Mayor's Breakfast with Mark Monahan, Executive Director of Bluesfest

The Mayor's Breakfast is one of our most popular events, bringing together the region's top business, community and political leaders. This monthly event features great networking opportunities, a City Hall update from the Mayor, and high-profile speakers addressing issues that are vital to our city, province and country. Join us! Be informed on key issues impacting the prosperity of our city and get connected with Ottawa's business community.

Agenda:
7:00AM - Networking and Breakfast
8:00AM - Update from City Hall + Fireside Chat
9:00AM - Event Conclusion

Special Guest: Mark Monahan, Executive Director, Ottawa Bluesfest
 

Mark Monahan founded the Ottawa Bluesfest in 1994. Since then, the event has grown from a one-stage, three-day event to a multi-staged, two-week music extravaganza featuring some of the best talent available on the planet. As executive director, Mark has turned the festival into one of North America’s largest music events. Ottawa Bluesfest typically attracts more than 300,000 fans and generates over $35-40 million annually in economic impact. Under Mr. Monahan’s guidance, Bluesfest consistently presents world-class regional, national and international acts. The festival upholds a particular interest in supporting and sustaining the growth of emerging and diverse musical genres, including the development of Ottawa’s local music scene. 

In 2011, Mark took over the direction and management of the Ottawa Folk Festival, ostensibly salvaging the event. Since then, recent editions of what is now known as CityFolk―currently staged at the newly renovated Lansdowne Park—have been unequivocally successful. The inaugural edition of CityFolk at Lansdowne Park featured a stellar line-up that included Van Morrison, among others.

2014 saw the launch of yet another successful initiative— the Ontario Festival of Small Halls. Staged by the Team Behind Bluesfest, the Festival of Small Halls brings exceptional Canadian musicians to over 40 small venues across Eastern Ontario every fall.

Leading up to the spring of 2014, Mark coordinated the creation of Festival House, a central artistic hub for many of Ottawa's festivals―such as the Ottawa Bluesfest, CityFolk, and Festival of Small Halls, among others―to grow and thrive. Mark also established the Bluesfest School of Music and Art (BSOMA), a creative education space offering music and art classes to people of all ages and abilities.  

Mark’s Music Industry Leadership includes Board President of Ottawa Festivals (1994-2004); President of Ottawa Music Coalition (2015-2019); and co-founder and Chair of the Major International Festivals and Events Network (MIFEN), a collection of the twelve largest festivals in the province of Ontario. Mark is also a member of the marketing committee at The National Arts Centre.

Mark has also received several honours, including being named to the Order of Ottawa (2015) and being recognized as Ottawa Tourism Person of the Year (2013).