Capital Mag Spring-Summer 2025

THE OBOT PERSPECTIVE

IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY, TRUE LEADERSHIP RISES.

Today, we are navigating a world shaped by geopolitical tensions, economic headwinds, and accelerating change. And yet, it is precisely in these moments that we are called to think boldly, act decisively, and hold each other accountable for the future we are building—together.

This edition of CAPITAL highlights what happens when ambition meets collaboration. It showcases the resilience and creativity of our local leaders, businesses, and institutions who are shaping a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous capital.

Ottawa is more than a seat of government—it is a symbol of democracy, a hub of innovation, and a community rooted in shared responsibility. Business plays a critical role in this vision— not in spite of our challenges, but because of them. Now is the time to invest in people, places, and partnerships that move us forward. Our diversity is not a hurdle but a strategic advantage. Our sustainability goals are not idealistic but essential. And our unity, as a business and civic community, is our greatest strength.

To fully unlock our economic potential, we must think globally and act locally. We need to move quickly on policies that drive business and consumer confidence, open new markets, diversify supply chains, and advance high-growth sectors and innovative infrastructure. We must distinguish ourselves through a model of growth that includes all people and protects our planet. It can be done—and Ottawa can lead the way.

At the heart of this work is the Ottawa Board of Trade—serving as the strong, united voice of business. We have the privilege and responsibility to galvanize leaders, convene bold conversations, and advocate for decisions that shape our capital city and our country.

As we prepare to engage with Canada’s newly elected federal government, we are at the ready—to ensure Ottawa thrives as a world-class capital in service to the future of our nation.

The world is watching. Let’s be an example ambition, collaboration and leadership. Let’s show them what a united capital community can do.

Yours in prosperity, Sueling

Sueling

Ottawa

Ching | President & CEO

Board of Trade

CAPITAL is both a print and digital publication of the Ottawa Board of Trade and is co-published twice a year in partnership with TAAG. Visit capitalmag.ca.

CAPITAL is designed to tell the story of Ottawa, our nation’s capital city with a thriving business community and culture scene. It highlights our opportunities and strengths, our future focused plans and the businesses and leaders that are working together to make it happen. CAPITAL inspires the local community to become ambassadors and promote what we have to offer. And it is a great way to attract people to our city—to live, work, play, learn, visit and invest.

OTTAWA BOARD OF TRADE

Sueling Ching, President & CEO

150 Elgin Street, 10th Floor Ottawa, ON K2P 1L4 613-236-3631 www.ottawabot.ca

PUBLISHER: TAAG CORPORATION

Andrew Abraham, CEO & Founder

7th Floor, 251 Bank Street Ottawa, Ontario K2P 5M3 613-234-8468 taag.ca

CAPITAL TEAM

Editorial Directors Sueling Ching, OBOT Melanie Williams, TAAG

Managing Editor Danielle Valois dvalois@taag.ca

Creative Director Leslie Miles

Writers

Jeff Buckstein

Jennifer Campbell Erika Cuccaro

ADVERTSING SALES

We are seeking local businesses and organizations to be sponsors – to use this platform to support our local economic ecosystem, build their brand, promote their business, highlight their team, and demonstrate their commitment to our amazing city. You can do this through traditional advertising or sponsored content. To explore options and see our Media Kit, please contact Stephan Pigeon: spigeon@taag.ca or at 819-209-3344

ISSN 2371-333X. All rights reserved. Any reproduction of the contents without prior written authorization from the publisher is strictly prohibited. PM 43136012. CAPITAL is published two times a year: Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. Printed in Canada.

ERIKA CUCCARO

CAMPBELL

Challenges Accelerate Our Economic Growth Agenda

IN EVERY ISSUE of CAPITAL, we aim to tell the real story of Ottawa—not just as the seat of government, but as a city where ideas turn into action, and ambition finds common ground in community. This Spring/Summer 2025 edition is no exception. The theme Ottawa United: Business Success. Community Strength. reflects not only where we are as a city but who we are—and more importantly, who we are becoming.

This issue is packed with powerful examples of how Ottawa is evolving with purpose. You’ll read about leaders from every sector rising to meet this moment with clarity and courage, whether navigating economic transition, building resilient infrastructure, or launching groundbreaking collaborations in health, energy, and innovation.

Our feature on Building Ottawa Better explores the conversations and commitments sparked at the annual City Building Summit.

From transportation and housing to policing and public spaces, the summit made clear that progress depends on cross-sector cooperation—and that the private sector has a pivotal role in co-creating solutions that are both equitable and efficient.

You’ll also find a compelling spotlight on our health care ecosystem in Global Health Leadership: Made in Ottawa. In this piece, we see how organizations like CHEO, Montfort, The Royal, and The Ottawa Hospital are working not only to deliver care, but to transform it. These institutions are proving that economic growth and social impact can go hand-in-hand—and that global leadership often begins with local partnerships.

Energy also features prominently in this issue, with Hydro Ottawa, the Kanata North Business Association, and the

Across these pages, one message comes through loud and clear: Ottawa works best when we work together. That’s not just a slogan—it’s a strategy.

Ottawa Climate Action Fund outlining bold initiatives for a greener, more resilient energy future. From battery storage and district energy systems to net-zero innovation campuses, these are the projects that will shape our competitiveness and climate leadership for decades to come.

Cultural capital and quality of life are also front and centre. Whether it’s the NCC’s investments in waterfront revitalization, the expansion of Ottawa’s festival and music scene, or the City’s work to enhance safety and accessibility in the ByWard Market, we are reminded that a vibrant city is built not just on infrastructure—but on identity and inclusion.

And speaking of identity, we continue to celebrate the entrepreneurs and enterprises that define our economy. From tech startups transforming logistics to established leaders in construction, finance, and hospitality, Ottawa’s business community is as diverse as it is driven. What they share is a deep commitment to this city—and a belief that business success and community strength are not competing goals, but shared ones.

Across these pages, one message comes through loud and clear: Ottawa works best when we work together. That’s not just a slogan—it’s a strategy.

And it’s a strategy we’ll need to lean into as we face the future. As our city recovers from years of disruption and adapts to

rapid economic and technological shifts, we must continue to lead with unity. We must champion innovation while protecting inclusivity. We must accelerate growth while safeguarding sustainability. And we must push for policy that supports confidence, competitiveness, and collaboration across sectors.

This is the approach that will distinguish Ottawa on the national stage—and it’s the foundation of the Board of Trade’s work as your voice of business. Through events, partnerships, and advocacy, we are convening the leaders and conversations that move our city forward. But we know this work cannot happen in silos. It takes all of us—businesses, educators, health care providers, elected officials, and everyday citizens—rowing in the same direction.

So, as you read this edition of CAPITAL, look beyond the headlines and into the heart of the stories. These are not just updates or announcements—they are blueprints for a more connected, competitive, and compassionate city.

Ottawa continues to lead with purpose, partner with intention, and celebrate the progress we are making together. The people of Ottawa should be proud of what we’re building, today and for the future.

Sueling Ching, President and CEO, Ottawa Board of Trade

Summer is the exciting season of many different festivals that take place in beautiful Ottawa, Canada. For music lovers, June, July and August host many outdoor concerts and festivals, including Jazzfest and

Bluesfest with world renowned bands and performers. Come celebrate Canada Day with us on July 1st and be amazed by the firework display.

Tour our historic city and visit the Parliament buildings and see the daily Changing of the Guards. Our many museums will delight both children and adults. The nearby Gatineau Park and Hills are only a 20 minute drive from The Cartier Place Suite Hotel. Explore the many trails of Gatineau Park and the ruins of Mackenzie Hill Estate. The Cartier Place Suite Hotel offers the perfect central downtown location to visit many sites. We are located one block from the picturesque Rideau Canal and trendy Elgin Street with its many boutiques and restaurants. Walk to the Byward Market and browse the handmade crafts and fragrant local produce stalls. Whether you visit for one night or for an extended stay, the Cartier Place Suite Hotel will take care of your every need and is ideal for small weddings and meetings. The hotel has been honoured with Hospitality awards throughout the years, including the Service Excellence Award from Booking.com and Hotels.com. Our pet friendly suite hotel is a favourite amongst families and business travellers and features complimentary WiFi throughout the property. Each spacious suite has a private balcony,

full kitchen, combined dining/living room and separate bedrooms. Enjoy our restaurant, the indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, exercise room and children’s playroom.

For the fun in all of us, the garden patio area offers a BBQ area, shuffleboard court and a playground.

We are the only hotel in downtown Ottawa with a guest friendly outdoor resort area.

There are many local activities that will delight you and your family in our beautiful city of Ottawa. We invite you to stay with us and enjoy one of the many specials and packages our hotel has to offer including, stay 2 nights and the 3rd night is free*. Once you stay with us you’ll understand why guests return time and time again.

CHARITY CORNER

SPONSORED BY TAAG

THAT’S THE WAY WE DO IT IN OTTAWA

Ottawa Mayor

Mark Sutcliffe’s

State of the City address offered a unifying message for the citizens of a city that is “the envy of the world”

BY JENNIFER CAMPBELL

IN HIS 2025 State of the City address, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe repeated one phrase several times: “That’s the way we do it in Ottawa.”

Each time, he was discussing how the community pulled together and found a solution to a problem. First, it was in the mid-1990s, when there were thousands of federal job cuts that decimated the city’s economy. Then it was the Board of Trade’s postCOVID plan to rebuild downtown Ottawa. He then referenced the 1970 story of then-mayor Marion Dewar’s “Project 4,000,” which welcomed 4,000 Vietnamese refugees to the city, a laudable 50 percent of the 8,000 Canada accepted. And finally, it was the city’s embrace of Syrians and Ukrainians escaping war. “That’s the way we do things in Ottawa,” he said again.

With respect to the need to invest more in Lansdowne Park, he said sports organizations that organize such events as the World Junior Hockey Championships or the Canadian Curling Championships want to return to the city but won’t unless it updates its aging infrastructure.

“There’s only one way we’re going to respond to the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities,” Sutcliffe said. “That’s with a strong, stable, balanced approach where we bring people together. That’s the way we do things in Ottawa.”

He finished his speech with a unifying message: “Let’s never underestimate the value of bringing people together even while others are trying to drive people apart,” he told those assembled. “Let’s continue to strike the right balance between supporting

Presenting at the Ottawa’s Economic Outlook event are, left to right, Sueling Ching, president and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade; Allison Gifford, vice-president at Clear Strategy; Catherine Fortin Lefaivre, vice-president at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce; and Dawn Desjardins, chief economist at Deloitte Canada

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe speaks to the media after his State of the City address on Jan. 21, the day after U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Photo: OBOT

economic growth and showing compassion for our most vulnerable residents. Because that’s the way we do things in Ottawa.”

A Beautiful City

The mayor kicked off his speech by talking about what a great place Ottawans live in.

“We have a wonderful community with so many terrific leaders, including many people in this room today, who care about our city, who support the most vulnerable, who invest their time in building a better future,” he said, adding that the city is naturally beautiful, with great restaurants, museums, galleries and cultural opportunities, including the growing music scene as well as strong economic drivers including the government, technology and tourism sectors.

“I know you know all this, but I think it’s all worth repeating,” he said.

Not Without Challenges

That said, Ottawa is not without its challenges and the mayor promised to speak candidly about them in his address. One of his major challenges has been the public transit file, specifically light rail about which he admitted there’s still “a long way to go.” But the mayor said there has been progress, especially with the new Trillium Line.

Also on the transportation file, an important collaboration between the City, Ottawa Tourism and the Ottawa Airport has meant the city is rebuilding its direct flight offerings after they were decimated in the pandemic.

“This is something I hear about a lot from the business community,” the mayor said. “The Air France flight to Paris has been a great success. [Air France has] upgraded the size of the aircraft and increased the number of flights per week.”

At the time of his address, he was also eagerly awaiting the resumption of Air Canada’s direct flights to London’s Heathrow Airport, which began March 31.

“So we’re making progress and we have a lot to look forward to,” he said.

Co-operation with Ottawa Tourism also resulted in hosting important events such as the World Juniors Ice Hockey Championships in December and January and Ottawa’s first Ironman competition in August of this year.

Downtown Core Woes

The mayor said he didn’t want to be “dramatic,” but that he would call some of the challenges the city faces historic. “I’ll be honest with you: I worry a lot about the future of downtown and the ByWard Market.”

He noted that the federal government has already announced its intention to reduce its downtown office space by 50 percent.

“That’s never happened before in our city,” he said. “Even though there are more people downtown since the return-to-office moves by the federal government in September, we’re still not back to prepandemic levels. It’s going to take years for a full recovery, and we can no longer count on federal government employees to fill that gap.”

His solution? To work together as a community to get more people living downtown and more attractions downtown to tempt the rural and suburban dwellers to come to the city core.

“We also need to see more collaboration between the city and the federal government so that any surplus federal properties are used strategically,” he said. “Let’s get everybody working together to figure out the best use for these buildings.”

Sutcliffe noted that he thinks the federal government has a responsibility as the No. 1 employer and the No. 1 property owner in the city to work with the City on a plan.

“I’m going to work with city staff to make sure that happens,” he said.

Economic Uncertainty

The mayor addressed the elephant in the room, speaking, as he was, the day after the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

“Yesterday, as you know, President Trump talked about imposing tariffs on Canada within a couple of weeks,” Sutcliffe said, anticipating the trade war that the two countries now find themselves in.

“And, we are starting to hear talk of job cuts in the federal public service,” he said. “That’s a huge threat to our local economy and we need to be ready for it.”

Being “ready for it” means spurring growth in the private sector to offset the setbacks in the public one, he said.

“We must continue to diversify our economy, to support entrepreneurship, to grow more companies and create more jobs,” he said. “Economic growth is vitally important for our future. Because economic growth is what drives progress for all our residents. It’s what generates the resources we need to face all of our challenges, including and especially supporting the most vulnerable.”

Supporting the Vulnerable and Rebuilding the Core

The mayor noted that the number of vulnerable people in Ottawa is growing.

“The number of people who are homeless, who are suffering from the opioid crisis or are facing mental illness, is growing,” he said.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says he “worries a lot” about the future of downtown Ottawa and the ByWard Market. Photo: Harley D.

“I was very proud and impressed to see this new level of collaboration around a shared vision and I’m excited to see the results. There is great teamwork happening right now and it’s very timely because we’re going to need it in the months and years ahead.”

and will invest more than $100 million on repairing roads, sidewalks and other critical infrastructure. It is also building a new Riverside South Community Centre and Recreation Complex and refurbishing the Alexander Community Centre, while investing in a new Barrhaven Town Centre civic complex and putting $10 million toward the William Street renewal project in the ByWard Market. To address the housing crisis, the City, which doesn’t build the houses but has to approve the projects, struck a task force to work to streamline this process and he added that the city secured millions through the Housing Accelerator Fund and the Build Faster Fund and 1,200 new affordable units will be ready in 2027.

On the affordability front, the mayor said he was proud that Ottawa has had the lowest tax increases of any major city in Canada, with the average increase over the past three years at less than 3 percent. The City has also found more than $207 million in savings and efficiencies over the past two years, which is a 10.5 percent tax increase that wasn’t passed on to residents.

Collaboration is Key

The mayor said he’s been watching this city closely, ever since he helped found the Ottawa Business Journal 30 years ago.

“And that has a big impact on downtown and the ByWard Market and our entire city.”

He said the City has been working hard with other levels of government to get some help. It’s putting more money into social services and public safety in the city centre.

“In our most recent budget, we added $30 million that will be distributed to a number of agencies that support the most vulnerable,” he said. “We put more money toward food security as well.”

Part of the solution will be working to implement the Ottawa Board of Trade’s plan for downtown Ottawa. He said the City will hire more than 100 new police officers, paramedics and firefighters

“I can tell you that at no other time in the past 30 years has there been as much collaboration and co-ordination among the business and economic development agencies in our city,” he said. “We are led by some terrific people at some very significant organizations, including the Ottawa Board of Trade, Invest Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, Regroupement des gens d’affaires, the Kanata North Business Association, the Ottawa Coalition of BIAs, all of our post-secondary institutions and more.” He referred to an historic partnership between the Ottawa Board of Trade, Invest Ottawa and Ottawa Tourism called Ottawa Unlimited.

“I was very proud and impressed to see this new level of collaboration around a shared vision and I’m excited to see the results. There is great teamwork happening right now and it’s very timely because we’re going to need it in the months and years ahead.”

Mayor Sutcliffe noted that the city has put $10 million toward the William Street renewal, which connects to the ByWard Market building. Photo: Harley D.

The Ottawa Board of Trade, Ottawa Tourism and Invest Ottawa—whose president and CEO Sonya Shorey is pictured here—have partnered in an initiative called Ottawa Unlimited. Photo: Invest Ottawa

Performance DrivenDesigns: Where Creativity Meets Purpose

CHMIEL ARCHITECTS UNDERSTANDS the power of design to shape a sense of place and foster meaningful connections between space, community, and the environment. As an award-winning, mid-sized firm with over 30 years of experience, we deliver thoughtful, hands-on solutions that prioritize identity, culture, and long-term value. Our collaborative approach allows us to tailor each project to the unique needs of its users, ensuring that our designs are both innovative and grounded in context.

We believe meaningful design begins with listening. Through active engagement with clients, stakeholders, and communities, we share knowledge, experience, and values ensuring that the resulting environments are not only functional and beautiful, but also resilient and adaptable. Our design process is rooted in empathy, with a deep understanding that the best spaces evolve over time and continue to serve future generations.

Our reputation for design excellence is demonstrated through a portfolio of major projects and numerous awards. Highlights include City of Ottawa Urban Design Awards for the RCMP Headquarters (2002), 100 Murray Street offices (2007), and 99 Fifth Avenue apartments (2023), as well as an Ontario Masonry Design Award for 100 Murray Street.

Sustainability is central to our work. We’ve delivered several highperformance buildings, including Ottawa’s first LEED Gold-certified office, TELUS House, and LEED Gold Commercial Interiors for Export Development Canada and 100 Murray Street. In 2018, 100 Murray was also recognized as Canada’s first net-zero office building. Our commitment to environmental responsibility is reflected in every stage of the design process from material selection to energy performance and beyond.

Fifth + Bank Apartments, 99 Fifth Avenue, Ottawa – View from Bank Street

Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada Headquarters Fit up, 774 Echo Drive, Ottawa – View of Café Lounge

World Exchange Plaza Revitalization, 45 O’Connor Street, Ottawa – View of Food Court & Atrium

CAPITAL Magazine: A GATEWAY TO OTTAWA’S BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Join Ottawa’s business leaders by participating in CAPITAL Magazine, co-published by the Ottawa Board of Trade and TAAG.

Our 22nd issue, “Ottawa United: Business Success. Community Strength,” celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit and vibrant business community of our nation’s capital.

Why Participate?

Showcasing Business: CAPITAL Magazine promotes Ottawa’s business community, highlighting stories, opportunities, and forward-looking plans that drive economic growth. Align your brand with the leaders shaping Ottawa’s future.

Building Community: CAPITAL connects you with top business and community leaders through integrated print, digital, and event channels, celebrating the ever-evolving nature of commerce in Ottawa.

Strengthening Resilience: Showcase success stories and foster collaborations that build a stronger local economy. Your participation helps create a resilient business environment.

Visibility and Reach: Be seen by thousands at numerous high-profile OBOT-sponsored events like the Mayor’s Breakfast and CEO Talk series. Print issues are distributed at prestigious locations across the city, including the airport, downtown hotels, embassies, and to politicians.

Digital Engagement: CAPITAL’s digital version offers broader reach and engagement. Leverage digital ads to amplify your message across multiple platforms. Visit: capitalmag.ca

Exclusive Launch Event: Network with Ottawa’s business community at the launch event hosted by TAAG in November.

Get Involved: Contribute a sponsored content article or readymade ad to appear in both print and online editions, ensuring maximum visibility and impact.

For advertising inquiries, reach out to Stephan Pigeon at 819-209-3344 or spigeon@taag.ca

Nature for Everyone: How Gatineau Park Is Redefining Access

GATINEAU PARK, A NATURAL TREASURE just minutes from Ottawa-Gatineau, continues to make great strides in accessibility, conservation, and community engagement. Thanks to a thoughtful approach by the National Capital Commission (NCC), the park is more welcoming than ever.

A Philosophy of Inclusion

At the core of the NCC’s mission in Gatineau Park is a simple idea: nature should be accessible to everyone. This vision is brought to life through a variety of programs that support active mobility and shared outdoor experiences. From cycling and rollerblading on vehicle-free parkways to walking, jogging, or renting electric bikes and wheelchairs at the Chelsea Visitor Centre or Relais plein air, the goal is to ensure that visitors can move around safely and comfortably.

Greener Ways to Explore: The Gatineau Park Shuttle

Since its launch in 2015, the Gatineau Park free shuttle service has become an essential part the park’s sustainability strategy. Operating daily (except Wednesdays) from mid-May to the end of October, the shuttle makes it easier—and greener—for visitors to reach some of the park’s most scenic spots.

The shuttle is fully integrated with public transportation in Ottawa and Gatineau, offering a seamless link between the city and the park. Accessibility is a key priority: all buses are accessible, and all stops are designed to accommodate people with reduced mobility.

“We’ve found that 30 to 40 percent of users wouldn’t have visited the park without the shuttle,” says Catherine Verreault, Director of Gatineau Park and Quebec Urban Lands at the NCC.

The route includes stops at visitor favourites like Pink Lake, Mackenzie King Estate, and the panoramic Champlain Lookout. With the flexibility to hop on and off throughout the day, visitors can explore at their own pace. Buses are also equipped with bike racks, making it easy to combine transit with cycling adventures.

In partnership with Transcollines, the NCC also offers a special weekend route to Meech Creek Valley and Philippe Lake, free of charge from spring to fall. While buses are not accessible to people with reduced mobility, a free paratransit service is available upon reservation, ensuring that more visitors can enjoy these natural areas.

Scenic Stops and Hidden Gems

For first-time visitors, Verreault recommends hopping on the shuttle to explore Gatineau Park’s main highlights: Pink Lake, Mackenzie King Estate, Mulvihill Lake, King Mountain, and Champlain Lookout. The stretch between King Mountain and Champlain Lookout is especially striking. “The microclimate there feels more like the American Midwest—not typical for the region,” she notes.

But there’s much more to discover beyond the popular routes. “Go on trails that you don’t know,” Verreault encourages. One such trail is Skyline Trail #6, accessible from P7. “It’s not too difficult, and the views are incredibly rewarding,” she says. Another hidden gem is Sentier des Remparts, Trail #28, starting at P12, which offers sweeping views of Meech Lake.

For a more rugged, off-the-beaten-path experience, Wolf Trail #62 is a must. Thanks to a recent restoration, it now features handlaid stone steps and dramatic lookouts.

Expanding Access, Year-Round

Accessibility doesn’t stop with the summer season. The NCC is actively working to extend shuttle services into the winter months, connecting visitors to key ski areas such as Camp Fortune and Relais Plein Air. Onsite equipment rentals—including options for people with reduced mobility— make it easy for everyone to experience the magic of Gatineau Park in the snow. Looking ahead, the NCC aims to further expand shuttle operations to weekdays, while continuing to enhance accessibility. As Verreault explains, the challenge lies in balancing sustainability and affordability while keeping services inclusive—but progress is ongoing.

A Park for Everyone

Whether you're a cyclist, a hiker, a family looking for a scenic picnic spot, or someone discovering Gatineau Park for the first time, the message is clear: there's a place here for you. With its expanding shuttle network, active mobility programs, and commitment to inclusive access, Gatineau Park is redefining what it means to connect with nature in a sustainable and welcoming way.

GatineauPark.gc.ca

Building a Resilient and Sustainable National Capital Region IN AN ERA OF ENERGY TRANSFORMATION

THE NATION’S CAPITAL faces a transformative opportunity. To effectively navigate the challenges posed by a rapidly changing climate, a growing population, ambitious decarbonization targets, and the burgeoning energy needs of the digital age, a bold and innovative approach to energy infrastructure is paramount. Seizing this moment, Hydro Ottawa is actively shaping the future, positioning itself as the leading authority and driving force in building the National Capital Region’s dynamic and sustainable energy future.

This proactive commitment is operationalized through Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.’s four key subsidiary companies: Hydro Ottawa Limited, ensuring a reliable and increasingly green electricity distribution system; Portage Power, leading as the province’s largest municipally-owned producer of renewable power; Envari Energy Solutions (Envari), delivering customized and innovative turnkey energy solutions for large users; and hiboo networks, providing high-speed advanced fibre optic connectivity. This comprehensive structure enables Hydro Ottawa to address the multifaceted challenges and opportunities of the energy transition.

The global energy transition is driven by evolving climate policy, rapid innovation in renewables and smart grid solutions, the compelling economics of clean energy, increasing investor focus on sustainability, and a rising public demand for a healthier environment. The scale of this shift is immense, with projections indicating a doubling of clean energy investments over fossil fuels this year alone.

Meanwhile, the digital era is accelerating energy demand—data centres and AI applications are placing unprecedented strains on energy systems, with some facilities consuming the annual power equivalent of millions of laptops.

In Canada, the challenge is twofold: electrify the economy and scale the grid to meet demand, which may require doubling or tripling capacity in just 25 years. Meeting this moment calls for visionary energy planning and a nation-building effort rivaling the scale of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Beyond grid enhancements, Hydro Ottawa and its subsidiaries are actively fostering a sustainable energy future through a growing portfolio of clean energy projects and strategic partnerships that deliver tangible benefits to the Ottawa community. These initiatives empower residents, businesses and communities to reduce their carbon footprint, optimize energy consumption, and embrace locally sourced renewable energy.

A key area of focus is the development and expansion of district energy systems (DES). These efficient networks efficiently distribute

Rendering of DREAM’s Odenak development and home of the Sewage Energy Exchange System

As Ottawa builds for the future in an era of unprecedented energy transformation, Hydro Ottawa is proud to be at the forefront of developing a smart and sustainable energy ecosystem.

heating and cooling through interconnected underground pipes, often leveraging underutilized energy sources like waste heat. Hydro Ottawa’s successful collaboration on the Zibi community’s DES, which captures post-industrial waste heat from the Kruger paper factory to provide net-zero carbon heating and cooling for the entire development, exemplifies the transformative potential of this approach.

Building on this success, Hydro Ottawa is partnering with The Ottawa Hospital on its new Civic campus to develop a cutting-edge low-carbon central utility plant. This facility aims to be a model for sustainable healthcare energy systems in Canada, with the potential for future expansion to provide low-carbon heating and cooling to neighbourhoods in and around the Carling Avenue corridor.

Furthermore, Hydro Ottawa, through its subsidiary Envari, is helping to shape the future of sustainable urban energy with its leadership role in the groundbreaking

Lebreton Community Utility project. At the heart of this transformative initiative is an advanced Sewage Energy Exchange System (SEES) at the LeBreton Flats redevelopment. This clean technology will harness the untapped thermal potential of wastewater to deliver clean, efficient heating and cooling. Powered by cutting-edge Canadian technology from SHARC Energy Systems, this innovative system will debut at DREAM’s Odenak development utilizing highly efficient heat pumps and operating entirely without fossil fuel inputs.

Once completed, the SEES will provide more than 9 MW of capacity for approximately 2.4 million sq ft of development. By eliminating an estimated 5 kilotons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, the SEES represents a bold shift toward climate-aligned infrastructure and

resilient communities. As a flagship project aligned with the City of Ottawa’s Climate Change Master Plan, it exemplifies Hydro Ottawa’s strategic vision of being the partner of first choice for signature green energy and carbon reduction solutions that redefine what’s possible in urban sustainability.

As Ottawa builds for the future in an era of unprecedented energy transformation, Hydro Ottawa is proud to be at the forefront of developing a smart and sustainable energy ecosystem. By investing in a modern and resilient grid capable of meeting growing demands, championing innovative clean energy technologies, and prioritizing environmental responsibility in all that we do, we are committed to powering Ottawa’s growth in a way that benefits our economy, our health, and our environment for generations to come.

Rendering of The Ottawa Hospital central utility plant building

Rendering of the Zibi community that straddles the Ottawa River

The annual city-building summit identified challenges, highlighted exciting projects and offered food for future thought “

BY JENNIFER CAMPBELL

WHEN THEY GO LOW, we go local”—those were the words of Mary Rowe, president and CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute, when at the Ottawa Board of Trade’s city-building summit in April. Rowe was referencing the patriotism now being witnessed in Canada as a result of U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to the country’s sovereignty and its economy.

Buy Canadian” and “support local” were themes of the day-long summit, but there were plenty of other ideas for building Ottawa better.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe things kicked off, hitting on many of the themes he raised in his State of the City address (see page 10). Towards the end of her panel, Rowe raised one of his points—that he and his council kept the municipal tax increase lower than any other city in Canada.

“If I ever get invited back, I hope I will hear the mayor champion a rationale of why your property taxes have to go up a bit to invest in the quality of life that you believe is making Ottawa work, rather than feeling that the message to convey is that he’s kept taxes to the lowest they can be.”

Rowe’s comments were met with applause. She said funding services is investing in our collective life and we shouldn’t pressure politicians to keep property taxes low. “It’s a very minimalist view,” Rowe said.

Policing in the Core

In Rowe’s “Downtown Ottawa action agenda” panel, Ottawa Police chief Eric Stubbs said downtown protests have increased since February 2022, when the trucker convoy “freedom” movement took over Centretown. Regular weekly protests by Palestinian supporters and events such as Canada Day “really impact our ability to stay on our mandate,” he said, adding that councillors across the city “want more of us.”

Stubbs said the force is stretched thinly. Taking just one example, he said victims of a $50,000-plus fraud might have their problem looked at in a year. “That’s not good,” he said. “We have to improve our service.”

Last year, the force added 135 new officers; the plan is to increase that again this year.

“And we’re returning to more of a community policing model… We’re a very reactive service now. We want to be proactive.”

Debbie Stewart, general manager of the City’s strategic initiatives department, said her department was created to bring focus to the council’s highest priorities: affordable housing, climate change, resiliency and economic development. “Housing is the one area where we really see all of these elements coming together,” Stewart said, adding that downtown is a priority for housing.

Jennifer Armstrong, acting director of transportation at the City, said the key to successful transit downtown is a strong regional transit system that’s connected to more communities. Ottawans got out of the habit of taking transit in the pandemic and in addition to getting people back on transit, Rowe says today’s planners need to be thinking about how their grandchildren will move around the city.

Asked how housing, policing and transportation could be collaborating, Stubbs said his neighbourhood operations centre is working with more than 30 social agencies downtown, along with City Hall, to help put vulnerable citizens on a positive path.

Stewart said they can work together to create vibrant economic activity in the ByWard Market and that includes making sure more people live there.

Armstrong said the key is making sure the City stimulates housing activity by approving lands for adding to the urban boundary, addressing intensification and providing infrastructure to support growing communities.

Empowering Developers

In introducing her panel featuring a developer and an architect, Jennifer Cross, business development manager at MARANT Construction, said issues such as inter-provincial tariffs, permits, procurement, innovation and infrastructure are front and centre at the moment and her industry is waking up to the reality that the old ways of doing business need to be “dismantled in favour of unity.”

“To build a stronger, more cohesive city and country, we’ve got to figure out how to come together and share ideas, resources and solutions,” she said.

Developer Jonathan Westeinde noted that Canada is 34th out of 35 OECD countries in terms of ease of getting approval for some permits. Architect Andrew Reeves noted that at a recent city-building conference he attended in Germany, planners said they built the transportation system before building communities, which runs counter to what Ottawa’s done.

Reeves’ first project was a crack house that he turned into a mini-house.

“We need to be bold in how we go about the business of building,” Reeves said. “Our city represents everybody in Canada. Toronto doesn’t have that advantage; Montreal doesn’t have that advantage. That’s something we need to seriously exploit and build upon.”

Westeinde says the most rewarding projects of his career, including Zibi in Ottawa-Gatineau, were the ones where three levels of government were collapsed to make the process easier.

Reeves and Westeinde both lauded Ottawa’s new library, and Reeves said the hockey arena at LeBreton Flats is another project that will build on that momentum. He said planners need to “invest in happiness.”

“We

need to be bold in how we go about the business of building,” Reeves said. “Our city represents everybody in Canada. Toronto doesn’t have that advantage; Montreal doesn’t have that advantage. That’s something we need to seriously exploit and build upon.”

JONATHAN WESTEINDE

Ottawa Police chief Eric Stubbs, seen here with, from left, Debbie Stewart, Jennifer Armstrong and Mary Rowe, said the force added 135 new officers last year and plans to add more this year. Photo: OBOT

Jennifer Cross, business development manager at MARANT Construction, said to build a stronger city, we have to figure out how to come together and share ideas, resources and solutions. She’s shown with Jonathan Westeinde (centre) and Andrew Reeves. Photo: OBOT

Animating the Capital

Tobi Nussbaum, CEO of the National Capital Commission (NCC), gave the group an update on the NCC’s projects. He started by revisiting River House in the context of the NCC’s bid for more funding to maintain and improve on its many assets. Another project that will beautify the capital is the former Nepean Point park behind the National Gallery. “It’s a spectacular lookout,” Nussbaum said, adding that it was to open in late May. Westboro Beach’s new pavilion, complete with equipment rentals, a children’s play area and a restaurant, will open around the same time.

He talked about the opportunities at Victoria Island, the Zibi project on Chaudiere Island and about a project on Lady Grey Drive behind the Royal Canadian Mint. The NCC has to replace a 110-year-old wall and while doing so, it’ll build a promenade on the waterfront. Speaking of waterfront, it plans to install a recreational dock at Dow’s Lake as a pilot project.

“The experience at River House taught us the importance of activating the waterfront,” Nussbaum said.

He noted the NCC continues to work closely with the Ottawa Senators on the sale of 10 acres of land for a downtown arena. The NCC also sold a parcel of land next to the new library that will see the development of 600 units, 43 percent of which will be affordable. Another project across from the War Museum will include 900 units, 15 percent of which will have three bedrooms. Finally, it’s working with partners on a zero-carbon district-energy project that will demonstrate national leadership on climate change mitigation.

Amplifying Ottawa

Next up were Ottawa’s culture vultures.

Christine Crump, president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, spoke about her project, which will include a casino, raceway, boutique hotel and 10 restaurants and bars. Crump also dispelled the notion that Ottawa is no fun.

Mark Monahan, president and CEO of Ottawa Bluesfest, said his festival generates $35 million to $40 million in the city and employs 17 full-time people who are contributing to a pension plan—unusual in the arts. He noted that Algonquin College established a festival events program years ago and expanded it in 2023.

Ali Shaffaee, regional vice-president for Live Nation, said his organization produced a record number of events in Ottawa in 2024 and is on pace for another record this year. It’s also building a 2,000-person concert hall in the ByWard Market.

Mathieu Grondin, the city’s nightlife commissioner, said a lot of city-building comes from the private sector. He said the fact that his position was created “shows a level of commitment of our politicians to develop nightlife and vibrancy.”

Panel moderator Erin Benjamin, president and CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association, noted that music is an important part of city-building if you want a city where you can “live, work, stay and play. These folks have the play part nailed.”

Powering Ottawa

The audience then heard from Enbridge, the largest natural-gas storage, transmission and distribution company in North America and it has a pivotal role to play in the city’s energy transition. It is on track to achieving net zero emissions for its operations by 2050 and it continues to make investments in solar, wind, renewable hydrogen as well as carbon capture and storage.

Bryce Conrad, president and CEO of Hydro Ottawa, told the group the city had seen its share of massive storms, and it’s working at doing a better job in terms of keeping the lights on in storms and also in long-term planning.

“We’re investing heavily in the grid,” Conrad said. “Traditionally, we would build a new station every five years, but going forward we’re building a new station every year. To meet the electrification events that I know are coming our way, we need to double and triple the grid over the next 25 years. We need to change the way we do business.”

Moderator Kelly Daize, executive director of the Kanata North Business Association (KNBA), said Ottawans will have to think differently about how we support high-energy-use pockets of the city, noting that power bills account for 30 percent of the operating costs of about a third of her companies in KNBA. She says regional energy strategies are becoming key to attracting and retaining companies and she’s had companies approach her only to pass on Ottawa because it couldn’t guarantee their power needs.

Erin Benjamin, president and CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association, said music is an important part of city-building. Photo: OBOT

Christine Crump, president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, dispelled the notion that Ottawa is no fun. Photo: OBOT

Greg Lindsay, urbanist and futurist, shared how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way cities grow, function and thrive. He talked about how Hong Kong is using new machine-learning techniques that can take general weather forecasts and map them hyper-locally to ultimately send alerts to people on the block level.

Education and Health

Cameron Love, president and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital, says he’s recruited 3,500 people over the past four to five years, including physicians, half of whom have come from other countries. They come because of the basic clinical programs and the advanced research.

“But the third, more interesting [question I hear] when recruiting physicians is, ‘What does the community have to offer?’ It really is around how we’re building, in essence, a full community that allows us to recruit people from around the world.”

Love says there are about eight hospitals in Ontario that drive 85 percent of the research output for the country and the Ottawa Hospital is one of them. He says MS is a focus and some treatments are proving successful in fully curing patients. He also talked about how the hospital partners with the private sector to innovate in research and Scott Delaney, chairman and CEO of Lumenix talked about his partnership with the hospital for its hand-hygiene application.

Julie St. Pierre spoke about the University of Ottawa’s Advanced Medical Research Centre (AMRC), which, when it’s finished, will have lab space all the way through to clinical care. There’s also an innovation incubation space.

“AMRC is a really rich ecosystem that we’re building and it’s supported by cutting-edge scientific platforms,” St. Pierre says,

adding that the centre is a seven-storey facility, connected to the faculty of medicine, the Ottawa Hospital and CHEO.

She said Ottawa’s research community is doing some good collaborating and working together is of the essence.

AI in Cities

Greg Lindsay, urbanist and futurist, shared how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way cities grow, function and thrive. He talked about how Hong Kong is using new machine-learning techniques that can take general weather forecasts and map them hyper-locally to ultimately send alerts to people on the block level. Treefolio is an app created at Cornell Tech. It does an annual LIDAR scan of the city to create a complete map of every tree in New York City to ultimately understand what neighbourhoods are suffering more from urban heat in the summers. An MIT researcher looked at how people use public spaces now, comparing our habits to those of a study done in the 80s.

“They found people are less likely to linger in public space … that people are walking faster as cities get bigger and wealthier,” Lindsay says.

Looking to the future, Lindsay sees municipalities using AI to map cities and amenities and to keep people safe—but he also sees air taxi services, autonomous vehicles and even autonomous buildings.

Julie St. Pierre, shown with Scott Delaney, spoke about the University of Ottawa’s Advanced Medical Research Centre, which, when finished, will have lab space all the way through to clinical care. Photo: OBOT

Greg Lindsay, urbanist and futurist, shared how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way cities grow, function and thrive. Photo: OBOT

STRONG

THE CAPITAL OF CHOICE

OTTAWA IS SO MUCH MORE THAN CANADA'S CAPITAL it's a thriving, inclusive, world-class city where innovation meets tradition, nature meets urban energy, and opportunity meets open arms. Whether you live here, work here, or just love this place—we all have a role to play in building community wealth. That starts by becoming an ambassador for Ottawa. Share our story. Celebrate our strengths. Welcome the world to Canada’s Capital City.

From cutting-edge tech to vibrant festivals, from global talent to Canadian charm—Ottawa has what the world wants. It’s time to make sure they know it—this is your call to action.

Get Involved. Be an ambassador. Join Ottawa’s business and community leaders in promoting our city as the best place to live, learn, work, invest, play, and visit.

cometoottawa.ca | #MyOttawa | ottawabot.ca | #MonOttawa

The Ottawa Story: A Snapshot of Canada in One City

Affordability + Quality of Life

• 1.5M residents in a safe, clean, bilingual G7 capital

• 30-40% lower home prices than Toronto or Vancouver

• Ranked among Canada’s best cities to raise a family

Culture + Tourism

• 9.8M annual visitors experience our festivals, markets, and museums

• $3.1B tourism impact driven by iconic landmarks

• Home of Parliament Hill, Canada Day, and the Rideau Canal

Economic Ecosystem

• One of Canada’s most diverse economies: tech, education, government, health, tourism

• 3rd largest public sector workforce in North America

• Over 1,750 knowledge-based businesses

Education + Health

• 4 major post-secondary institutions, including Ontario’s top Francophone college

• 5 leading hospitals, including CHEO and The Ottawa Hospital

• Global hub for research, bilingual education, and innovation

Entertainment + Sports

• Home teams: Senators (NHL), Redblacks (CFL), Atlético Ottawa (CPL)

• World-class events: Bluesfest, Winterlude, Tulip Festival

• Year-round fun: concerts, comedy, cuisine, and culture

Greenspace + Nature

• 10,000+ hectares of accessible green space

• 90% of residents live within 5 km of parks or trails

• Paddle, skate, bike, and hike—all within city limits

Infrastructure Investments

• $2.8B new Ottawa Hospital underway—largest in Canada

• Ongoing LRT expansion and Parliamentary Precinct renewal

• More private and public projects than ever driving sustainable growth

Global Connections

• Home to 130+ embassies and high commissions

• 30+ direct international flights from YOW

• A bilingual capital with a global mindset

Innovation + Tech

• Top tech talent concentration per capita in North America

• HQ to global leaders: Nokia, Kinaxis, Calian, and more

• Hotbed for AI, cleantech, cybersecurity and defence

Talent + Workforce

• Over 70% of adults hold post-secondary credentials

• STEM-rich talent pipeline from 4 major institutions

• Diverse, driven, and ready for the future

Canada in One City

Trexity: Powering Local Delivery with Heart and Hustle

IN A WORLD dominated by tech giants and global logistics platforms, Trexity is cutting a new path—one that champions small businesses and local communities.

Co-founded by Alok Ahuja, Trexity is a Canadian-born delivery platform built on a simple but powerful mission: to help local businesses thrive.

I met Alok a little over a year ago and I was completely blown away by his vision and business acumen. Now a year or so later, I’m no less impressed. The guy is just built differently.

Many believe his efforts through Trexity will be significant, not only in the Ottawa area but on a national scale. Some have suggested “this will be the Shopify of logistics.” And based on where this business is going, I’d say they’re right!

The platform is up to 90% cheaper than traditional delivery services, making it a game-changer for businesses. Whether delivering vital medicine across town or flowers for a last-minute anniversary gift, Trexity picks it up and drops it off the same day— zero hassles.

“What drives us is the idea that strong relationships are built in times of need,” says Ahuja. “They need us, and we need them. It’s about creating a delivery solution that uplifts—not undercuts—small and medium businesses.”

The Trexity platform was born from a realization that many small retailers were being left behind. They couldn’t afford the steep fees of traditional delivery giants like Uber or Canada Post, or the cost of using their own employees to deliver. “I saw businesses opting out of delivery altogether,” Ahuja recalls. “I knew there was a technology solution that could be built to better support them.” And there was.

Trexity offers a fast, affordable, and easy-to-use delivery service that allows merchants to sign up in minutes and start shipping that same day. With a Merchant Success Team that guides businesses from onboarding to optimization, Trexity removes the

guesswork from logistics. “We make adding delivery as easy as flipping on a light switch,” Ahuja says. But what truly sets Trexity apart is their philosophy. The company doesn’t seek the spotlight—it lets the merchant shine. “We power their brand, quietly.” Ahuja explains. “They stay front and centre, and their customers get a fast, seamless delivery experience that keeps them coming back.”

The platform is up to 90% cheaper than traditional delivery services, making it a game-changer for businesses. Whether delivering vital medicine across town or flowers for a last-minute anniversary gift, Trexity picks it up and drops it off the same day—zero hassles.

For Ahuja, this work is personal. “I’m doing my life’s work here,” he shares. “I want my children to grow up seeing what community building looks like. When we show up for local businesses, we’re showing up for each other—and that’s what being Canadian is all about.

Trexity isn’t just solving a logistics problem. It’s rewriting the playbook on how local economies can thrive—one delivery at a time.

Whether you are looking for a quiet retreat, a professional presentation space or a rewarding day out of the office for your team, getting out of the board room is a great strategy. We offer meeting space and unique team building activities.

The Kanata North Green Energy Resilience District

Tech Company Needs Meet a Shovel-Ready Opportunity

Ottawa is on the verge of a stunning opportunity to turn its “economic crown jewel” emerald green with a shovelready, industry-led effort to power an expanding local tech sector with reliable, high-quality energy.

THAT CROWN JEWEL is the 550-hectare Kanata North Tech Park. With established multinationals like Nokia, Ericsson Canada, Ciena, Cisco, Nordion, Sanmina, Jabil Canada, and TÜV SÜD Canada and innovative startups like Ranovus, the Park’s 570 companies and state-of-the-art facilities already bring more than 33,000 jobs and $13 billion in annual activity to the local economy. Designated as a Special Economic District by the City of Ottawa, the Tech Park is poised for continued growth and economic opportunity as more people and companies locate there to live, work, play and innovate.

Canada’s largest tech park is working to attract new businesses to boost the local economy and reinforce Canadian economic sovereignty. But like other jurisdictions across North America and beyond, Kanata North is learning that “energy is the new gold”.

The Kanata North Tech Park

Artificial intelligence, high tech manufacturing and other energyintensive technologies in cutting edge research labs are driving exponential growth in power demand. Energy can account for up to 30% of a company’s operating cost, adding up to millions of dollars per year.

Small wonder that access to reliable, high-quality, affordable and sustainable energy is the first question prospective new investors and site selectors ask.

If they don’t get the answer they want, it can also be the last question a destination hears.

Which is why clean energy is an area where Kanata North is positioning itself to lead, compete, and win.

A Green Energy Resilience District is where serious money can be saved, earned and invested. It’s where companies can reduce operational costs through energy efficiency, better protect themselves from power outages and fluctuations, avoid power generation and transmission costs, and generate revenue from energy services they offer neighbouring businesses.

The Kanata North Business Association (KNBA), in partnership with the Ottawa Climate Action Fund (OCAF) and Hydro Ottawa, is seizing this transformative opportunity with an integrated suite of green energy solutions that will meet the Tech Park’s demand for energy services in a least-cost, low-carbon, resilient and timely manner. The Green Energy Resilience District is expected to incorporate a range of technologies and systems including deep energy efficiency, solar, thermal and electric storage and networks, as well as smart energy management.

Ideas Into Action

In August 2023, OCAF made the case1 for integrated energy solutions that maximize economic and environmental value and are ready to weather the next storm, heat wave or grid outage.

Now, Tech Park companies are taking the lead: Nokia on battery storage, Cisco on ice storage, KRP on energy efficiency and others exploring onsite solar. The opportunity ahead is to replicate, scale and integrate these and other solutions right across the Park, meeting short-term demand while laying the groundwork for district energy solutions that prevent lock-in of higher-carbon, higher-cost, less resilient energy.

As a major step down that road, Hydro Ottawa and OCAF are funding two studies: a set of future growth scenarios for economic activity and energy demand growth in the Park, and an assessment of the efficient, reliable technologies that can best ramp up quickly to deliver resilient, high-quality energy services and power supply.

Together, the studies will scope the opportunity in the Tech Park and identify key barriers and enablers for rapid introduction of a Green Energy Resilience District, such as virtual net metering, power sharing from energy storage and local zoning updates.

The first contract was awarded to Colliers Project Leaders earlier in the spring. The second RFP will be issued soon.

We are thrilled to have embarked on this strategic partnership to make the Green Energy Resilience District vision a reality. This compelling opportunity feeds right into OCAF’s strategic imperative of building up Ottawa’s Green Pipeline of local lowcarbon investment opportunities that grow businesses and create good local jobs for decades to come.

The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher

As the community balances between powerful business momentum and deep economic uncertainty, the stakes behind this initiative couldn’t be higher.

The Green Energy Resilience District is our community’s best hedge against uncertainty—from business continuity in an era of accelerating climate disruption, to volatile energy costs that may rise due to economic and geopolitical circumstances. And it builds upon Ontario’s clean energy advantage which already helps attract new investment, especially from multinational companies with energy efficiency and net zero deadlines.

We can save millions of dollars and attract billions more in investment by pursuing integrated, local energy solutions. As other sectors of the economy struggle through the recent headwinds, Kanata North is poised for continued expansion, creating high-value jobs and solidifying our province’s standing as a global leader for information technology, artificial intelligence and advanced energy.

We are thrilled to have embarked on this strategic partnership to make the Green Energy Resilience District vision a reality. This compelling opportunity feeds right into OCAF’s strategic imperative of building up Ottawa’s Green Pipeline2 of local low-carbon investment opportunities that grow businesses and create good local jobs for decades to come.

A rendering of a planned battery storage system at Nokia’s Kanata North campus

Energy-saving ice storage tanks at Cisco’s campus in Ottawa (Source: Cisco)

Global Health Leadership, Made in Ottawa

Ottawa’s health care institutions are shaping the future of care with bold ideas, collaborative action and global reach

BY ERIKA CUCCARO

From

world-class research institutions to groundbreaking healthcare innovations,

Ottawa is at the forefront of global health and wellness. The city’s leading organizations are pioneering advancements that are transforming patient care and positioning Ottawa as a model for the future of health.

Montfort Hospital: Celebrating 75 Years of Innovation and Impact

In 2025, Montfort Hospital celebrates 75 years of service—a milestone that reflects its longstanding commitment to excellence in care, research and education. As Ontario’s Francophone academic hospital, Montfort is one of the country’s 40 major research hospitals, with 2,800 employees, physicians, researchers and volunteers, and more than 1,600 learners training annually. It also ranks among Ontario’s largest hospitals for obstetrics and mental health beds.

Montfort has earned national and international recognition. Newsweek ranks it among the top 50 hospitals in Canada and the top 1,000 globally. It boasts a strong workplace culture and innovation in bilingual service delivery.

Montfort’s integrated approach to care and research is helping shape the future of healthcare in Canada. With a focus on equity, accessibility and excellence in both official languages, Montfort is a cornerstone of health and wellness in Ottawa, and a powerful example of what innovation and inclusion can achieve.

The Royal: Advancing Mental Health Through Research, Care and Community

The Royal is one of Canada’s foremost mental health care, teaching and research hospitals, bringing together the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, the Brockville Mental Health Centre, the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR) and the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health. The Royal continues to lead in compassionate, evidencebased care for people living with mental health and substance use challenges.

Research is deeply embedded in The Royal’s model. IMHR is currently running over 100 active studies, exploring everything from artificial intelligence to virtual reality and real-time neurofeedback. The Brain Imaging Centre features PET-MRI technology that helps researchers unlock the biology of mental illness, while treatments like repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) offer patients access to next-generation care.

The Royal also leads community-based initiatives like the Royal Mental Hygiene Challenge, now in its third year. Inspired by research into the daily habits that support well-being, the initiative encourages people to invest just 10 minutes a day in practices like nature walks or mindfulness.

At The Royal, research and care are intertwined, and so is connection. Programs like the long-running volleyball group in the schizophrenia program show how community, physical activity and belonging can be powerful forces for healing.

CHEO: Building the Future of Pediatric Health

With more than 4,500 staff and physicians and over half a million patient visits each year, CHEO is one of Canada’s most influential pediatric health institutions and one of the few stand-alone global leaders in child and youth care. What began as a 20th-century acute care hospital has become a 21st-century integrated health system serving children and youth across Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and beyond.

CHEO’s 2024–2029 strategy sets a bold course: to deliver seamless, accessible, personalized care—where, when and how it’s needed. That includes moving care beyond the hospital walls through partnerships, virtual health and mobile teams. It means addressing mental health, chronic conditions and social determinants early. And it means empowering young people and families as partners in their care.

Ranked in the top 1% of Canadian hospitals for digital infrastructure, CHEO is at the forefront of health system innovation. Its Research Institute conducts world-class clinical, translational and basic science research across a wide range of childhood conditions.

The Ottawa Hospital: Pioneering Innovations that Reach

Beyond the Bedside

The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) is one of Canada’s top learning and research hospitals, guided by a vision to provide world-class, compassionate healthcare. Its multi-campus employs over 17,000 people. TOH is home to the Regional Trauma Centre and Cancer Centre, and to discoveries that are adopted worldwide. Backed by generous community support, TOH is reshaping the future of health care to improve the lives of patients during treatment and long after they return home.

A leader in biotherapeutics, TOH received $59 million in 2024 to expand Canada’s capacity to develop and manufacture lifesaving vaccines, gene therapies and cell therapies. The investment will support the expansion of TOH’s renowned Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre (BMC). Already the engine behind more than 20 groundbreaking clinical trials using stem cells, cancer-fighting viruses and immunotherapy, the BMC’s move to TOH’s new stateof-the-art campus will attract global talent and reinforce Ottawa’s leadership in biomedical innovation.

At the bedside, TOH is transforming care through innovative treatments like Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE), a minimally invasive liver cancer therapy that targets tumours with pinpoint precision. These treatments deliver better outcomes, faster recovery and new hope for patients once considered inoperable.

University of Ottawa Heart Institute: Educating at Every Level, Empowering at Every Stage

Since 1976, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute has been at the forefront of heart health in Canada, combining world-class patient care, leading-edge research and a deep commitment to education. As Canada’s largest and foremost cardiovascular centre, it offers bilingual services and is officially designated under Ontario’s French Language Services Act.

Education is embedded in everything the Heart Institute does. It trains over 280 medical, graduate and post-graduate students annually and provides learning opportunities for healthcare providers, caregivers, and the public. Its patient education tools— used by healthcare organizations across Canada—empower people to better understand and manage their cardiac health. Its smoking cessation program, now adopted in over 450 Canadian sites and at least six countries worldwide, reflects this scalable approach to impact.

That same spirit of accessibility is behind How to Read a Scientific Paper in Biomedical Sciences, a free guide that helps students, clinicians and readers worldwide navigate complex research with clarity.

From global clinical trials to webinars for local families, the Heart Institute proves that great care starts with great knowledge and a commitment to sharing it.

Powering Health and the Local Economy

While Ottawa’s hospitals provide world class care for patients, they are also major economic drivers, employing more than 20,000 people across the National Capital Region. From frontline healthcare providers to researchers, administrators and support staff, these institutions offer meaningful careers that contribute to both community health and prosperity.

Three of the city’s major hospitals, CHEO, Montfort and The Royal, were named among the National Capital Region’s Top Employers for 2025. Each brings its own strengths to workplace culture. CHEO was recognized for its dedicated wellness coordinator and year-round wellness initiatives. Montfort earned praise for its monthly employee advisory group focused on improving quality of life at work. The Royal stood out for starting new employees with four weeks of paid vacation.

Joining Efforts for Continuous Care

Ottawa’s healthcare leaders are united in their vision for collaborative, patient-centred care. Through the Atlas Alliance’s new digital health records system, The Royal, Montfort, The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (along with 12 other regional providers) are joining forces to transform how care is delivered across Eastern Ontario. By 2026, patients will be able to securely access their records and receive more coordinated care across institutions, with providers just a few clicks away from the information they need. It’s one more example of how Ottawa is leading the way in integrated, future-ready health systems.

Local Commitment, Global Impact

Whether advancing cancer treatment, shaping mental health care or empowering the next generation of clinicians, Ottawa’s health care institutions are doing more than keeping pace—they’re setting it. Through a shared commitment to innovation, equity and excellence, these organizations are redefining what’s possible. Together, they are showing the world how local leadership can drive global progress in health and wellness.

Ottawa’s healthcare leaders are united in their vision for collaborative, patient-centred care. Through the Atlas Alliance’s new digital health records system, The Royal, Montfort, The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (along with 12 other regional providers) are joining forces to transform how care is delivered across Eastern Ontario.

CAPITAL readers,

We believe in this city. And we believe in its people.

That’s why we’ve joined The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s Campaign to Create Tomorrow — the most ambitious campaign in our city’s history. A $500-million push to build the most technologically advanced, patient-centred, research-driven healthcare facility our region has ever seen.

We’re proud to be part of this. But we can’t do it alone.

Great healthcare is a cornerstone of every truly great city. Not just to treat illness or emergencies — but to power innovation, attract world-leading talent, fuel economic growth, and strengthen the very fabric of our community.

This is Ottawa’s moment to lead.

With your support, we will build a new, world-class hospital. We’ll expand research that changes lives. We’ll create space for the next generation of care. And we’ll do it right here. At home. In Ottawa.

This is more than a building. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the future of healthcare.

We’ve stepped up. Now we’re asking you to do the same.

Join us. Invest in the future of your city. Create a better tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng Head, Critical Care Department The Ottawa Hospital CEO

Founder & President Gab Group Inc.

Group Ltd. CEO & Chairman

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IMAGINE TAKING A health supplement to improve your response to cancer treatment, alleviate the effects of muscular disease or help manage inflammatory conditions. At his lab, in the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, part of the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Alain Stintzi has made it his life’s work to find ways to improve patient care.

With his colleagues, Dr. Stintzi studies the microbiome, the community of microorganisms, like bacteria, fungi and viruses that colonize the gastrointestinal tract. “We are investigating how the microbial community that live in the gut influence the development and progression of human diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer,” says Stintzi.

“We have shown that both the composition and the function of the gut microbiome are altered in individuals with certain diseases, suggesting that these changes could serve as biomarkers to help diagnose disease,” he adds.

University of Ottawa Scaling up Research on Patient Health

We have shown that both the composition and the function of the gut microbiome are altered in individuals with certain diseases, suggesting that these changes could serve as biomarkers to help diagnose disease.” “

Dr. Alain Stintzi, Director, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Ottawa

By analyzing microbiome extracted from stool samples, researchers in their labs can now not only diagnose disease, but also identify biomarkers that predict which patients are most likely to respond to standard treatments. Ultimately this work paves the way for developing tailored compounds like prebiotics and fibres to reshape the composition of patients’ gut microbiome and improve their health.

“We can now develop patient-tailored nutritional approaches that work alongside medical treatments to help patients respond better and feel healthier,” he says.

“By using animal models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, we have demonstrated a causal link between the composition of the gut microbiome and muscle health. Building on these findings, we are now beginning to design intervention trials in patients with muscular disease to further explore this connection and its potential for treatment,” says Stintzi.

Dr. Stintzi and his colleagues are currently conducting intervention trials for IBD. And they are also in the planning stage for intervention trials in glioblastoma.

They have launched a startup company aimed at bringing their exciting discoveries to market, with the goal of improving health outcomes for patients suffering from a variety of ailments.

Building Better Healthcare Through Research

As one of Canada’s leading research universities, the University of Ottawa is making the largest capital investment in its history to scale up health research initiatives like Dr. Stintzi’s. It’s building the Advanced Medical Research Centre (AMRC), scheduled to open in late 2026, close to the Ottawa Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).

The seven-story building will promote collaborative research between some of the world’s top scientists and clinicians caring for patients in our public health system. It will feature wet lab space and the Health Innovation Hub, where researchers will be able to interact with industry partners to incubate biotech startups and accelerate discoveries of the next-generation medical treatments and technologies.

“We’re building a large ecosystem in there,” says Dr Julie St-Pierre, a professor in uOttawa’s Faculty of Medicine who also serves as the University’s Interim Vice President, Research & Innovation.

Thanks to its hotbed of talent and cutting-edge infrastructure, the AMRC will fuel innovation that can revolutionize how healthcare is delivered here in the nation’s capital and beyond, and allow the region’s thriving research ecosystem to better compete on a global scale.

St-Pierre says that uOttawa’s biomedical research is currently making advances in several areas of human health, with a critical mass of very strong expertise focused on brain and heart health, including how people develop adverse heart and brain conditions, as well as cancer research.

“I’m a breast cancer researcher. If you think back many years ago, you mostly had chemotherapy and radiotherapy as treatment options. Then research discovered different types of breast cancer and that most often women have hormone sensitive breast cancer,” says St-Pierre. “We now have various options for hormone therapies that drastically improve the treatment and prognosis of breast cancer. This transformation would not have been possible without research,” she stresses.

“The Advanced Medical Research Centre is going to allow us to go to the next step in health innovation and medical research. With its suite of scientific platforms and the Health Innovation Hub, that building is going to be transformative,” she predicts, adding that the scientific platforms are already of great interest for potential startups.

“Not doing research is like hitting the pause button on progress.” says St-Pierre. “If we are to drive medical advancements that will ensure we have better health outcomes in ten years and beyond, we need this cutting-edge research today. Today’s research is building tomorrow’s healthcare.”

“When you have cutting edge technology, you can make breakthroughs that you could not do otherwise,” St-Pierre says.

And by having more startups led by Canadians, this is going to provide solutions that will benefit our country. That’s very important because if there is a next pandemic, or any big outbreak, “we need to develop this resilience and independence and have made-in-Canada solutions,” she stresses.

“Not doing research is like hitting the pause button on progress.” says St-Pierre. “If we are to drive medical advancements that will ensure we have better health outcomes ten years from now and beyond, we need this cutting-edge research today. Today’s research is building tomorrow’s healthcare.”

Opening in 2026, uOttawa’s new Advanced Medical Research Centre (AMRC)

FlexNetworks Delivers High-Performance Fibre for Canadian Commercial Growth

FLEXNETWORKS HAS BUILT an extensive commercial fibre-optic network in the National Capital Region over the past 11 years, including a significant footprint in the Kanata North technology corridor.

Ottawa is very competitive in terms of the number of carriers it has in this space and FlexNetworks offers businesses a quality, affordable option, says Chief Executive Officer Gianni Creta.

“A lot of businesses today are looking for alternatives to ensure continuous uptime in their operations. They don’t want to put all their eggs into one basket. They want to have some alternative players. And I think that’s where we provide a tremendous value add being either a primary or secondary connection,” he elaborates.

Three years after establishing the business in Ottawa, FlexNetworks extended services into Saskatchewan by providing fibre-optic network services to the province’s two largest cities, Regina and Saskatoon, and to outlying rural areas.

“Since then, we’ve continued to grow our investment within Saskatchewan. We’ve built over 2,000 kilometres of fibre network within the province, invested probably over $100 million, and our presence has been growing. We have also been fortunate to partner with the federal government on some grants on the way to help us build the fibre network. Given the vastness and demographics of Canada, it becomes costly to extend fibre to a lot of the remote rural areas,” he adds.

Over the past five years, FlexNetworks has also built an extensive commercial network in Winnipeg, largely assisted by two major acquisitions that have provided it with new synergies.

Acquiring Fastnet Communications in 2020 gave FlexNetworks access to existing clients and some underlying assets that helped the company extend its local service offering. The subsequent addition of Fiber.CA in 2021, a fibre provider, provided a further boost in building up the Winnipeg market.

In 2021, FlexNetworks acquired Redbird Communications, based in Saskatoon.

“Redbird was primarily a wireless Internet service provider delivering Internet connectivity to rural remote communities using wireless technology. We saw the opportunity to leverage their relationships with their customers and what they had done within the market, as well as the trust they built up to further invest from a fibre perspective,” says Creta.

“We utilized that acquisition, and rolled them into our organization as a whole, and also used them to extend our fibre assets and fibre network to the residential community,” he adds, noting that Redbird’s understanding of the market, and their relationship with the communities was able to continue and build off of FlexNetworks’ core fibre network.

“Our residential offering is a full fibre connection straight into your home. We’re building a high availability, high bandwidth, next generation full fibre network that allows every one of our customers a stronger, more dependable connection. It’s ready for how people live and work today, and built for what’s next,” says Creta.

being transmitted across the network, which can be measured through metric testing such as latency and packet loss and jitter. “We scored at the top end of those in independent tests,” he notes.

FlexNetworks’ value proposition, as it bridges the digital divide within Canada, is the company’s ability to deliver within both the residential and commercial markets as an alternative to established incumbent service providers in Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Saskatchewan, says Creta.

“Businesses today demand more than just internet access— they need reliability, performance, and full control over how their network supports operations. Our goal is to deliver dedicated fibre solutions that empower enterprises to operate without compromise, scale with confidence, and stay connected when it matters most.”

FlexNetworks is not using any legacy infrastructure. Nor are there any copper services, or other services like telephony or content, and that is by choice, given where the company sees the market going, he elaborates.

“A lot of consumers want to choose how they consume content, how they access the Internet, and how they want to utilize that underlying network. Our goal is to provide them with the freedom to choose the best option and the capability to be able to access that,” Creta adds.

FlexNetworks has also been noted for the speed and the quality of its data. The company, which can provide residential speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second and service to businesses well above that, was recognized in PC Magazine as the fastest gaming Internet service provider in Canada for 2025. But, Creta emphasizes, what is most important is the quality of the data

Furthermore, some of FlexNetworks’ commercial customers require interconnectivity between multiple locations, and so the company’s Ethernet network allows their offices to communicate in a reliable and quick fashion.

On the residential side, among multidwelling unit clients, “We service condominium apartment type complexes, bringing connectivity into those buildings, and we’re extending it to every unit within,” Creta says.

FlexNetworks prides itself on helping to connect Canadians, including clients in rural areas where vast distances need to be bridged, with its fibre-optics technology and services.

“Our goal is to be able to create a country where fibre access is ubiquitous across the board, because it’s the best way forward in terms of next generation technology,” says Creta.

“That’s how we see ourselves bridging the digital divide. It’s not just about the speed, it’s about ubiquitous access across the board,” he stresses.

The eSAX entrepreneur networking tradeshow for small business is an in-person experience designed to inspire, connect, and elevate entrepreneurs from across the ecosystem

Location: Lansdowne Park – Horticulture Building 1525 Princess Patricia Way, Ottawa eSAX: Ottawa’s Entrepreneurial Networking Powerhouse for Small Business

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa: The Place to Be

Get ready, Ottawa. A new rhythm is about to drop—and it’s changing the city’s vibe forever

ARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO

HOttawa is nearing its grand debut, ready to turn every stay, play, and night out into a headline moment. This $350-million transformation of the former Rideau Carleton Casino will soon deliver the ultimate destination where energy, excitement, and luxury collide.

It’s more than a hotel. It’s more than a casino. It’s the place to be Inside, guests will find the full Hard Rock experience, amplified:

• 150 stylish rooms—including 22 suites and 19 accessible rooms—designed to recharge and impress; ask about their Sound of Your Stay experience.

• A sprawling gaming floor with 1,500 slot machines, up to 40 live-action table

games, a high-limit area, and a VIP entrance built for rock royalty.

• The legendary Hard Rock Café and Council Oak Steakhouse among 10 restaurants, bars, and lounges.

• Hard Rock Live—a state-of-the-art theatre built to hold 1,800 fans (2,200 standing) for unforgettable performances.

• The iconic Rock Shop® and Unity Store, where style meets the sound of the brand.

• And for the thrill-seekers? Experience live standardbred harness racing from March through December.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa isn’t just bringing world-class amenities—it’s creating a vibe. The feeling you get when the lights hit, the beat drops, and the night is wide open. The place where Ottawa’s spirit comes alive.

Whether you’re rolling the dice, catching a live show, unwinding in luxury, or just chasing that next epic night out—you’ll find it here. It’s where Ottawa will stay, play, dine, and celebrate like never before.

The soundcheck is almost over. The place to be is at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa.

Stay tuned at hardrockottawa.com.

Ottawa’s Wellness Awakening

The capital’s booming health and wellness sector is

helping

residents live healthier, happier lives

BY ERIKA CUCCARO

WITH TRAILS, RIVERS and green spaces just minutes from downtown, Ottawa has long encouraged a lifestyle that balances work, play and well-being. Now, as the city continues its post-pandemic recovery, residents are returning to gyms, spas and clinics with a renewed commitment to both physical and mental health.

Embracing this shift, Ottawa’s health and wellness sector is expanding rapidly, with multidisciplinary clinics, boutique fitness studios and AI-powered health tech helping people across the capital unwind, recharge and thrive.

The Rise of Whole-life Health

The wellness landscape is evolving. Across Canada, more people are seeking services that support mental health, sleep, nutrition and preventative care. Consumers want whole-of-life solutions that support holistic wellness in body, mind and spirit.

A 2024 McKinsey survey found that key areas of growth include women’s health, healthy aging, weight management and mindfulness. Ottawa businesses are responding by evolving to meet those needs. They are moving beyond single-specialty offerings to create integrated, client-centred experiences.

From gyms that support healthy aging to multidisciplinary clinics and spas, wellness providers are redefining what it means to live well.

Connected by Movement

As people move away from the digital fitness apps they downloaded during the pandemic, boutique gyms and wellness studios are flourishing. Facilities like Bellefleur Fitness blend physiotherapy with affordable personal training, semi-private sessions and small group programs tailored to each client’s goals and fitness level.

Group classes, like Mighty Maestro Fitness’s popular bootcamps, provide a welcoming, inclusive space for friends to connect, laugh and move together. Local heat-seekers flock to Oxygen Yoga & Fitness for group yoga and fitness fusion classes in infrared heat therapy.

Ottawa’s luxury fitness studios—like beloved staple Movati and fresh newcomer Altea Active—offer everything wellness under one roof. From fitness studios and swimming pools to steam rooms and dry saunas, these clubs deliver an elevated health and fitness experience.

This socially connected approach to fitness supports more than just physical health; it also nurtures mental and emotional well-being. As Ottawa’s former Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches has said, building friendships and staying active are vital in supporting mental wellness.

Health Care Meets Self Care

Multidisciplinary wellness clinics are on the rise across Ottawa. At centres like Oaktree Health and Align Massage Therapy, clients can access chiropractic care, physiotherapy, acupuncture and massage therapy in one convenient location.

In the west end, Nobility Performance supports athletes, members of the military and active individuals with a unique blend of injury rehab and athletic therapy, bridging the gap between clinical care and long-term wellness.

Spas are also evolving, with medi-spas like Ottawa Medical Spa combining traditional services with treatments like IV therapy, infrared saunas and cosmetic injectables.

Personalized Care on Demand

Demand for personalized health care is growing—and Ottawa is meeting that demand with a new wave of boutique medical offices. Clinics like La Vie Executive Health Centre and ExecHealth provide fast access to comprehensive health assessments, diagnostic services and longevity-focused programs.

Wellness Goes High-tech in Kanata Ottawa’s tech hub is also fueling its wellness boom. In the Kanata North Tech Park, Esprit-AI is developing artificial intelligence to support healthy aging and help caregivers monitor loved ones remotely. AI Talos is creating tools that analyze facial skin health, track heart health and support early breast health detection. Meanwhile, Waira Healthcare Cloud Services offers cuttingedge communications tools for radiologists and physicians.

Supporting Mental Health at Work

In July 2024, Ottawa Public Health launched the Business Support Toolkit, a practical resource designed to help employers address mental health and addiction challenges in the workplace. The toolkit provides accessible strategies to create safer, healthier environments for both employees and the broader community.

Building a Healthier Ottawa

From boutique fitness clubs to holistic clinics to AI-powered health innovations, Ottawa’s health and wellness sector is thriving while redefining what it means to live well. In a city that works hard and plays hard, businesses across the sector are creating new opportunities for Ottawans to move, connect, heal, and grow.

As the capital continues to expand its world-class wellness offerings, one thing is clear: in Ottawa, well-being is more than a trend—it’s a way of life.

From boutique fitness clubs to holistic clinics to AI-powered health innovations, Ottawa’s health and wellness sector is thriving while redefining what it means to live well. In a city that works hard and plays hard, businesses across the sector are creating new opportunities for Ottawans to move, connect, heal, and grow.

Ottawa’s Best-Kept Self-Care Secret? Wellness That Works

IN TODAY’S HIGH-STRESS WORLD , self-care is more than a trend. It’s a necessity. Whether it’s a skincare routine, massage, or grooming, people are seeking ways to restore balance and invest in their health.

But here’s something we don’t talk about: where you go for wellness matters just as much as what you do. Because not all spaces are created equal.

Enter Sugarmoon and BODÉ Spa for Men, community-rooted wellness brands raising the bar for what self-care looks—and feels— like in Ottawa.

These businesses offer more than a menu of services. They’re building a culture of care where expertise, inclusivity, and trust come first. For anyone seeking personalized, safe, high-quality wellness experiences, Sugarmoon and BODÉ offer something rare: self-care with purpose.

A Space for You—Exactly As You Are

For many, booking a personal care service comes with hesitation. Will I be judged? Will they understand my skin? My identity?

At Sugarmoon and BODÉ, the answer is always yes. These aren’t one-size-fits-all spaces. They’re professional, inclusive, and deeply human environments where every client is treated with respect and dignity—regardless of gender, background, or body type.

Sugarmoon offers natural hair removal, advanced facials, laser treatments, LED light therapy, and body care designed for skin health. Services are customized. Practitioners are trained to deliver effective care across all skin types and sensitivities.

BODÉ caters specifically to men’s grooming and wellness needs, with services including skin treatments, body clipping, sugaring, therapeutic foot care, and laser hair removal. It’s a space where men can prioritize their health and appearance without stigma.

At both locations, the experience is designed to put you at ease— from the moment you arrive to when you leave, feeling lighter, healthier, and more confident.

Expertise You Can Feel

While many spa or grooming spaces focus on trends or aesthetics, Sugarmoon and BODÉ emphasize long-term skin health and wholebody wellness.

That means investing in technology like Health Canada–approved Alpha IPL systems and Dermalux LED therapy to deliver real results, offering oncology-approved facials for clients navigating health challenges and sharing education on sun safety, aging, and home care. It’s wellness that works— for you.

Front row: Keisha Paul, Linda Hoang, Jewel Agito, and Anna Nguyen Back row: Anastasia Yaraslavtseva, Kade Roy , Michael Major, and Kate Zulyak

All team members receive ongoing training to ensure every treatment is safe, effective, and tailored to your needs. Whether you’re dealing with acne, hyperpigmentation, dry skin, ingrowns, or stress—or just want to feel better in your body—you’ll find knowledgeable professionals ready to help.

Clients return not just for the treatments (though excellent), but for how these businesses make them feel. Safe. Seen. Supported.

For the 2SLGBTQ+ community, for clients transitioning or undergoing medical treatment, for men new to skincare, and for anyone who’s ever felt uncomfortable in a traditional spa setting—Sugarmoon and BODÉ offer a different experience. A better one. These are businesses built on real relationships and the belief that wellness doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens through connection.

The Hidden Cost of “Cheap and Easy” In a world of flashy chains and “express” services, it’s easy to forget the value of thoughtful, professional care. But what’s sacrificed in high-volume models is what makes Sugarmoon and BODÉ special: time, attention, safety, and a commitment to people over profits.

Behind every appointment is a team that’s been trained, mentored, and educated. Behind every product recommendation is a local, ethical, or women-led brand. Behind every new service is vetted equipment that meets the highest standards. This is wellness done right—and it’s not cheap to operate. While these businesses continue to show up for their clients, they also need their communities to show up for them. Supporting local doesn’t just keep doors open—it ensures Ottawa remains home to diverse, inclusive, high-quality spaces where everyone can access care that truly makes a difference.

Wellness That Works—And Why Ottawa Needs It

Ottawa is a city that cares. With greenspaces, yoga, and rising interest in mental and holistic health, the demand for wellness is clear. But it’s not enough to talk about self-care—we need to support the people and places that make it possible.

Sugarmoon and BODÉ aren’t franchises or luxury-only destinations. They’re grounded businesses committed to the community. Their teams are your neighbours, your colleagues, your friends.

And when you choose them, you’re choosing more than a facial or foot treatment. You’re choosing a future where wellness is thoughtful, respectful, and accessible to everyone.

If you’ve been waiting for the right time to start a skincare routine, book a treatment, or find a space that feels right— this is your sign.

Book the service. Buy the gift card. Leave a review. Refer a friend. Every action makes a difference.

Because when we support local wellness businesses, we create a stronger, more compassionate city.

Book your visit to Sugarmoon or Bodé today and experience care that’s personal, professional, and proven to work. Use code OBOT for 10% off—your wellness journey starts here.

Bodé

Sugarmoon

METAGUEST: Evolution in Action for the AI Age of Hospitality

ADAPTABILITY IS THE lifeblood of resilient businesses—and few exemplify that better than Canadian company, Metaguest.AI (METG). What began as a tool for shortterm rental hosts evolved swiftly during the pandemic, when global lockdowns paused travel and made communication with individual hosts nearly impossible.

“As we were building Metaguest for the Airbnb market, the lockdown hit, and access to short-term rentals dried up,” explains CEO Tony Comparelli. “At the same time, hotels were facing their own challenges and looking for ways to modernize. That’s when we saw the opportunity.”

That opportunity came from an industry ripe for transformation. Burdened by staffing shortages and outdated systems, hotels were seeking smarter ways to operate. “Hotels are pretty technology deficient,” says Comparelli. “They use a variety of systems, and most of them don’t talk to each other. It makes it difficult to operate efficiently.”

Enter Metaguest.AI—a platform that installs a unique AI framework in each hotel, learning guest behaviour and automating everything from towel delivery to dinner reservations. “Every business has a driver,

This intersection of AI and hospitality efficiency has begun to reveal a compelling new revenue model. By optimizing staffing needs and enhancing guest satisfaction through automation, hotels using Metaguest have seen measurable financial improvements.

and in hospitality, that driver is always the guest,” Comparelli notes. “If a hotel delivers a positive guest experience, it influences booking rates and frequency.”

This intersection of AI and hospitality efficiency has begun to reveal a compelling new revenue model. By optimizing staffing needs and enhancing guest satisfaction through automation, hotels using Metaguest have seen measurable financial improvements. Increased operational efficiency directly correlates with higher guest retention, improved review scores, and ultimately, more frequent bookings. It’s a model that hasn’t been broadly explored

in the industry—leveraging AI not just as a tool for convenience, but as a core driver of revenue growth.

That scalability is crucial in an economic environment where operational costs run razor-thin. With rising employment expenses, inflation, and potential tariffs impacting physical goods, Metaguest’s digital-first model stands out. “We’re immune to those kinds of pressures,” Comparelli says. “We don’t deal with goods, and our AI only becomes more efficient with scale.”

From eight pilot hotels in Manhattan to over 300 active hotels—and a waitlist of 700 more—Metaguest has found traction through industry word-of-mouth. “We didn’t expect it, but our early expansion came through one hotel operator talking to another,” says Comparelli. “We haven’t had a single hotel drop the platform.”

In the ever-changing world of hospitality, evolution is more than survival—it’s strategy. Metaguest didn’t just pivot in crisis; it reinvented its path. And now, it’s redefining the future of guest experience.

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We are more than just a restaurant; we are a destination for unforgettable dining experiences. Join us at the Rosebowl Steak & Seafood, where every meal is a celebration of taste, and every visit is a memorable occasion.

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From Trade Tensions to Going Global: Preparing Leaders for the New World of International Trade

For thirty-three years, the Telfer Executive MBA program has embraced a diverse global focus, conducting projects for Canadian companies looking to expand into different regions of the world.

OUR RECENT EFFORTS on behalf of Canadian companies seeking opportunities in Vietnam derived to six confirmed leads and an MOU with a Vietnamese distributor in progress. Given the recent posture of our largest trading partner, these international expansion projects have become even more important.

The Growing Impact of U.S. Tariffs on Canada

Canada’s longstanding trade relationship with the United States is under significant pressure following the onset of the tariff war.

These new measures—a 25% tariff on most Canadian imports and 10% on energy products—are already beginning to affect industries ranging from automotive parts to metals and minerals. With the U.S. market accounting for more than 75% of Canada’s exports—amounting to over USD $591.5 billion in 2024 according to Statistics Canada, international expansion is now a necessity, not a nice-to-have.

Why Leaders Must Pivot—and Quickly

Canadians can no longer rely solely on domestic strategies or markets that are similar or close to home. Today’s companies must strategically adapt, looking for new opportunities in less discovered and emerging markets—many of whom are welcoming Canadian collaboration.

It’s not just about finding new markets—it’s about building resilient and diversified growth strategies that anticipate disruption and embrace opportunity across many borders. This shift calls for leaders who can adapt

“Our international consulting projects are transformational. Candidates don’t just learn about global expansion—they live it and work on the process from end-to-end starting with identifying the best market for expansion to building relationships and convening meetings with key stakeholders.”

to various international cultures and navigate the complexities with confidence—qualities that our Executive MBA alumni have developed through both rigorous learning and real-world experience.

How the Telfer Executive MBA Equips LeaderS for Global Expansion

Diversifying into foreign and lesser understood markets means some leaders may need to lean into their team to find the skills and experience to make this pivot a success.

A defining feature of our Executive MBA program is its series of consulting projects—one of which candidates work directly with Canadian companies seeking to expand or operate in foreign markets.

From Theory to Action: Consulting Projects with Results

“Candidates leave the Executive MBA program not only with the frameworks and knowledge of how to do business in another market, but with the confidence and experience of exploring marketing opportunities, working with intermediaries such as the Trade Commissioner’s Office, generating leads, and closing deals,” says Greg Richards, Interim Program Director and Vice-Dean of Graduate Professional Programs at the Telfer School of Management. “They end up with a road map and the confidence to lead their own organizations into new international markets.”

Through these projects, candidates build practical skills in market analysis, competitive intelligence, cross-cultural appreciation and communication.

Our international consulting projects are transformational. Candidates don’t just learn about global expansion—they live it and work on the process from end-to-end starting with identifying the best market for expansion to building relationships and convening meetings with key stakeholders,” says Professor Jonathan Calof, who teaches the EMBA’s Market Insights course as well as advises teams on their international consulting projects.

Things can change quickly when it comes to international business.

Calof explains that companies must be adaptive in real-time and especially attuned to understanding that in an international context, relationships are critical and must be backed up by more than words.

“International expansion is not a one-size-fits-all process. You must adapt your product or service, understand the cultural impacts and most importantly understand your stakeholder’s needs and how you serve that need. We provide you with the frameworks so that you can determine the best course of action for each opportunity.”

Case in Point: Giatec Scientific Inc.’s Experience in Vietnam

This consulting engagement is as beneficial to our clients as it is for Executive MBA candidates.

For example, client organization Giatec Scientific Inc. gained traction in Malaysia and Vietnam over the last two engagements, receiving several verbal commitments to execute on pilot projects during our most recent mission to Vietnam.

“The program directly contributes to real progress with targeted stakeholders, advancing our efforts to expand into a new market and resulting in meaningful commitments from local businesses that are key to our long-term success,” says Matthew Monych, VP, Sales and Success for Giatec, who traveled with the Executive MBA team to Vietnam in April this year.

Resources are More Available Than You Think

The pivot away from U.S.-centric trade is not only necessary— it’s entirely possible. The key lies in identifying the right skills and tapping into available resources.

While government support through Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service and Export Development Canada plays a vital role, valuable international business expertise may already exist within your own organization, and for companies looking to explore new export opportunities, the Telfer Executive MBA consulting projects offer a unique, fee-free opportunity to gain strategic recommendations and in-market intelligence.

SHAPING A BOLD SKYLINE for a New Ottawa

AS OTTAWA’S DOWNTOWN evolves, the structural engineers and city builders at Entuitive are proud to help shape a more vibrant and resilient capital. With offices across Canada and in New York City, Entuitive brings creativity and collaboration to every project, playing a leading role in Ottawa’s evolution.

Greg Woltman, M.A.Sc., P.Eng., is a senior leader and Structural Project Manager at Entuitive’s Ottawa office. Born and raised in the capital, Greg brings 16 years of experience delivering landmark projects, including the Parliament Hill Visitor Welcome Centre, Lansdowne Park redevelopment, Zibi sustainable community and University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Health Sciences.

“There’s a lot of sharp minds in this city, a lot of creative vision,” says Woltman. “We’re proud to work with architects, planners and other partners to help transform Ottawa’s downtown into the vibrant heart of the city it’s meant to be.”

Cadillac Fairview Rideau Centre Registry Tower

Entuitive is working with Cadillac Fairview on the Rideau Centre Registry Tower, a new residential development that integrates Ottawa’s heritage into the modern urban fabric. Centred around the carefully relocated Old City Registry Office, the 21-storey tower rises 133 metres above the historic building, revitalizing the east side of the Rideau Canal and strengthening connections to the University of Ottawa neighbourhood. Entuitive celebrated a major milestone on March 21, 2025, with the topping-off of the structure; interior work on the building’s 288 rental units is now underway.

Relevé: 400 Albert Street

Heading west, Entuitive is leading structural engineering for Relevé, a transformative project breathing new life into Ottawa’s downtown core. Featuring two elegantly curved towers of 23 and 29 storeys, connected by a three-storey podium, the mixed-use development will offer rental housing, retail and commercial space. With underground parking complete and vertical construction progressing, Relevé promises to bring architectural distinction and renewed energy to an often-overlooked part of the city.

Working Together on Downtown Ottawa’s New Look “Ottawa is transforming itself in fundamental ways and we’re excited to bring these projects to life,” says Woltman. “We’re also looking forward to upcoming projects such as revitalizing the former Greyhound bus terminal at 165 Catherine Street and Lansdowne Park 2.0.”

Founded in 2011, Entuitive’s services encompass structural engineering, construction engineering, integrated building envelope, restoration, special projects, renovation consulting, advanced performance analysis and code consulting. Find out how Entuitive’s creative engineering solutions are helping to transform cities at www.entuitive.com.

Cadillac Fairview Rideau Centre Registry Tower

Interior work on 288 units at Rideau Centre Registry Tower has commenced

Relevé: 400 Albert Street

Unlock your Business Potential with TAAG Marketing + Design

Are you a small business looking to grow, increase revenue, and boost visibility? TAAG Marketing + Design offers a monthly Virtual Chief Marketing Officer (VCMO) service tailored specifically for your needs, along with a suite of à la carte services. Our VCMO service harnesses a wealth of experience and innovative strategies to drive your company’s growth—without the expense of a full-time C-suite hire.

Your VCMO team will consult with you to understand your strategic objectives and analyze your business and marketscape. We will then make bespoke recommendations to elevate your company’s visibility and achieve results with professional marketing leadership. Let our team of experts handle marketing execution so you can focus on running your business and seizing opportunities.

Our ongoing, monthly VCMO Package is based on time and can include a mix of advisory and execution services around:

• Digital Marketing, SEO & Paid Ads

• Marketing Audit & Strategy

• Branding & Design

• Content & Messaging

• Website Renewal

• Product & Traditional Marketing

• Monthly Analytics & Reporting

Designed to be flexible and based on your evolving priorities and needs, we’ll meet to discuss your business and determine what makes the most sense for your immediate needs and budget.

TAAG Marketing + Design cultivates insightful and collaborative client relationships to fully understand your objectives and requirements, recommend strategic solutions, and flow through our creative journey to deliver the best possible outcomes. Our signature Creative Convergence Process is an immersive, client-centric process that inspires brilliant and authentic marketing + design solutions.

In addition to, or instead of, our VCMO service, we offer a range of à la carte solutions. All our services are provided remotely in our secure online environment. Here are some of our key offerings:

Marketing Strategy: Our comprehensive Marketing Audit & Strategy Bundle assesses, validates, and makes focused recommendations to advance your outreach and conversions. We dive deep into your organization, marketscape, current marketing modus operandi, and discuss your strategic objectives, challenges, and needs.

Digital Marketing: We offer customized digital marketing packages to align with your marketing objectives and enhance your brand’s online presence. Packages include Paid Ads (PPC), SEO, Organic Social Media Management, and Email Marketing.

Website Design & Development: Our website renewal projects range from new sites or landing pages to refreshes and rebuilds, all scalable to your needs.

Branding: We specialize in strong brand and visual identity development, providing visual identity refreshes and branding solutions to update your look and feel.

Design: Our talented graphic designers produce a wide range of integrated products and marketing collateral in various formats—print, web, video, digital, and social.

Content Creation: We offer content creation services, including branded narrative, storytelling, copywriting, editing, and translation.

Niche Publishing: If you’re looking to publish your book, magazine, or report, we’ll collaborate with you to craft an end-product that aligns with your vision and objectives—unifying text, imagery, and graphic elements. Our Direct Marketing team can even assist with ad sales to support revenue generation for niche print and digital magazines, like CAPITAL Magazine

Unlock your business potential with TAAG Marketing + Design.

To learn more about how we can help you achieve your marketing goals: Melanie Williams, Director of Marketing + Design Services, mwilliams@taag.ca

Visit: taag.ca/services/marketing-design/

MAYOR'S MESSAGE

WE’RE FORTUNATE TO live in a wonderful community. I’m always heartened by the positive comments of residents, new arrivals and visitors to Ottawa, who talk about how much they love the city.

But we also live in a challenging time, with a lot of political and economic uncertainty. That’s why I’ve launched Ottawa’s Economic Action Plan, to keep everyone working together to build and enhance our local economy, create jobs, and invest in our priorities.

To support families and small businesses who are facing rising costs due to tariffs, we are keeping taxes as low as possible. Ottawa has had the lowest tax increases of any major city in the country for the past three years. We’ve also extended the small business tax discount, providing more than 10,000 local businesses with average savings of $3,700 this year.

I’ve launched Ottawa’s Economic Action Plan, to keep everyone working together to build and enhance our local economy, create jobs, and invest in our priorities.

I’ve been meeting regularly with the Mayor’s Economic Council, including Sueling Ching of the Ottawa Board of Trade, to respond to Ottawa’s challenges and capitalize on our opportunities. We’ve had great interest in our Shop Local, Buy Canadian campaign. And I’ve also travelled to Washington to join other mayors from throughout North America to call for the removal of tariffs and the resumption of free trade.

I’ve also been working with our partners in the provincial and federal governments, including our new Prime Minister, to advance Ottawa’s priorities, including public transit, housing, and revitalizing downtown and the ByWard Market. And our Housing Innovation Task Force is continuing its work toward streamlining approval processes and proposing other creative solutions to build more homes.

Let’s keep working together to respond to economic uncertainty and continue to build a great city for everyone!

Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa