Major Events and Sport Events hosting in Ottawa – Fall 2023

Local legend to compete in Canadian Culinary Championship 2024

The countdown to the Canadian Culinary Championship is on — and competitors are getting fired up. Among the passionate competitors is Ottawa's very own, Raghav Chaudhary of Aiana Restaurant, who's fighting to keep the crown in Ottawa. Chaudhary will compete on February 2-3, 2024, against nine other gold medal-winning chefs from Vancouver, Okanagan, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and St. John’s.

Making it this far is no easy feat, let’s cheer on Chaudhary as he brings his culinary magic to the table and possibly emerges as Canada’s best chef for 2024!

Chaudhary is pictured far right.

Ian Fraser appointed CEO of the RA Centre

A new Chief Executive Officer has been appointed to the RA’s Board of Directors. The RA is a not-for-profit that operates a multi-sport, recreation and leisure facility in Ottawa, and their newest CEO, Ian Fraser has all the values that align with the organization. He’s a vibrant community leader, entrepreneur and previous elite triathlete who was born and bred in Ottawa. He served as the Executive Director and Race Director at Run Ottawa since 2019.

Fraser is expected to assume his role on January 15, 2024, after he transitions into the position over the next few months.

Ottawa’s new Professional Women’s Hockey League takes centre ice this January 2024

2024 will mark a monumental year in Ottawa’s hockey legacy as the new Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) takes to the ice. Ottawa has been buzzing with excitement since the city was named one of the PWHL’s six original franchises this past summer. The other teams are Toronto, Montreal, Boston, New York and Minnesota.

The last time Ottawa was home to a professional women’s hockey league was the 2009-10 season where poor game results, a training and playing schedule scattered across various community rinks and difficulty in recruiting stellar players challenged the team. This time, things are different.

TD Place has been announced as the official home of the new PWHL, so players can train and play in the same space, although home games will also take place in other Ottawa arenas. Teams will play 24 games in the first season, half home and half away. There will also be — at a minimum — nine Olympians on the team.

Discover the legendary events and games hosted in Ottawa

Ottawa knows how to make any sporting event unforgettable. This city has the stellar facilities, passionate fans and trusted Major Events and Sport team to make it happen. Read about our hosting track record on the blog.

Ottawa to host 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship

Ottawa is privileged to be hosting the World Juniors from December 26, 2024, to January 5, 2025. The annual tournament features national under-20 teams from across the world.

This is the 19th time the World Juniors have been hosted in Canada and the 2nd time it’s been held in Ottawa. Hockey Canada announced that the primary venue will be the Canadian Tire Centre with additional games taking place at TD Place.

Holiday Inn & Suites Ottawa Kanata finishes renovations

The award-winning Holiday Inn & Suites Ottawa Kanata is ready to welcome guests to their recently renovated accommodations at 101 Kanata Avenue. You’ll find stylish, modern comfort and impeccable service at this hotel conveniently located steps away from over 50 shops and restaurants, and minutes to the Canadian Tire Centre, Tanger Outlets and downtown Ottawa.

All 152 of their guestrooms now include a microwave, Keurig coffee maker and mini fridge. Amenities include a large swimming pool, a spacious fitness centre with state-of-the-art equipment, a 5,000-square-foot flexible banquet space and a new lobby and lighting fixtures throughout the hotel for a sunny, warm feel.

There’s also Stanley, the hotel’s Relay Robot — he can tell you a joke or deliver you a towel.

Ravens football champions inclusive coaching with new coach apprenticeship program for women

It’s the first season of Carleton University’s football coach apprenticeship program for women — and this year’s three apprentices, Caitlin McCallan (assistant wide receiver coach), Taylor Matthews (assistant offensive line coach) and Liya Equbagzi (football operations and defensive assistant coach) are praising the program.

The Carleton Ravens football head coach, Corey Grant, established the program to elevate women, non-binary and Two Spirit people interested in coaching. Grant believes some of his most transformative teachers were women and wanted a team staff that reflects society.

Ottawa at the PanAm Games

The Pan-American (PanAm) Masters Games concluded in Santiago, Chile on November 5, 2023, and Ottawa brought home a total of two gold, seven silver and nine bronze medals throughout the two weeks of competition. The next PanAm Games is set for July 12-21, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Athletico Ottawa wins five awards — including 2023 Club of the Year

The Canadian Premier League (CPL) Business Awards took place recently and Ottawa’s professional soccer club, Athlético Ottawa, claimed wins across multiple categories. The CPL Business Awards recognize success on and off field, from ticketing to partnerships to community engagement and beyond. Along with the prestigious Club of the Year award, Athlético Ottawa was presented with the Community Impact award, Social Media Activation of the Year award and two ticketing achievements: Top Group Sales and Top Single Match Sales.

Ottawa Tourism wins Employer of the Year Award

Several of Ottawa Tourism’s team members travelled to Mississauga this past October to attend the 2023 Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) Summit. The team was excited to witness so many industry wins during the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence — and is beyond grateful to have been awarded the Tourism Employer of the Year Award.

Ottawa Tourism is honoured to have Roslyn Smith (Vice-President, Operations and Culture) and Nicole Picton, CHRP (Manager, People and Culture) be such an integral part of this team win. Roslyn and Nicole continue to ensure we have an innovative and inclusive work environment. The team couldn’t do the work it takes to celebrate and evolve the Ottawa destination without such a supportive organizational culture.

Meet Devin Jenkins, our new Manager (Major Events & Sport)

Ottawa Tourism welcomed Devin to the team last month. He has over six years of experience at the Canada Olympic Committee, where he managed a portfolio of corporate partners and led key partner initiatives. Most recently, he worked at Rogers Sports & Media supporting the Ottawa business community in meeting their marketing needs. Born and raised in Ottawa, Devin is thrilled to be back in his hometown and passionate about the intersection of sports and business.

Meet our Major Events and Sport Team

The Major Events and Sport Team is here to take your next event or competition to a whole other level in Ottawa. Reach out to us and we’ll help you get started.

• 2024 Dodgeball Ontario Provincial Championships – February 3-4, 2024
• 2024 U18 Curling Championships – February 4-10, 2024
• 2024 Canadian Wrestling Trials – March 14-17, 2024
• Ottawa named host for 2024 and 2025 Ontario Volleyball Championships
• Ottawa named host for 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship

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