Event Date: 09/24/2026
Organizer: Acart Communications
Celebrating half a century of creative success, Acart Communications marked its 50th anniversary alongside VIP guests and longtime supporters on Sept. 24, 2026, at the Westin Ottawa’s TwentyTwo event space.
Guests arrived to mingle over cocktails and appetizers before the evening kicked off with opening remarks from Andrew McWiggan, president and CEO of Acart. Reflecting the evening’s theme, “Unstoppable Since ’76,” McWiggan touched on the company’s resilience through the continuous reinvention of its capabilities, talent and business model, then welcomed founder Al Albania, who spoke to the legacy and community the team has built over its five decades.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe also took the stage to recognize the milestone and present the company with an official mayoral proclamation honouring Acart’s 50th anniversary.
“Lots of businesses come and go. Lots of businesses don’t survive that transition, so it’s really a testament to what Al built and what Andrew continues to build. Just think about how much has changed in the media industry since 1976,” said Mayor Sutcliffe. “When your business is driven by great customer service, when your business is driven by developing your employees, when your business is driven by strong values and ethics – the world can be changing around you, but there will always be a place for you.”
Standout members of the Acart team – Kevin Scannell, James Thibault, Leslie Stewart, Avdo Nalic and Lynn Norris – were also recognized with awards for their longstanding contributions to shaping the company and delivering exceptional service to its clients.
The festivities wrapped up as guests raised their glasses for a sparkling toast, paying tribute to the agency’s decades of commitment to Ottawa’s business community and looking ahead to the next 50 years.
As McWiggan put it: “Acart’s story isn’t that it lasted 50 years. It’s that it kept earning the right to matter.”
