Jacquelyn West (Byward Market District Authority), Jerome Glad (Belleville Place Making), Victoria Williston (Byward Market District Authority) and Jeanne Matthiss (Byward Market District Authority) celebrating Victoria being named new executive director of the BMDA, at the cocktail reception, 2026 City Building Summit, Rogers Centre Ottawa, April 28, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.
The City Building Summit brought together policymakers, business leaders, and community advocates for a full-day forum focused on the future of Canada’s Capital Region.
With a theme of “Capital 200: Owning Our Future,” the 2026 annual event featured some of Canada’s key political leaders, including Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon, Minister of National Defence David McGuinty, and many notable business leaders. Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe outlined the city’s progress on several key files including housing, public safety and transportation.
Panel discussions focused on AI adoption, local development projects, urban planning issues faced by global capital cities, the economic opportunity around the defence and security sector, and energy infrastructure.
John Liptak (Oakwood Designers and Builders) with Caroline Andrews (Engel & Völkers Ottawa) at the 2026 City Building Summit cocktail reception, Rogers Centre Ottawa, April 28, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Jamie Hurst (City of Ottawa) with Erin Benjamin (Ottawa Board of Trade) at the 2026 City Building Summit cocktail reception, Rogers Centre Ottawa, April 28, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Peter English (Real Strategy Advisors) networking at the 2026 City Building Summit cocktail reception, Rogers Centre Ottawa, April 28, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Krista Kealy (Ottawa International Airport Authority) and Lesley Pincombe (Rogers Centre) at the 2026 City Building Summit cocktail reception, Rogers Centre Ottawa, April 28, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Michael Curran (Ottawa Business Journal) and local artist falldowng in front of his interactive art display at the 2026 City Building Summit cocktail reception, Rogers Centre Ottawa, April 28, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Amrita Sohal (Ottawa Real Estate Board), Wei-Ling Tan (OREB), Chike Agbasi (OREB), Tami Eades (OREB) and Ian Hassell (OREB) at the 2026 City Building Summit cocktail reception, Rogers Centre Ottawa, April 28, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Kevin McHale (Downtown BIA) networking at the 2026 City Building Summit cocktail reception, Rogers Centre Ottawa, April 28, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Steve Ball (Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association), Julie Kinnear (Casino Lac Leamy) and Nyle Kelly (Brookstreet Hotel and the Marshes) at the 2026 City Building Summit cocktail reception, Rogers Centre Ottawa, April 28, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Chris Brennan (Enbridge Gas Inc), Rose Caddy Nwaha (Rocaderm Clinic) and Adam Halawa (Youth Ottawa) at the 2026 City Building Summit cocktail reception, Rogers Centre Ottawa, April 28, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Joshua Shaw (Ottawa Humane Society) and Jordan Freed (Kongsberg Geospatial) at the 2026 City Building Summit cocktail reception, Rogers Centre Ottawa, April 28, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Tara Shannon (Ottawa Festival Network/Singer/Songwriter) taking part in the live art activity at the 2026 City Building Summit cocktail reception, Rogers Centre Ottawa, April 28, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.
