Gallery: Key To The City presentation honouring Sir Terry Matthews
Sir Terry Matthews receives the Key to the City from Mark Sutcliffe during a presentation honouring Matthews at Brookstreet Hotel, April 7, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.
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Event Date: 04/08/2026 Organizer: Brookstreet Hotel
Sir Terry Matthews was presented with the Key to the City at TechTuesday on April 7. During the event, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe noted the award is the city’s highest honour, given to those who have made exceptional contributions to the nation’s capital or achieved significant international milestones. Sutcliffe noted past recipients from sports, such as Daniel Alfredsson, the arts, such as Paul Anka, and global leaders, such as Queen Elizabeth II. (The key to the city was awarded to her while she was still a princess.)
Sutcliffe asked the audience to imagine Ottawa without Matthews, suggesting the tech sector would be far less successful and Kanata Research Park wouldn’t exist.
During his acceptance speech, Matthews attributed his business success to a “win-win” philosophy of sharing equity with employees, noting that offering “the upside” fosters the intense dedication necessary for rapid growth. The tech icon stated that his track record of starting 200 companies without a single bankruptcy stems from a combination of persistent effort and a calm, “imperturbable” approach to business.
Cyril Leeder of the Ottawa Senators, Sueling Ching of Ottawa Board of Trade, and James Baker of Keynote Search attend the presentation honouring Sir Terry Matthews at Brookstreet Hotel, April 7, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Rod Price of Wesley Clover International, Claire Price of ORBCOMM, Jerry Sparling of Wesley Clover International, Ann Matthews, and Don Smith of Wesley Clover International attend the presentation honouring Sir Terry Matthews at Brookstreet Hotel, April 7, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Ian Spicer of Allmar Inc. and Nyle Kelly of Brookstreet Hotel and The Marshes Golf Club attend the presentation honouring Sir Terry Matthews at Brookstreet Hotel, April 7, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Scott Phelan of the Government of Ontario, Cyril Leeder, and Sir Terry Matthews attend the presentation honouring Matthews at Brookstreet Hotel, April 7, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Bruce Linton and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe attend the presentation honouring Sir Terry Matthews at Brookstreet Hotel, April 7, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Veronica Farmer of Wesley Clover, Sir Terry Matthews, and Sonya Shorey of Invest Ottawa attend the presentation honouring Matthews at Brookstreet Hotel, April 7, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Laura Peck of Transformational Leadership Consultants attend the presentation honouring Sir Terry Matthews at Brookstreet Hotel, April 7, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Kanata South Coun. Allan Hubley, former deputy mayor of Ottawa Eli El-Chantiry, Wadah Al-Ghosen of Vertex Team Royal LePage, and Sir Terry Matthews attend the presentation honouring Matthews at Brookstreet Hotel, April 7, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.MPP Karen McCrimmon, Sir Terry Matthews, Kanata North Coun. Cathy Curry, Kanata MP Jenna Sudds, and Claude Haw of Mindtrust Leadership attend the presentation honouring Matthews at the Brookstreet Hotel, April 7, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Sir Terry Matthews, second from left and seated with family members and politicians Karen McCrimmon and Jenna Sudds, listens as Mayor Mark Sutcliffe introduces him before presenting the Key to the City at Brookstreet Hotel, April 7, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.Sir Terry Matthews speaks to attendees during the presentation honouring him at Brookstreet Hotel, April 7, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson for OBJ.
