The Ottawa Board of Trade is launching a new Business Council of Ottawa to advance economic growth in the region, the organization announced Thursday.
“The Business Council of Ottawa will focus on accelerating key growth sectors, aligning priorities across all levels of government, and mobilizing private-sector leadership to drive long-term prosperity for the entire region,” OBOT said in an announcement.
The council is comprised of 10 founding members: Bryce Conrad, president and CEO of Hydro Ottawa Group; Cyril Leeder, president of the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club; Dave Walsh, managing partner of the National Capital Region at KPMG Canada; Devinder Gill, regional president of Ontario North and East at RBC; Mark Goudie, president of Ottawa Sports & Entertainment Group; Susan Margles, CEO of the Ottawa International Airport Authority; Mike Gladstone, vice-president of utility public affairs and communications at Enbridge; Mike McGahan, CEO of CLV Group; OBOT chair Brendan McGuinty; and Hugh Gorman, OBOT vice-chair and CEO of Colonnade BridgePort.
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The council will build on the work of the former CEO council and will reflect best practices from similar chambers in other Canadian cities, the announcement said.
“The National Capital Region is entering a pivotal era. How we act now will define our economic strength, competitiveness, and community well-being for generations. The Ottawa Board of Trade is galvanizing our business community to meet this moment – with vision, evidence, and unity of purpose. We will build a capital that inspires confidence at home, across the country, and around the world,” OBOT said in the announcement.
This announcement comes as OBOT president and CEO Sueling Ching told OBJ on Thursday that Ottawa has finished the year with an unprecedented level of collaboration between the different levels of government and the city’s business community.
“… There’s an acknowledgement that the governments or business can’t do it alone. It must be done together. A pro-growth agenda and business success is the underpinning of creating city services and prosperity for all,” Ching said.
She added that the board of trade will continue to look for “areas of commonality” with key partners in 2026 to advance projects more quickly.
