Leaders are telling the “Ottawa Story” worldwide – highlighting the world-class research and programs that put the city on the map and building a global reputation for innovation and excellence.
See what Leaders are saying about Think Ottawa and the program support that contributed to their success in hosting international conferences in Canada’s capital.
Kaite Burkeholder Harris
Executive Director, Alliance to End Homelessness in Canada, on bringing a 2,000-person conference to Ottawa.
Abdulmotaleb El Saddik
Professor, University of Ottawa Engineering Department, on his successful bid to bring the ACM Multimedia Conference to Ottawa.
Marc Forgette
Founder, Makatew Workshops, on his successful bid to bring the International Indigenous Tourism Conference to Ottawa.
2026 Think Ottawa Award Winners
- Leo Doyle, Ontario Basketball Association Ontario Cup 2025
- Phyllis Bergmans, Canadian Ringette Championships 2025
- Richard Johnston, Canadian Track and Field Championship presented by Bell 2025
- Cassandra Auguste-René, Ottawa Black Business Expo 2025
- Mark Tse, Cybersecurity & Identity Summit 2025
- Melissa Brett and Dr. Stephanie Redpath, Canadian Paediatric and Neonatal Transport Conference 2025
- Judith Nassuna, Global Nursing Summit 2025
- Dr. Matei Radulescu, 30th International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems 2025
- Dr. Sam Suppiah and Dr. Ian Castillo, International Tritium Conference on Tritium Science and Technology 2025
- Dr. Timothy Lethbridge, IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering 2025
- Dr. David Michelson, IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and North American Radio Science Meeting 2025
2024 Think Ottawa Award Winners
- Abdulmotaleb El Saddik, Association for Computing Machinery International Conference on Multimedia 2023, Think Ottawa Leader Award in International Events
- Alastair Baird, Ontario Winter Games 2023, Think Ottawa Leader Award in Sports
- Austin Moulton and Michael Sangster, National Association of Career Colleges 2022, Think Ottawa Leader Award in Small Events
- Department of Environment and Climate Change Canada, United Nations 4th session of the International Negotiation on a Future Treaty for Plastic Pollution 2024, Think Ottawa Leader Award in Sustainability
- Dr. Donna Johnston, International Society of Paediatric Oncology 2023, Think Ottawa Leader Award in Pandemic Resiliency
- Eric Rancourt International Statistical Institute World Congress 2023, Think Ottawa Leader Award in Science & Mathematics
- IEEE Ottawa Section, IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging (2022), and IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society Conference (2023), Think Ottawa Leader Award in Multiple Event Support Leader
- Jennifer Stewart University of Ottawa Conventions and Reservations, Think Ottawa Leader Award in Community Partner
- Kaite Burkholder Harris, CAEH Canadian Conference on Ending Homelessness 2024, Think Ottawa Leader Award in National Events
- Marc Forgette, International Indigenous Tourism Conference 2024, Think Ottawa Leader Award in Indigenous Events
- Mathieu Roy, Trans Canada Trail Network World Trails Conference 2024, Think Ottawa Leader Award in Legacy
- Dr. Patrice Corriveau and Dr. Stephanie Gaudet, Association Internationale Des Sociologues de Langue Francaise International Congress 2024, Think Ottawa Leader Award in Social Studies
- Paul Barnes, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers North America Conference 2023, Think Ottawa Leader Award in Natural Resources
- Dr. Pawel Hawrylak, Dr. Guy Austing, and Ms. Kassaundra Richards, International Conference on the Physics of Semiconductors 2024, Think Ottawa Leader Award in Information Communications and Technology
- SAAS North, Think Ottawa Leader Award in Signature Event
- Dr. Vivian Welch and Santina Lebrun, What Works Global Summit 2023, Think Ottawa Leader Award in Life Sciences
- Dr. Wei Huang and Luke Steiginga, IAVSD 28th Symposium on Dynamics of Vehicles on Roads and on Tracks 2023, Think Ottawa Leader Award in Advanced Manufacturing
2019 Think Ottawa Award Winners
- Andre Staudte and Tim Kirchner, International Conference on Photonic, Electronic, and Atomic Collisions 2021
- Branislav Djokic, IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference 2022
- Carmen Patry, International Symposium on Air-Breathing Engines Conference 2022
- Carole Yauk, Francesco Marchetti, and Paul White, International Conference on Environmental Mutagens 2022
- Constance Crompton and Shawn Graham, Alliance of Digital Humanities Organizations Conference 2020
- Daniel Benoit, North American Congress on BioMechanics 2019
- Heather Brittain, World Meeting of the International Society for Research on Aggression 2022
- Jessica Dunn, Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Public Health and Policy Conference 2022
- John Sobey and Victor Dillabaugh, International Association of Firefighters Convention 2022
- Wahab Almuhtadi, IEEE Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers
- Enrico Del Castello, International Metropolis Conference 2019
- Dr. Donna Johnston, International Society of Paediatric Oncology 2023
