2026 City Building Summit - Capital 200: Owning Our Future
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Building the Next 200 Years of Innovation, Collaboration, and Inclusive Prosperity
The City Building Summit is Ottawa’s premier forum for shaping the future of Canada’s Capital Region. This full-day event brings together city builders, policy makers, business leaders, and community advocates for an inclusive and forward-looking conversation about the opportunities and challenges that will define our next century.
The 2026 City Building Summit pushes past short-term thinking to explore bold questions about Ottawa’s growth, resilience, and global competitiveness. Are we building fast enough to meet the demands of the next economy? How can we harness AI, talent, and productivity to drive inclusive prosperity and strengthen our position among the world’s most innovative capitals?
Through dynamic discussions and case studies, we’ll explore lessons from other global cities and tackle imperative themes such as defence and sovereign innovation, energy systems capable of powering the next 200 years, and growth priorities for 2026–2030. Together, we’ll consider what it takes to sustain both the pace and quality of growth - balancing ambition with stewardship, technology with humanity, and innovation with equity.
This is your opportunity to make your voice heard, contribute to transformative dialogue, and help define the vision for an Ottawa that leads with purpose, resilience, and imagination. Together, we are building a stronger, smarter Capital that thrives today and for generations to come.
Who Should Attend:
- City Builders: Developers, architects, urban planners, and investors.
- Policymakers: Government officials and public sector leaders.
- Business Leaders: Entrepreneurs and executives from various industries.
- Community Advocates: Residents and activists interested in shaping Ottawa's future.
Agenda*:
7:30 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. - Registration and Networking
8:15 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. - Welcome + Opening Remarks: The Capital Moment
- Sueling Ching, President and CEO, Ottawa Board of Trade
8:20 a.m. - 8:35 a.m. - Keynote Address: the Hon. Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation
8:35 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. - Details on the Day- Sueling Ching, President and CEO, Ottawa Board of Trade
- Brendan McGuinty, Board of Directors Chair, Ottawa Board of Trade
8:50 a.m. - 9:05 a.m. - Mayor’s Address
- His Worship Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of the City of Ottawa
9:15 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. - Introduction of ACT I: The Future Capital
- Michael Curran, Publisher, Ottawa Business Journal & President, Great River Media
ACT l: The Future Capital
9:20 a.m. - 10:05 a.m. - Panel 1: AI Nation Starts Here
Moderator: Sacha Gera, Chief Operating Officer, HEALWELL AI Inc.
- Steve Harrington, Partner, Human Capital, Deloitte
- Marie-Eve Sylvestre, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Ottawa
- Matthew Milton, President, Microsoft Canada
- Neilda Pacquing Gagne, Chief Ecosystem Officer, AGI Ventures Canada
10:05 a.m. - 10:25 a.m. - Health Break + Networking
10:25 a.m. - 10:35 a.m. - Remarks from Candace Laing, President & CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
10:40 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. - Introduction of ACT II: The Growth Imperative
- Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB)
ACT ll: The Growth Imperative
10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - Panel 1: Capital Growth Lab
Moderator: Jennifer Cross, Director of Regional Development, Chandos Construction
- Susan Margles, President and CEO, Ottawa International Airport Authority
- Mark Goudie, President and CEO, Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group
- Linda Jenkyn, Director General, Public Services and Procurement Canada
- Hugh Gorman, CEO, Colonnade BridgePort
- Sueling Ching, President and CEO, Ottawa Board of Trade
11:35 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. - Panel 2: 200-Year Fireside: Lessons from Global Capitals
- Mary Rowe, President and CEO, The Canadian Urban Institute
- Tracy Hadden Loh, Fellow, Brookings Metro
- Ruth Duston, Founder and Chief Executive, Primera Corporation
- Tobi Nussbaum, President and CEO, National Capital Commission
12:20 p.m. - 12:25 p.m. - Remarks from the Ottawa Jazz Festival
12:30 p.m. - 12:40 p.m. - Morning Wrap-Up
12:40 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Keynote Address: The Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Lunch + Networking
2:00 p.m. - 2:05 p.m. - Afternoon Opening Remarks
2:05 p.m. - 2:10 p.m. - Introduction of ACT III: Economic Power & Security
ACT lll: Economic Power and Security
2:10 p.m. - 2:55 p.m. - Panel 1: Defence and Sovereign Innovation
- Sonya Shorey, President and CEO, Invest Ottawa
- Josh Ogden, CEO and Co-founder, AVSS
- Josh Freed, President and Managing Director, Kongsberg
- Chris Pogue, President, Defence and Space, Calian
- Samuel Witherspoon, CEO, ANVIL
- Enbridge Gas Inc.
- Julie Lupinacci, EVP, Customer Experience, Communications and Sustainability, Hydro Ottawa
- Scott Demark, Partner, Theia Partners
- Chuck Farmer, Executive Vice-President of Power System Development, Independent Electricity System Operator
- Terry Young, President, KRP Properties
- Geoff Wright, Senior Vice-President of Development, Brookfield Renewable
3:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. - Closing Remarks: The Capital 200 Declaration
4:15 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. City Building Magazine Launch - Cocktail Reception
Speakers:
Don't miss the community building event of the year!
Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please reach out to Brittney Meagher to learn more: Brittney@ottawabusinesevents.ca
Event Sponsors
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Date and Time
Tuesday Apr 28, 2026
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM EDT
Location
Rogers Centre Ottawa
Fees/Admission
Single Ticket:
Ottawa Board of Trade Member - $275 + HST
Future Member - $340 + HST
Corporate Package:
Ottawa Board of Trade Member - Table of 8 - $1980 + HST
Future Member - Table of 8 - $2450 + HST
Contact Information
For event inquiries please contact info@ottawabusinessevents.ca
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