Ottawa Construction News staff writer
The Ottawa Board of Trade (OBOT) will host the Ottawa Infrastructure Forum on Sept. 15, bringing together industry, government, and community leaders to discuss the critical systems needed to support the capital region’s rapid expansion.
“Ottawa is growing, and the infrastructure decisions we make now will shape our economic strength for decades to come,” the OBOT stated in its event announcement. “Transportation, housing, placemaking and economic development must be planned together if Ottawa is to realize its full potential.”
The half-day event aims to examine the investments, partnerships, and policy decisions required to support the National Capital Region’s long-term competitiveness. The discussions will be split across three core pillars:
- Delivering the housing and enabling infrastructure the region needs.
- Building transportation systems that support urban mobility and economic growth.
- Creating vibrant communities and destinations through placemaking.
The forum will feature panel discussions with key figures in the local construction, transit, and development sectors.
The urban mobility panel will include Ron Tomlinson, CEO of Tomlinson Group; Rick Leary, general manager of OC Transpo; and Stephanie McNeely, associate principal at Arup.
A dedicated panel on housing and growth-enabling infrastructure will feature Jason Burggraaf, executive director of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA); Hugh Gorman, CEO of Colonnade BridgePort; Michelle Taggart, president of Tamarack Homes and Tartan Homes; and Chris MacKinnon, vice-president of Rohit Group.
The final panel on placemaking will include Tobi Nussbaum, CEO of the National Capital Commission, and Mark Goudie, president and CEO of the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, among other community leaders.
The event’s anchor sponsors include Dentons and Syntax Strategic. Builder sponsors are Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) and Collège La Cité. Cornerstone sponsors include Architects DCA, BDO, Taggart Group of Companies, and Urbandale Corporation, while Mainspring Agency is serving as the photography and videography sponsor.
The Ottawa Infrastructure Forum 2026 runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Registration details and tickets are available through the OBOT’s website.
