Published on December 16, 2024
At the Rogers Centre Ottawa, we were thrilled to host the second edition of the Think Ottawa Gala in our Trillium Ballroom—a night dedicated to honouring the incredible contributions of local leaders who have positioned Ottawa as a premier destination for international conferences and events.
This celebration highlights the vital role our city’s leaders play in driving economic impact, strengthening community ties, and elevating Ottawa’s reputation on the global stage.
A Night of Recognition and Impact
The Think Ottawa Gala is a celebration of the Think Ottawa program, a collaboration between the Rogers Centre Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, and Invest Ottawa. Since its launch in 2019, this initiative has empowered local leaders to attract world-class conferences and events to Ottawa, providing support with bid development, venue coordination, and marketing expertise.
This year’s gala highlighted the remarkable achievements of these leaders while also unveiling Think Ottawa’s new marketing campaign, set to launch in 2025. The campaign will further showcase Ottawa’s vibrancy, diversity, and warm hospitality to international audiences.
Rogers Centre Ottawa: A Proud Partner in Ottawa’s Success
As the host of this meaningful event, the Rogers Centre Ottawa is deeply committed to supporting initiatives that showcase our city’s strengths. Carly Grace, Vice-President of Sales, emphasized our dedication to sustainability, accessibility, and community engagement in her address.
“We’re proud to be more than just an event space; we’re a gateway to the charm and vibrancy of Ottawa,” Carly shared.
Our impact extends beyond our walls—contributing $150 million annually to Ottawa’s GDP and creating over 1,600 local jobs. Additionally, through partnerships like the one with Tablée des Chefs, we’re taking significant strides to reduce food waste and provide thousands of meals to those in need.
Honouring Excellence
The evening’s highlight was the presentation of the awards, we’re proud to share the winners of the 2024 Think Ottawa Awards and the volunteers representing them:
International Events:
Association for Computing Machinery International Conference on Multimedia 2023 – Abdulmotaleb El Saddik
Sports
Ontario Winter Games 2023 – Alastair Baird
Small Events:
National Association of Career Colleges 2022 – Austin Moulton and Michael Sangster
Sustainability:
Department of Environment and Climate Change Canada, United Nations 4th Session of the International Negotiation on a Future Treaty for Plastic Pollution 2024
Pandemic Resiliency:
International Society of Paediatric Oncology 2023 – Dr. Donna Johnston
Science & Mathematics:
International Statistical Institute World Congress 2023 – Eric Rancourt
Multiple Event Support Leader:
IEEE Ottawa Section, IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging (2022), and IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society Conference (2023)
Community Partner:
University of Ottawa Conventions and Reservations – Jennifer Stewart
National Events:
CAEH Canadian Conference on Ending Homelessness 2024 – Kaite Burkholder Harris
Indigenous Events:
International Indigenous Tourism Conference 2024 – Marc Frogette
Legacy:
Trans Canada Trail Network World Trails Conference 2024 – Mathieu Roy
Social Studies:
Association Internationale Des Sociologues de Langue Francaise International Congress 2024 – Dr. Patrice Corriveau and Dr. Stéphanie Gaudet
Natural Resources:
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers North America Conference 2023 – Paul Barnes
Information Communications and Technology:
International Conference on the Physics of Semiconductors 2024 – Dr. Pawel Hawrylak, Dr. Guy Austing, and Ms. Kassaundra Richards
Signature Event:
SAAS North
Life Sciences:
What Works Global Summit 2023 – Dr. Vivian Welch and Santina Lebrun
Advanced Manufacturing:
IAVSD 28th Symposium on Dynamics of Vehicles on Roads and on Tracks 2023 – Dr. Wei Huang and Luke Steiginga
Photo (from left to right): Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Carly Grace (VP of Sales, Rogers Centre Ottawa), Sonya Shorey (CEO & President, Invest Ottawa), and Michael Crockatt (President & CEO, Ottawa Tourism).
Looking Ahead with Pride
As attendees enjoyed a curated menu by our talented culinary team, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe reflected on the collective pride and collaboration that drive Ottawa’s success. “Together, we’re revitalising Ottawa, showcasing its strengths, and creating opportunities that ripple far beyond our city limits,” he noted.
The second Think Ottawa Gala was more than just a celebration—it was a testament to the power of partnership, the resilience of our community, and the vision of the leaders who continue to shape Ottawa’s future. We are honoured to play a role in this incredible program and look forward to welcoming the world to our vibrant city in the years to come.
All photos used in this blog are credited to Ottawa Tourism.
