CAPITAL CONTEXT
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TTAWA IS BUILT on unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe
territory. The peoples of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation have lived on this territory for millennia. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land. We honour the peoples and land of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation. We honour all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land. The Ottawa Board of Trade is the voice of business and a key advocate for economic growth in the Nation’s Capital. Our mission is to create a thriving world class business community, one that drives community prosperity and cultivates an inclusive, sustainable city. To that end, we routinely bring together business and community leaders to align our vision, optimize our resources and ensure our collective work moves Ottawa to its full potential as the best capital city in the world. On June 6, 2022, we partnered with the Ottawa Business Journal to present the 2022 City-Building Summit: Reimagine Ottawa. Over 200 leaders gathered at the historic Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park to engage in a community conversation about how to leverage our many strengths to build forward better. Local, regional and national experts contemplated the various ways that our vibrant city, a thriving cosmopolitan, an international community, has grown and adapted over the past several years. And how it must continue to innovate in the wake of the severe adversity faced over the past two years.
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We are well positioned to do so. Ottawa is more than the capital of Canada, the seat of our federal government and home to 130 foreign embassies – it is Canada in One City. Rich in history, tradition and legacy, Ottawa also features leading edge businesses, including a thriving tourism industry that draws people from across Canada and around the world into our city. We have top rate educational institutions – including the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Algonquin College, and La Cité. Our health and research facilities are second to none. This issue features the brilliant work and future of The Ottawa Hospital, The Royal, CHEO, and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Several high impact projects are on the horizon, including a new addition to the Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital, ongoing upgrades to Ottawa’s Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, and expansion of the light rail system. More are planned, including enhanced sporting and entertainment facilities in Lansdowne Park and new projects by the National Capital Commission. Ottawa is a thriving global tech hub with decades of disruptive technology innovation, expertise, and capabilities. Anchored by more than 1,750 technology companies that employ more than 74,000 highly skilled people, Canada’s Capital boasts the highest concentration of tech talent per capita in North America. With the most educated workforce in all of Canada, our top tech talent spans many of the entrepreneurs, SMEs, and multinationals from every
C AP I TAL S U MMER 2 02 2 | THE BUSINES S MAG A ZINE O F THE OT TAWA BOA R D OF TR A D E