Mayor’s Breakfast with General M.A.J. Carignan

The Mayor’s Breakfast is one of our most popular events, bringing together the region’s top business, community, and political leaders. This monthly event features valuable networking opportunities, a City Hall update from the Mayor, and high-profile speakers addressing issues that are vital to our city, province and country. Join us and stay informed on key issues impacting the prosperity of our city and get connected with Ottawa’s business community.

Agenda:
7:00 a.m. – Networking and Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – Update from City Hall + Fireside Chat
9:00 a.m. – Event Conclusion

Special Guest: General M.A.J. Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff

A graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada in Engineering, General Jennie Carignan was commissioned into the Canadian Military Engineers in 1990.

Since then, she commanded two Combat Engineer Regiments, Royal Military College Saint-Jean and the 2nd Canadian Division, where she led more than 10,000 soldiers and spearheaded crisis operations during the flood relief efforts in the spring of 2019 in Quebec. More recently, she led NATO Mission Iraq from November 2019 to November 2020. General Carignan participated in three previous expeditionary operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Golan Heights, and Afghanistan. From 2021 to 2024, General Carignan was appointed Chief of Professional Conduct and Culture.

Along the way, General Carignan earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Université Laval and a second Master’s degree from the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the School of Advanced Military Studies. She is also a graduate of the National Security Studies Programme from Canadian Forces College in Toronto and the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Huntington University.

General Carignan has been invested as Commander of the Order of Military Merit and is the recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Cross. She received the prestigious Gloire de l’Escolle medal which recognizes graduates from Université Laval who have distinguished themselves professionally and in service to their communities. She was recently awarded an honorary doctorate in Business Administration from Université Laval.

General Carignan was promoted to her current rank in July 2024 and appointed as Chief of the Defence Staff.

General Carignan is married and is the mother of four children, two of whom proudly serve in the Canadian Armed Forces.