After two-plus decades steering one of Ottawa’s leading convention centres through major redevelopments, technological revolutions and more than one economic crisis, Dan Young is ready for the slower pace of retirement.
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After two-plus decades steering one of Ottawa’s leading convention centres through major redevelopments, technological revolutions and more than one economic crisis, Dan Young is ready for the slower pace of retirement.
Earlier this week, the current vice-president, chief financial officer and chief operating officer of Rogers Centre Ottawa announced he will officially be stepping down in November after 24 years.
In an interview with OBJ, he said his time with the organization started with a gamble.
Early in his professional life, Young held various accounting roles in the hospitality and events industry, starting his career with a coffee chain before moving into trade shows, followed by a stint with a local bakery. He later spent some time working as an accountant in the real estate industry.
But in 2002, he got word that major changes were coming to a major Ottawa event space, and he wanted to be involved.
“I took the calculated risk and a significant pay decrease for my first position here to join the (downtown convention) centre, because at the time there was talk of redevelopment, and I really wanted to be part of that,” Young told OBJ. “That was really the motivator for me to get involved.”
Young said the process involved co-ordinating with three levels of government, as well as Parks Canada, the Department of National Defence, the National Capital Commission and UNESCO. At the same time, he was driving the business plan and financial model, while repositioning the venue to taxpayers, touting it as a potentially significant economic driver for the city.
“There was a lot of thinking outside the box on how we were actually going to make this convention centre work and be successful,” he said. “It was really the measurement of what was that public impact? What was going to be the benefit to the city? How many jobs would it create? What taxes would it create?”
The venue reopened as the Ottawa Convention Centre in 2011, and was rebranded as the Shaw Centre in 2014, before it took on its current name in 2024. While the process wasn’t easy, Young said it’s one of the proudest accomplishments of his career.
“I would say the experience of going through the redevelopment, it was a crazy time,” he said. “It was a stressful time, but all these years later I look back with such fondness of what we accomplished, and all the good times that we actually had during the process.”
Over the course of his tenure, Young also helped the organization weather technological transformations, from cyberthreats to the rise of artificial intelligence.
During the pandemic, when in-person events were cancelled and later allowed but with limited capacity, Young was responsible for negotiating financial assistance from the various levels of government and ensuring the venue’s survival through the worst of the crisis.
“I had to figure out how we were going to become a going concern, how we were actually going to pay the bills,” he said.
Still, he said the challenges were a highlight.
“Every production is basically about having to make decisions quickly,” he said. “That kind of high-paced, fast-paced, high-energy environment is what I enjoy, and it’s kind of why I stayed here for so long.”
In a news release about his retirement, the organization said Young’s “thoughtful leadership” has strengthened its relationships with stakeholders and increased the facility’s profitability and long-term stability. In addition to developing a long-term capital asset plan, Young also helped the centre earn global recognition — it was named the World’s Best Convention Centre in 2020 based on customer feedback.
“Dan has been a cornerstone of this organization,” said president and CEO Lesley Pincombe in the release. “His leadership, integrity, and deep institutional knowledge have left an indelible mark on the Rogers Centre Ottawa. His contributions have helped define who we are today and will continue to influence our future for years to come.”
As he steps away to enjoy more leisure time with his family and friends, Young said he’s leaving the organization in good hands.
“For my colleagues, the future is pretty bright,” he said. “They’ve really re-established themselves. People want to meet in person. People want to go to conventions. The future looks really bright, certainly for the (Rogers Centre Ottawa) and probably for the convention centre business as a whole.”
