-dollar vote of confidence in Ottawa. Two more hotels are to follow the AC, says Stéphane Pelletier, RIMAP’s regional general manager for Ottawa.

RIMAP plans to open the Moxy by Marriott Byward Market in 2025 and the Renaissance Ottawa Downtown in 2026. Between them, the three hotels will add 604 rooms to Ottawa’s stock of hotel rooms, which now numbers about 11,000.

“The travel industry is rebounding rapidly, and the economy is returning to normal growth,” Pelletier says. “We are convinced that Ottawa will continue to be a world-class destination with tourism travel expanding exponentially for years to come.”

That should come at long last as welcome news to Siska’s culinary company, which was one of many that had to hunker down, retrench and pivot over the past three years.

But at least Siska’s company is still in operation. Several other culinary tour companies that operated in Ottawa before the pandemic are no longer in business here.

At its peak, before 2020, C’est Bon offered hundreds of tours a month across Chinatown, Little Italy, Wellington Village, Hintonburg and the Glebe. Today, her company only conducts culinary walking tours in the ByWard Market.

And yet C’est Bon now finds its numbers are higher than they were pre-pandemic. “Even if we’re offering fewer tours than in 2019, the volume is still higher,” she says. “We’re having an increase in demand.”

Selected Summer 2023 Events in Ottawa

Ottawa Italian Festival: June 8-18 Ottawa Fringe Festival: June 15-25 Festival Franco-Ontarien: June 16-17 Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival: June 21-25| Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival: June 22-25 Escapade Music Festival: June 23-25 Ottawa Jazz Festival: June 23-30 Music and Beyond: July 4-16 RBC Ottawa Bluesfest: July 6-16 HOPE Volleyball SummerFest: July 15 Chamberfest: July 21 – Aug. 4 Les Grand Feux du Casino Lac Leamy: Aug. 2-19 Ottawa International Busker Fest: Aug. 4-7 The Chef’s Table: Aug. 10 – Sept. 9 Capital Pride: Aug. 19-27 Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival: Aug. 31 – Sept. 4

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Board of Directors

Meet our volunteer Board of Directors

Dave Donaldson

Dave Donaldson is the retired Dean of the School of Business at Algonquin College and previously Dean, Hospitality, Business and Music at Vancouver Community College. He is currently on the board of the Ottawa Safety Council with previous volunteerism including Chair of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Canadian Business Schools.

Additional community activity has included being a member of the Marches d’Ottawa Markets, Tourism Development Council of Ottawa Tourism, past director with that organization, BC Restaurant and Food Services Association, Council of Tourism Associations and Director, Tourism Vancouver. He was a member of the Yes 2010 Steering Council which generated the vote endorsing the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and a founding principal in Stars4SUCCESS, a unique partnership with downtown Vancouver hotels which retrained street youth.

Dave has been recognized by the Canadian Association of Food Professionals with an Educational Excellence Award and the Food Executive of the Year for western Canada. He has a lifetime membership with the Ottawa Board of Trade, received the Algonquin College President’s Star award and was the inaugural winner of the Community Booster award from the Best Ottawa Business (BOBs) awards. He was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal and the Order of the Tulip as a Chamber past chair. He has also received an Algonquin College Student Association award of excellence recognizing outstanding contribution to student life at Algonquin.

Dave has a Bachelor of Education degree (McGill) and an MBA (Simon Fraser University). Dave also serves as Ex-Officio Director member on all committees.

Catherine Danbrook

Catherine has over 35 years of health care experience, including more than 25 years in leadership positions in both community and hospital organizations. Her areas of expertise include Geriatrics, Mental Health, Palliative and Hospice Care, Home and Community Care and Rehabilitation. Recently retired after eight years as CEO of Community Care Health Network in Kawartha Lakes, Catherine has held positions of Vice-President Clinical Programs at The Ottawa Hospital; Chief Executive Officer of the Rehabilitation Centre of Ottawa; and Executive Director of the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Home Care Program.

While in Kawartha Lakes, Catherine chaired The Central East LHIN Mental Health Network as well as the Central East Senior Care Network.

Catherine holds a Master of Health Administration degree and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, both from the University of Ottawa and is a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders. She has interests in change management, quality improvement, patient safety, and population health initiatives.

Catherine was a surveyor with Accreditation Canada on its National and International teams for 12 years and in the spring of 2019, she was appointed to the Ontario Consent and Capacity Board as a Public Member.

Catherine has also served as a member of the CEO Succession Planning Adhoc Committee and is Chair of the Governance Committee.

Robin Sellar

Robin Sellar has over 30 years of executive-level experience in external audit, taxation, corporate and financial planning, risk management, internal audit, strategy development, and governance and alliance management. She is a highly experienced, mature professional with outstanding credentials and impeccable personal ethics. She is an accomplished communicator, composed and diplomatic, and has had extensive experience speaking to large audiences, especially in the area of governance, risk management and internal audit.

Robin is currently the Managing Partner of Sellar Consulting, successfully providing governance, risk management, performance management and assurance services to public and private sector organizations.

She is a global thought leader at the Committee level with the Institute of Internal Auditors. She has significant governance experience and currently serves on a number of paid and volunteer Boards as Chair of the Audit Committee and/or Treasurer.

Robin is a Chartered Accountant, a US CPA, CIA, and holds a Kellogg MBA from Northwestern, Illinois.

Robin also serves as Chair of the Finance Committee.

Board Member

Steve is the President of the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association and involved as a Board director in the Shepherds of Good Hope, Ottawa Tourism, and Ottawa Celebrations Inc.

Steve’s previous positions included Vice President of Media at the Canadian Medical Association and Publisher with St. Joseph Media. He has three grown children and is very active in the community.

Steve also serves as a Director on the Finance Committee.

Chantal Desmarais Barton

Chantal is a dynamic leader and innovator who has advanced social, educational, scientific, technological, and healthcare outcomes over a 25-year career span.

She holds an executive role as Director, Special Initiatives at the National Research Council’s Digital Technologies Research Centre.

Chantal earned a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology, a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a graduate diploma in Social Organization Management. She is fluently bilingual, an accredited Project Management Professional and continuously seeks to contribute to society in positive and impactful ways.

Chantal is also committed to making a difference in the community and for future generations related to climate action and inclusive youth environmental leadership initiatives.

She has previous experience as the President and Chair of a non-profit board and has served on each of the board committees since joining the SGH Board.

Ahmer Gulzar

Ahmer is a technology leader with a wide range of experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors. As the Director of Information Systems and Web Services, he is a member of the senior leadership team at the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) where he is responsible for aligning organizational goals with technology strategy and implementation.

Ahmer is co-chair of CCSA’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee since the committee’s inception in 2020. His areas of expertise include technology strategy, enterprise and business architecture, digital services, cybersecurity, people leadership, human resources and EDI.

Ahmer holds an Executive MBA from the University of Ottawa, Bachelors of Engineering from Carleton University, is a licensed professional engineer, a Project Management Professional and is ITIL certified.

In addition to serving on the board of directors of Shepherds of Good Hope, Ahmer is a community board member for the Queensway Carleton Hospital.

Michael Laviolette

Michael Robert Laviolette recently took a new position with the Canadian Senate following a role as Director of Risk Management at Algonquin College and a 31-year career with the Ottawa Police Service retiring as the Specialized Investigations Inspector, Criminal Investigations Directorate.

His responsibilities at Algonquin College included Risk Management, Occupational Health and Safety, Corporate Security and Internal Controls as well as the development, implementation and deployment of emergency management and business continuity policies, plans, procedures and response capacity for the College.

His Ottawa police services responsibilities included specialized investigations inspector, criminal investigations directorate; central district inspector, central district community; and staff sergeant with the drug unit, guns and gangs unit, central front line deployment and international peace operations branch – RCMP.

His honours and Awards include the Exemplary Service Medal, Senior Officer Commendation for Project Sleepwalker – 2011 and the RCMP Director’s Certificate of Appreciation for exceptional dedication and professionalism carrying out duties in support of Canadian police in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake disaster.

Michael has served as the Board Chair of the Ottawa Humane Society and during his police service was the Diplomatic Liaison Officer for the Ottawa Police Service working with Global Affairs Canada, RCMP and all Embassies and Consulates within the Ottawa Region. He was also a member of the Hospital Liaison team representing the Criminal Investigations Directorate working with all Ottawa area hospitals to manage risks, roles and responsibilities. He has served as Chair of the Violence Against Women Partner Assault Advisory Committee and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Ottawa Police Service Senior Officers Association.

Donna Lougheed

Donna Lougheed is a semi-retired psychiatrist with many years of experience working with adults who are homeless or marginally housed. She has worked with the Royal Ottawa Hospital, TOH, CMHA, and Renfrew County Mental Health Services. In addition, she spent a formative year in Jamaica working as a general psychiatrist in the public health care system.

A professor at the University of Ottawa, Donna has taught health care professionals, emphasising the concepts of social determinants of health in the Canadian health care system, and the biopsychosocial model of understanding and treating mental illness. She previously served on the boards of Ottawa Salus, and Project Upstream.

Prior to specializing in psychiatry, Dr Lougheed worked as a family physician in rural British Columbia. Her interests include international and cross-cultural issues in psychiatry and health. She is active in her woodlot when she is not singing in a community choir.

Donna also serves as a Director of the Finance Committee.

John Peters

Emeritus Officer

John has been on the Board of Directors of Shepherds of Good Hope since 1993. He has served as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board as well as Chair of the Human Resources Committee (HRC), which he continues to contribute to as a member. John is also Past Chair and a Director on the Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation Board.

John is a partner at Gowling WLG practising in the Advocacy Department and in particular, the Employment, Labour and Equalities Group. Prior to joining Gowling WLG, John was Principal Litigation Counsel at Export Development Canada (EDC) where he led the Litigation Management team, which delivers advice on all liability-related issues. With over 29 years of experience as a lawyer, John has extensive legal knowledge and experience in the areas of insurance and employment law as well as general litigation matters.

John has received both the Gordon F. Henderson Award from the County of Carleton Law Association (2007) and the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers from the Governor General of Canada (August 2017) in recognition of his work with Shepherds.

John will continue to serve as a member of the HRC and is an Emeritus Officer of Shepherds of Good Hope.

Darryl Squires

Darryl Squires has been active for the last 20 years as the co-owner of a successful medium sized construction firm and property developer.

Prior to that Darryl spent 11 years in a senior financial role advising public corporations on mergers and acquisition and raising equity and debt capital. He also has experience sitting on the board of directors of public and private corporations, including audit committee service. Darryl has an HBA from the Ivey School of Business (with distinction) at the University of Western Ontario.

Darryl also serves on the Finance Committee.

Julie Terrien

Julie is an Advocacy lawyer with both a law degree and a Master’s Degree in Law (LL.B and LL.M). Through the Canadian Bar Association, Julie provides strategic advice for governance and advocacy initiatives while helping 40 Sections, subcommittees, and countless working groups to focus their influence with government, regulators, and the courts.

Julie served as Deputy Commissioner in the Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs Canada from 2017 to 2019. During that time, she was responsible for providing legislative, policy, and management direction required to meet the Office’s mandate set out in Part 1 of the Judges Act.

Julie was a Senior Counsel at the Supreme Court of Canada since 1990 where she was responsible for the planning, direction and provision of legal advice to the Office of the Registrar and the Supreme Court judges.

Her volunteer work includes Board Director and past President, Roberts Smart Centre (1991-1997), a tertiary provider and provincial leader in the delivery of inclusive, community-based, individualized treatment and clinical services to improve the lives of youth and their families from across Ontario living with complex mental health and behavioural needs. Julie is an active Soup Kitchen volunteer with Shepherds of Good Hope and serves on the Governance Committee.

Kassondra Walters

Kassondra Walters is the founder of a multi-disciplinary, 100% Indigenous-owned management consulting social enterprise. Her heritage is Oneida & Mohawk from Six Nations of the Grand River and Settler from England, Wales, and France. Born on the east coast of Turtle Island, like both of her parents, Kassondra now lives on unsurrendered Algonquin Territory in Ottawa. KD Management & Consulting donates 5% of annual revenues to the Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford, ON whose Mission is to protect, promote, interpret, and present the Hodinohsho:ni   worldview.

Her career progression includes owner/operator of an Indigenous owned and operated social enterprise bringing communities together and connecting people with the knowledge and resources they seek to impact change; Integrated Marketing Specialist; Manager, Membership Experience, Ottawa Board of Trade; Community Engagement & Information Coordinator, Kingston Military Family Resource Centre, Business Development Director with the West Ottawa Board of Trade and various administrative and sales positions with a number of diverse organizations.

She is the past first Chair, Birch Path Healing Forest, National Healing Forests Initiative, past Vice-Chair, Women’s Business Network (WBN) as well as First Nations Selection Panelist, CP Quilliq Bursary Program and a past Selection Panelist, Women’s Business Network (WBN) Businesswoman of the Year Awards.

Kassondra also serves on the Governance Committee.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

General Manager, Brookstreet Hotel

Colin Morrison

General Manager, Embassy Hotel and Suites

David Smythe

General Manager, Lord Elgin Hotel

Chris Pierce

General Manager, Les Suites Hotel

Ross Meredith

Dual General Manager: The Westin Ottawa & Delta Hotels by Marriott Ottawa City Centre

Cyril Bulvestre

General Manager, Novotel Ottawa

Geneviève Dumas

General Manager, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Alana Haining

General Manager, Holiday Inn & Suites Kanata

Stephane Pelletier

General Manager, AC Hotel Ottawa Downtown

Cole Sheridan

Ottawa Marriott Hotel

General Manager, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ottawa Airport, Homewood Suites Ottawa Airport, Hampton Inn Ottawa Airport, Holiday Inn Express and Suites Downtown Ottawa East, Residence Inn Ottawa Airport

Ottawa Valley Tourist Association announces new board, celebrates tourism

Article content.

RENFREW – The Ottawa Valley Tourist Association (OVTA) has elected a new board of directors for the 2024-25 term.  

Ottawa Valley Tourist Association announces new board, celebrates tourism Back to video

The election took place during the OVTA’s Tourism Week annual general meeting and tourism conference held on April 16 at the myFM Centre in Renfrew. More than 60 tourism operators, municipal and community partners and stakeholders gathered together to celebrate tourism success in the Ottawa Valley, network, share best practices and learn from one another before the start of the summer tourism season.  

The OVTA Board of Directors for the 2024-25 term consists of:  

• Councillor David Bennett, Renfrew County Council/ Horton Township  
• Chris Hinsperger,  Bonnechere Caves    
• Meghan James,  Somewhere Inn, Calabogie    
• Julia Klimack,  Upper Ottawa Valley Heritage Society  
• Joel Kowalski,  Wilderness Tours    
• Michelle Logan, Comfort Inn Pembroke   
• Elijah McKeown,  City of Pembroke    
• Jill McLellan, End of the Leash Pet Boutique & Watch My 6    
• Chris Melmoth,  Algonquin College Pembroke    
• Jolene Meloche, Renfrew County ATV Club  
• Emily Stovel,  Arnprior & District Museum    
• Stefani Van Wijk,  Madawaska Kanu Centre    
• Councillor Rob Weir, Renfrew County Council/ Greater Madawaska Township    
• Rachel Worth-Cappell,  Braiding Rivers    

The chairperson and vice chairperson positions will be elected at the first meeting of the board this month.  

The AGM and conference began with a welcome to the land by Christine Luckasavitch of Waaseyaa Cultural Tours. Her presentation included insights into the history of the Algonquin people. This was followed by the annual general meeting where members received reports and elected the new board.  

Throughout the rest of the day, attendees heard from keynote speaker, Sara Norton of REPLY-ALL, who guided participants through the pros and cons of a variety of marketing channels, and discussed the most important factors to consider when deciding which channel will be most worthwhile reaching a targeted audience. Three panel discussions also took place with local industry leaders covering a wide range of topics including: the benefits of community partnerships, an introduction and overview of travel trade marketing and succession planning strategies.   

“ As tourism bounces back post-pandemic, we’re learning to navigate climate challenges,” said 2023-24 board chairwoman and event MC Stefani Van Wijk. “Sustainable destination development is key, especially as travelers crave slower, responsible adventures like those we offer in the Ottawa Valley. ”  

Tourism Week  

Tourism Week, which took place this year from April 15 th to 19 th , is an annual invitation for the tourism industry to come together to champion and promote Canada’s destinations, tourism businesses and employees.  

About the OVTA  

The OVTA is the destination marketing organization for the Upper Ottawa Valley and proudly represents more than 300 tourism businesses, comprised of attractions and outfitters, accommodation, food, beverage and retail establishments, artists and galleries, municipalities and community organizations, as well as media and industry suppliers. The OVTA is supported by the County of Renfrew, Renfrew County municipalities and the City of Pembroke.  

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Board of directors.

The Ottawa International Airport Authority is governed by a 14-member Board of Directors that is nominated by various Selecting Bodies from organizations in the National Capital Region and various levels of government.

Bonnie Boretsky, Chair Nominated by: Transport Canada

Dick Brown Nominated by: Ottawa Tourism

Mario Cuconato Nominated by: City of Ottawa

Marc Joyal At Large

Michèle Lafontaine Nominated by: City of Gatineau

Bruce Lazenby At Large

Kevin McGarr At Large

Sam Michaud Nominated by: Invest Ottawa

Deanna Monaghan At Large

Vanessa Pilotte Nominated by: Chambre de commerce de Gatineau

John Proctor Nominated by: Ottawa Board of Trade

Lisa Stilborn Nominated by: City of Ottawa

Vacant Nominated by: Minister of Transport

Vacant Nominated by: Government of Ontario

Mark Laroche President & CEO

The Airport Authority uses cookies to improve the user experience and gather basic analytical data. The Airport Authority does not collect any personal information. Please refer to our website Terms of Use for more information.

#BuildUpOttawa

Your ottawa board of trade.

• A dvocates for collaborative and sustainable community prosperity
• B uilds support for local businesses as they launch, pivot or grow
• C hampions the City of Ottawa as the best place to live, work and invest
• D rives initiatives that remove barriers, save costs and unite local businesses

Mark Your Calendar

In the news, july 18, 2022 - why ottawa's business community needs radical collaboration.

Ottawa Business Journal

Written by: Sueling Ching, President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade

May 17, 2022 - Ottawa Board of Trade Releases Priorities Ahead of Provincial Election

City News Ottawa

Sueling Ching, President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade joins the Sam Laprade Show to discuss how we can Build Up Ottawa

November 8, 2021 - #BuyLocalOttawa

#BuyLocalOttawa

The Ottawa Board of Trade - together with key local partners including the City of Ottawa , Ottawa Tourism , Invest Ottawa , the Ottawa Coalition of BIAs , and RGA (Regroupement des gen d’affaires de la Capitale)—is calling on YOU to be a part of Ottawa’s economic recovery and rebound plan by putting your money where your heart is and BUYING LOCAL  this holiday season and beyond.

We have launched the #BuyLocalOttawa campaign to remind everyone that businesses drive our local economy, enhance our community culture and shape our future. They support all of us.  So now it is time to support them.

Discover what our networking events look like

Member Directory

Discover how Ottawa Board of Trade members can help your business

Have you heard of #OttawaNEXT?

Launching the #OttawaNEXT portal is the latest in a succession of Ottawa Board of Trade (OBoT) initiatives designed to remove barriers for local businesses. If you are tired of information overload about COVID-19, economic recovery strategies, and what support is available to you and your business, #OttawaNEXT keeps it simple!

Stay Connected with OBOT and SUBSCRIBE to our Weekly Newsletter 

• Portal Login

About the Board of Directors

Members of the Ottawa Safety Council’s Board of Directors are motorcycle enthusiasts, parents, avid cyclists, and professionals who come to us with diverse skills and backgrounds. They value the shared integrity of road use and bring with them expertise in marketing, strategy, finance, and law. If you’re passionate about road safety and safe communities, and want to help the Ottawa Safety Council support their strategic goals, keep reading to find out how you can join our board.

Meet our Board of Directors

William skorupinski.

Automotive Services Division, CAA

William joined the Ottawa Safety Council to share his expertise of road safety that he has gathered not only within Ottawa but throughout North America and Europe. The CAA and the Ottawa Safety Council have very similar interests: safety while enjoying the roads no matter how you travel, be it on foot, bicycle, or motorized vehicle. William uses Ottawa’s road network for travel within the community, running, and as a novice cyclist. “Living on the edge of the urban boundary allows me to appreciate the safety challenges in both an urban and a rural environment.”

Cathy Anderson

SR. VICE CHAIR

Client Executive, NTT Data – managing growth and delivery for Ottawa customers

Logging over 5000 km per year cycling, Cathy’s preferred method of transpiration is her road bike. In the summer, she also rides a gravel bike on gravel roads in rural Ottawa and a fat bike in the winter. She is a runner and participates in most local running events. Cathy has extensive education and 25 years of experience helping organizations modernize technologies, transform service delivery, and in strategic growth for both private and not-for-profit organizations. “As one of the injured parties in the "Kanata 5" cycling accident in 2009, my interest in safe transportation is very personal.”

Jennifer Hyatt

Jennifer has many professional titles including Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified General Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, and mediator. Over the course of her career as a Forensic Accountant, Jennifer has worked with thousands of people involved in motor vehicle accidents which makes her passionate about making our roads safer for everyone.

Conal Slobodin

Government Relations Professional

Conal works for Walmart Canada, where he is responsible for the development and execution of the company’s federal and Ontario government relations strategies. He brings over a decade of experience in government relations and public policy to the OSC and currently serves as Secretary and Chair of the Governance Committee. He is proud of the role OSC continues to play in road safety programs and advocacy in Ontario.

Conal has called Ottawa home since 2010 and lives in Gloucester with his wife and young daughters.

Prasath Sarma

Prasath is a highly flexible executive with experience in strategic planning, engineering, operations and IT.  He enables transformation through cultural change and is committed to organizational and individual success.  He has an engineering degree from Ryerson and has lived in Ottawa for the past 15 years. 

As a father of 2 school-aged boys, safety is a top priority for Prasath.  He loves walking with his dog and going on family bike rides throughout Ottawa.  "I'm glad to be part of organizations like OSC that embed the safety culture so we, as a community, can live, work and enjoy our city safely."

Dwight Stewart

Dwight is an experienced professional with a background in Information Technology and Public safety. He has been acknowledged as being a calm and decisive leader under stressful situations, and he has worked as a trainer and mentor to his colleagues.

He Is frequently outdoors and using Ottawa's roadways from driving, to motorcycling, or with family members cycling.  He has young children that love the outdoors, and he is enthusiastic about helping to ensure that they and all the members of our community can safely enjoy our beautiful city. 

“I could not be happier than to be part of an organization that helps to protect the children that will form our future."

Lori Henderson

Vice President - Treasury and Cash Management, RBC

Lori, originally from Atlantic Canada, moved to Ontario in 2005 where she learned how to ride a motorcycle on the winding roads of Northern Ontario soon realizing the need for road safety. Cyclists, whether motorized or not need to be the most defensive when on the roads. Living in Ottawa for the past 12 years and careers as a banker and entrepreneur for the past 19 years Lori brings her finance knowledge to OSC and hopes to help in the growth of the organization and sees the importance of advocating for safer roads. A mom to a daughter and 2 stepsons that are now adults, Lori watched her children walk to and from school, benefiting from the crossing guard program and keeping them safe.

Jonathan Thompson

Jonathan is an experienced lawyer who has spent the majority of his career conducting criminal and regulatory prosecutions on behalf of the Crown. He has extensive courtroom experience related to road safety cases under the Highway Traffic Act and the Criminal Code, as well as taking part in legal education for police officers and university students. Jonathan is an enthusiastic cyclist (and a reluctant runner), and he’s excited about making Ottawa’s roads safer for everyone.

Nathalie Guthrie

Dave donaldson.

Managing Partner, Bo’ness Management Consulting Inc.

Dave Donaldson is the retired Dean of the School of Business at Algonquin College with over 20 years as a senior college administrator in Vancouver and Ottawa, following a career with several organizations in senior marketing roles. Community activity includes the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, Association of Canadian Business Schools, Tourism Development Council of Ottawa Tourism, and a past director with that organization. He is currently the Board chair of Shepherds of Good Hope.

Help Support the Ottawa Safety Council

Donations to the Ottawa Safety Council help us to continue building new programming and creating and delivering awareness campaigns to bring road safety advocacy and awareness to everyone in Ottawa, regardless of how they travel.

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