Ottawa isn’t just Canada’s capital — it’s where ideas spark, partnerships grow and global conversations take shape. Each year, Think Ottawa Leaders transform the city into an international stage by attracting conferences and events that strengthen Ottawa’s economy, reputation and community. This year’s Think Ottawa Gala takes place on February 12, 2026, celebrating the Leaders who make this impact possible.
When a Leader steps forward, they do more than host an event. They create opportunities for knowledge exchange, showcase Ottawa’s strengths and bring thousands of delegates to local hotels, restaurants and venues, supporting businesses and positioning the city as a hub of innovation.
Supported by Ottawa Tourism, Invest Ottawa and the Rogers Centre Ottawa, Think Ottawa offers bid preparation, funding strategies and complimentary planning services. Leaders can dream big — the Think Ottawa team helps turn that vision into reality.
2025 Think Ottawa Leaders:
This year, we honour the Leaders who have championed Ottawa as the host city for these impactful events, bringing almost 30,000 visitors to the city this year:
- Leo Doyle, Ontario Cup, Ontario Basketball Association 2025
- Phyllis Bergmans, Canadian Ringette Championships 2025
- Richard Johnston, Canadian Track and Field Championship 2025
- Matei Radulescu, 30th International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems (ICDERS) 2025
- Alison Jones, International Tritium Conference on Tritium Science and Technology 2025
- Judith Nassuna, Global Nursing Summit 2025
- Timothy Lethbridge, IEEE-ICSE 2025 (International Conference on Software Engineering) / ACM
- David Michelson, IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and North American Radio Science Meeting 2025
- Cassandra Auguste-René, Ottawa Black Business Expo 2025
- Mark Tse, Cybersecurity & Identity Summit 2025
- Melissa Brett and Dr. Stephanie Redpath, Canadian Paediatric and Neonatal Transport Conference 2025
With world-class venues and the full support of our expert team, Think Ottawa helps transform your vision into an unforgettable reality.
By Ottawa Tourism
