City Building Summit 2024

Join the Ottawa Board of Trade and Ottawa Business Journal for an inclusive conversation about the future of Canada's Capital Region. Together, we can create a diverse and vibrant community with a thriving economy and quality of life for all. Connect with city builders, learn about what is on the horizon and share your ideas about the future of our city.

This event is for business and community leaders, economic partners, and especially diverse and young leaders. Everyone will find value in this agenda including: 

• meaningful connections and networking
• inspiring ideas and information from experts
• dynamic panel discussion on key issues and projects
• a nutritious breakfast and lunch
• fresh and exciting perspective on your role in city building

AGENDA (subject to change)

• Sueling Ching, President and CEO, Ottawa Board of Trade
• Michael Curran, Publisher, Ottawa Business Journal
• Mayor Mark Sutcliffe

• Keynote by Mary Rowe, President & CEO, Canadian Urban Institute
• Q&A with:
  • Paul Mackinnon, Downtown Halifax
  • Glen Castenheira, Downtown Montreal
  • Mark Garner, Downtown Calgary
  • Jane Talbot, Downtown Vancouver

• Panel Discussion with:
  • Stephan Dery, President & CEO, Canada Lands Company
  • Jennifer Garrett, Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Science and Parliamentary Infrastructure, Public Services and Procurement Canada
  • Mark Quinlan, Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Services and Procurement Canada
  • Panel moderated by: Mary Rowe, President & CEO, Canadian Urban Institute

• Michael Cleland, Executive in Residence with the University of Ottawa’s Positive Energy Program

• Panel moderated by Jesse Card, Executive Director, Youth Ottawa
• Ottawa Youth Councillors

• Keynote by Dr. Mike Moffatt, Senior Director of Policy and Innovation, Smart Prosperity Institute

• Core Area Plan - Alain Miguelez, Vice-President and Chief Planner, National Capital Commission
• LRT Stage 2 Update - Michael Morgan, Director, Rail Construction Program, City of Ottawa
• Airport Update - Mark Laroche, President and CEO, Ottawa International Airport Authority
• Hospital Update - Cameron Love, President and CEO, The Ottawa Hospital
• Ottawa Senators - Cyril Leeder, President and CEO, Ottawa Senators
• Panel moderated by: Jeff Westeinde

Confirmed Speakers

Dr. Mike Moffatt, Senior Director of Policy and Innovation at the University of Ottawa's Smart Prosperity Institute
 
Dr. Mike Moffatt is the Senior Director of Policy and Innovation at the University of Ottawa's Smart Prosperity Institute and an Assistant Professor in the Business, Economics and Public Policy group at Ivey Business School, Western University. Mike's research at SPI focuses on the intersection of regional economic development, building child-friendly, climate-friendly housing and communities, and clean innovation. In 2017, Mike was the Chief Innovation Fellow for the Government of Canada, advising Deputy Ministers on innovation policy and emerging trends. He has also previously held the titles of Director (Interim) of the Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management, Directory of Policy at Canada 2020, and Chief Economist for the Mowat Centre at the University of Toronto. Mike has worked with politicians and policymakers of all political stripes in several countries to craft more effective public policy.



Mary Rowe, President and CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute
 
Mary W. Rowe is a leading urban advocate and civil society trailblazer who has worked in cities and with communities across Canada and the United States. Mary was President of the Canadian platform Ideas That Matter, a convening and publishing program based on the work of renowned urbanist Jane Jacobs, when a mid-career fellowship with the US-based blue moon fund led her to New Orleans. There she worked with national philanthropy, governments and community activists to support rebuilding through micro-investments in neighbourhood projects for seven years in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Prior to joining CUI as President and Chief Executive Officer, Mary lived in New York City and served as Executive Vice President of the Municipal Art Society (MASNYC), one of America’s oldest civic advocacy organizations focused on the built environment.

Mary is a frequent contributor to national and international city-building programs, including UN Habitat, the Massey City Summit, The Art of City Building and the World Urban Forum. She is a frequent media commentator and writer. Under Mary’s leadership, CUI has expanded its work to include an international network from government, industry, community and city-building professions to advance research and collaborate on solutions to some of our greatest urban challenges. This includes Bring Back Main Street, COVID Signposts, CityWatch and CityShare, the engagement of several senior fellows to incubate ground-breaking projects in Canada, and the development of CUI x Local, a series of virtual residencies in cities across Canada, to learn from on-the-ground practitioners about what’s working and what’s not, and to share learnings and build opportunities for collaboration between cities. Mary is also the facilitator of BiCEP—an alliance of senior executives leading some of Canada's most significant urban regions, for which CUI is the secretariat. 

Mary is a Senior Fellow with Shorefast, a national charity focussed on building  community economies, and the creator, executive producer and host of CityTalk, a regular virtual discussion featuring a diverse line-up of leading and emerging voices on the most pressing issues of the day.