My Ottawa: Kathryn Tremblay on the CEOs she most admires and how she warms up in winter

With fall right around the corner, Kathryn Tremblay is looking forward to cool evening strolls and harvesting tomatoes from her vegetable garden at her home in central Ottawa. Much like the leaves, life is changing for Tremblay, who recently took on the new role of co-founder and owner of Altis Recruitment & Technology after appointing a new CEO to guide the company to the next level. She told OBJ at that time that her new role will allow her to focus on the work she does best—like employee engagement, leadership development, and DEI initiatives—while freeing up more time to spend with her family. In this instalment of My Ottawa, Tremblay discusses her favourite places to eat, where she shops in the ByWard Market, why she loves the Rainbow Bistro, and her support for local charities like Christie Lake Kids.

What area of the city/region do you live in? 

I live in central Ottawa.

What type of home do you have (condo, house, etc.)?

I live in a house and love my vegetable garden, pool and the nearby areas to walk in. What type of pet do you have?  I have two amazing dogs. The first is Jettson, a 10-year-old Bernedoodle. He’s battling cancer but hanging in there and showing his usual affection. Our second dog is my daughter’s three-year-old shih-poo, Malibu.

What’s your favourite part of town? 

I enjoy the ByWard Market – the small shops, dining and walkability.

What is your favourite place to eat in Ottawa? 

I have several favourites: Coconut Lagoon (salmon curry, homemade naan), Giovanni’s (fried zucchini sticks, tortellini panna) and Play Wine & Food. For in-home yummies, my favourite is Jacobsons for cheese and cured meats with fresh breads.

What is your favourite activity in Ottawa? 

I’m a walker and love strolling in parks, along the canal, around Lansdowne, in the Glebe, Westboro, by the river … walking the city is the best!

What’s your favourite hobby?  

I’m a huge fan of yoga, reformer pilates and looking at local art.

What’s your favourite local charity or cause?  

Christie Lake Kids is one of my top charities because it makes such a difference to disadvantaged children and youth. I also appreciate the work of the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and all the support it provides for emotional wellness.

What’s your favourite festival? 

Winterlude is the best. Skating the canal is so unique and it was sad to see that it didn’t open last year. For me, the BeaverTails and hot chocolate make the cold entirely bearable.

If you were to play tour guide for a first-time visitor to Ottawa for a day, where would you take them? 

I do this often and like to take guests on a driving/walking tour throughout the downtown area and into Gatineau. I tell stories of the region – mostly accurate!

What’s your favourite retailer in Ottawa?  

I’m a long-time fan of Zone, a boutique in the ByWard Market that sells kitchen wares and knick-knacks.

What’s your favourite live music or entertainment venue? 

The Rainbow Bistro, of course. Years ago, I started our business from an apartment right across the street and remember the live music that blared from the Rainbow most evenings, keeping me company on late work nights.

What type of music do you listen to?  

I don’t have well-defined music tastes, so I tend to listen to whatever my four daughters listen to, which can be quite eclectic. If I had to choose music just for me, it would be Andrea Bocelli and musical theatre.

Where do you get your hair cut?  

HeadQuarters Salon in the Market. Not only is Sammy great, but they also serve eggs, toast and cappuccinos during my haircuts. What’s not to like!?

What’s your favourite weekend outing to do with family or friends? 

I like having friends over for a swim and a simple meal or asking them to join me to do puzzles (300-500 pieces, no 1000-piece puzzles for me!) and play games at the cottage (currently a fan of Codenames).

What Ottawa personality, past or present, do you admire? 

I’m a fan of local CEOs who make a difference in the Ottawa-Gatineau area. I’m thinking of Kevin Ford (Calian), Martin Paquette (Groupe Nordik), Debbie Weinstein (LaBarge Weinstein) and other greats who boost employment and innovation in the region.

If you took a staycation in Ottawa, what would you do?  

I’d go for long walks with my dogs, enjoy my favourite restaurants (Giovanni’s and Coconut Lagoon), hang out with my parents in Orleans, and possibly get to the Nordik Spa-Nature to enjoy the heated tubs (no cold plunges for me!).

What’s your favourite business event or conference in Ottawa? 

I’m a member and fan of the Ottawa Board of Trade and I appreciate the Mayor’s Breakfast series – love getting to hear from local leaders.

What’s your favourite thing to do in Ottawa to pamper or treat yourself? 

I’m happy to get out for breakfast (Elgin Street Diner remains a 20-year fave), drink too many coffees, hunt for books at Indigo, drive around the region and look at architecture (both commercial and residential) and enjoy cheeses from Jacobsons.

What local business or attraction do you think is one of Ottawa’s best-kept secrets?

Schad Boutique on Sussex has unique pieces of women’s clothing – a bit unexpected, colourful and on-trend. Walking along Sussex is always beautiful and a stop at Schad is awesome.

What’s your favourite season to spend in Ottawa? 

Fall is a terrific time in Ottawa, with warm days and cooler evenings making it ideal to head out for a stroll. I also love seeing my garden come to fruition, especially when I can harvest my tomatoes. Bottling tomatoes makes for great cooking all year.

What’s your favourite thing about Ottawa? 

It’s too hard to choose just one. I truly appreciate how unique our architecture is, some historic and some new, and our many neighbourhoods — from Ottawa South and the Glebe to Hintonburg, Westboro, Sandy Hill and others. There are always new areas to stroll through and discover. I’m also grateful to live in such a multicultural city and appreciate the influence of newcomers on everything from business and innovation to music, art, food and more. Then there are the many learning opportunities we have thanks to our excellent universities and colleges and our renowned hospitals and health-care facilities. Ottawa has it all.