News

Introduction and Purpose

Founded in 1903, the Canadian Club of Ottawa (CCO) has played a central role in convening national conversations at the heart of Canada’s political capital. For more than a century, the Club has provided a respected, non-partisan forum where elected officials, public servants, business leaders and civil society engage on issues of national importance.

As the CCO approaches its 125th anniversary in 2028, the Club is implementing a three-year modernization plan to strengthen engagement, accessibility, visibility and relevance while honouring its legacy.

A redesigned website will support that plan by improving how audiences discover events, explore past conversations and learn about the Club’s history, membership and sponsorship opportunities.

The Club is seeking a practical, well-executed website that incorporates its refreshed visual identity and can be maintained easily by Club staff.

Scope of Work

The selected proponent will provide:

• A redesigned website incorporating the Club’s refreshed brand identity, built on a content management system our team can update without developer support. 
• Core pages, including Home, About/History, Upcoming Events, Past Events/Archive, Membership, Sponsorship and Contact;
• An events listing with registration/ticketing integration or clear links to the Club’s existing ticketing platform;
• A fully mobile-responsive design;
• Support for migrating existing content from the current website; and
• Basic SEO setup and analytics integration.

Proponents should describe their approach to accessibility, testing, launch and staff handover. They should identify the amount of content migration included, the Club’s responsibilities and any ongoing hosting, platform, licensing or maintenance costs.

The Club is seeking an efficient, reliable website. Proponents should recommend the most effective scope of deliverables and implementation approach.

Separate Brand Refresh RFP

The Club is also issuing a separate Request for Proposals for a logo redesign and brand visibility refresh.

Proponents may bid on either project or both. Those bidding on both may submit a coordinated proposal, but must provide separate scopes, timelines and itemized fixed prices for each project.

The Club may award or schedule the projects independently. The website designer will be expected to coordinate with the selected brand designer and incorporate the approved logo and brand guidelines.

Website planning may proceed while the brand work is underway. Final visual design should follow approval of the refreshed identity.

Qualifications and Proposal Requirements

Proponents should demonstrate strong experience in website design and development. Experience with nonprofit, membership-based or civic and cultural organizations is preferred but not required.

Proposals should include:

• A brief professional profile;
• Relevant experience and a portfolio of comparable websites;
• The proposed approach and process, including the recommended content management system and how the Club will participate;
• Expected timeline covering planning, brand coordination, content migration, development, testing and launch;
• An itemized fixed price;
• Any assumptions, limitations, recurring fees or optional costs; and
• Two relevant references.

Optional services must be clearly identified and priced separately. As a not-for-profit organization, the Club welcomes nonprofit discounts, in-kind contributions and phased-payment options.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Quality, relevance and craft of previous work;
• Understanding of the Club’s mission, history and audience;
• Usability and ease of ongoing staff updates;
• Practicality of the proposed approach and realism of the timeline;
• Value and cost-effectiveness;
• Professionalism and reliability; and
• Fit with the Club’s three-year modernization plan and its milestone 125th anniversary in 2028.
• Timeline and Implementation

The anticipated schedule is:

• Submission deadline: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
• Target selection: By mid-November 2026
• Discovery, website structure and content planning: November–December 2026
• Website design: Following approval of the refreshed visual identity, anticipated in Q1 2027
• Development and content migration: March–May 2027
• Testing, staff training and target launch: June 2027

Proponents should recommend a realistic schedule and identify dependencies, including the availability of approved brand assets, content and Club feedback.

The Club’s goal is to have the redesigned website operational ahead of the 2027–2028 season, beginning in Fall 2027.

Development may take place behind the scenes during the current season, but must minimize disruption to event promotion, registration and other Club activities. The existing website must remain operational until its replacement has been tested and approved for launch.

The selected proponent will coordinate directly with the Vice President of Operations and Communications and the Club Administrator. The Board meets monthly, and reviews will be scheduled at appropriate project milestones.

Submission

Proposals must be submitted electronically by Wednesday, October 21, 2026, to:

Bryan Detchou, VP, Operations and Communications: admin@canadianclubottawa.ca

Introduction and Purpose

Founded in 1903, the Canadian Club of Ottawa (CCO) has played a central role in convening national conversations at the heart of Canada’s political capital. For more than a century, the Club has provided a respected, non-partisan forum where elected officials, public servants, business leaders and civil society engage on issues of national importance.

As the CCO approaches its 125th anniversary in 2028, Ottawa’s policy ecosystem is evolving, audiences are changing, and expectations around engagement, accessibility and relevance have shifted. The Club’s Board of Directors has adopted a three-year modernization plan to ensure the Club continues to thrive while honouring its legacy.

This brand visibility refresh is a foundational pillar of that plan. A modernized logo and practical brand guidelines will strengthen how the Club presents itself across every touchpoint, from the podium to the inbox to the website.

The goal is to strengthen and modernize how the CCO’s established mission is presented. The refreshed identity should preserve the Club’s history, carry its legacy forward and serve it for the next 100-plus years.

Scope of Work

The selected proponent will provide:

• A refreshed primary logo, informed by the Club’s history and current positioning, plus a secondary mark or icon if appropriate;
• Logo variations in full colour, single colour and reversed/white, in horizontal and stacked lockups;
• Print-ready and web-ready files: AI/EPS/SVG, PNG/JPG and PDF;
• A concise brand guidelines document covering logo usage and clear space, colour palette with HEX/CMYK/RGB values, typography, imagery and photography style, and clear dos and don’ts; and
• A small set of application mock-ups showing the refreshed identity in use, for example, letterhead, event signage or name badges, a social media template, an email signature and a PowerPoint/Keynote template.

The Club is seeking a practical, well-executed identity refresh. Proponents should recommend an efficient scope and process, clearly identifying the application mock-ups included in their proposal.

Separate Website Redesign RFP

The Club is also issuing a separate Request for Proposals for a website redesign.

Proponents may bid on either project or both. Those bidding on both may submit a coordinated proposal, but must provide separate scopes, timelines and itemized fixed prices for each project.

The Club may award or schedule the projects independently. The selected brand designer will be expected to provide approved files and guidelines and coordinate with the website designer as required.

Qualifications and Proposal Requirements

Proponents should demonstrate strong experience in logo and brand identity design. Experience with nonprofit, membership-based or civic and cultural organizations is preferred but not required.

Proposals should include:

• A brief professional profile;
• Relevant experience and a portfolio of comparable work;
• The proposed creative approach and process, including how the Club will participate in discovery, concept review and revision rounds;
• Expected timeline and turnaround;
• An itemized fixed price;
• Any assumptions, limitations or optional costs; and
• Two relevant references.

Optional deliverables must be clearly identified and priced separately. As a not-for-profit organization, the Club welcomes nonprofit discounts, in-kind contributions and phased-payment options.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Quality, relevance and craft of previous work;
• Understanding of the Club’s mission, history and audience;
• Practicality of the proposed approach and realism of the timeline;
• Value and cost-effectiveness;
• Professionalism and reliability; and
• Fit with the Club’s three-year modernization plan and its milestone 125th anniversary in 2028.

Timeline

• Submission deadline: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
• Board selects a proponent by: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
• Preliminary coordination with the VP, Operations and Communications: Early November 2026
• Ideation session and/or presentation of initial concepts to the Board: Thursday, November 19, 2026
• Target project completion: Q1 2027

The selected proponent will coordinate directly with the Vice President of Operations and Communications, who will lead the project on the Club’s behalf.

The Board meets monthly, so its meeting cadence will influence the timing of reviews and approvals.

Submission

Proposals must be submitted electronically by Wednesday, October 21, 2026, to:

Bryan Detchou, VP, Operations and Communications, admin@canadianclubottawa.ca

 The Canadian Club of Ottawa launched its 2026–2027 season on September 22 with a keynote address by the Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence.

A full room gathered at the Fairmont Château Laurier for a thoughtful and substantive address on Canada’s defence priorities, the country’s industrial capacity, and the important role Canadian companies and innovators can play in strengthening Canada’s defence capabilities.

The Minister was joined at the head table by:

• Christyn Cianfarani, President and CEO, Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries)
• Chris Pogue, President, Defence and Space, Calian
• Brian Campbell, Executive Vice-President, Business Development, Evertz
• Muhammad Ali, President, Canadian Club of Ottawa and and Partner, Crestview Strategy
• Alastair Mullin, Vice-President, Programming, Canadian Club of Ottawa and Chief of Staff and Director, Government Relations, Carleton University.
• Heather Meek, Vice-President, Sponsorship, Canadian Club of Ottawa and Partner, Consulting, PwC Canada

Thank you to our event sponsors, Calian and Evertz, for helping make this important conversation possible. We are also grateful to our 2026–2027 season sponsors, Deloitte, PwC Canada, Welch LLP and RBC, for their continued support.

The event also marked the beginning of our partnership with iSiLIVE, the Canadian Club of Ottawa’s new official broadcast and audiovisual partner.

View the event photos (Photography by Fred Chartrand). 

The Canadian Club of Ottawa is pleased to welcome five new members to its Board of Directors for the 2026–2027 season.

Our new directors bring extensive experience spanning public affairs, government relations, public policy, research, strategic communications and organizational leadership:

• Laura D’Angelo, Vice President of National Strategy & Public Affairs at Enterprise Canada.
• Matthew Don Trapp, Director of Government Relations at Fertilizer Canada.
• Michael Gullo, Vice President, Policy at the Business Council of Canada.
• Oksana Kishchuk, Vice President, Insights at Abacus Data.
• Robyn Osgood, CEO of Vantage Canada. 

Each brings valuable expertise, perspective and energy to the Club’s leadership. Together with our returning directors, they will help guide the Canadian Club of Ottawa as we continue to provide a trusted, non-partisan forum for thoughtful conversations about the issues shaping Canada.

We look forward to working with Laura, Matthew, Michael, Oksana and Robyn as we prepare for another engaging season of programming.

See the full 2026-2027 Board slate. 

The Canadian Club of Ottawa is pleased to announce its 2026–2027 Board of Directors and Executive.

As one of Ottawa’s longest-standing public affairs institutions, the Canadian Club of Ottawa has been a forum for national conversations, civic dialogue and public leadership for 123 years. Since its earliest days, the Club has brought together leaders, decision-makers and engaged citizens to discuss the issues shaping Canada.

That legacy is carried forward each year by a dedicated volunteer Board.

The Canadian Club of Ottawa is a volunteer-led organization. Its success depends on the leadership, commitment, experience and connections of its Board members, who give their time to help guide the Club, strengthen its programming, support its partnerships and ensure it remains a respected platform for thoughtful public conversation.

The Club is pleased to congratulate its 2026–2027 Executive:

• Muhammad Ali, President
• Chris Meyers, Treasurer
• Danielle McGee, Corporate Secretary
• Bryan Detchou, Vice-President, Operations and Communications
• Heather Meek, Vice-President, Sponsorship
• Alastair Mullin, Vice-President, Programming
  
• Jennifer Cross, Immediate Past-President

The Club also congratulates its 2026–2027 Directors:

• Alla Drigola Birk
• Andrew Bisson
• Mary Anne Carter
• Shannon Lundquist
• Aweis Osman
• Brian St. Louis
  

This year also marks a moment to recognize the leadership of Jennifer Cross, who moves into the role of Immediate Past-President after leading the Club through one of its most successful years in recent history.

Jennifer’s tenure helped strengthen the Club’s role as one of Ottawa’s premier public affairs platforms. Under her leadership, the Club continued to host timely, relevant and high-profile conversations that brought together leaders from government, business, civil society and the broader community.

In many ways, Jennifer follows in a long tradition of leaders who have left their mark on the Club. William Lyon Mackenzie King, one of the Club’s founding members, became President of the Canadian Club of Ottawa in 1904 before later serving as Canada’s 10th Prime Minister. More than a century later, each Board continues to carry forward the same spirit of civic engagement, national conversation and public service.

The Club also extends sincere thanks to  Geoff Turner and Bruce Raganold who have completed their service on the Board. Their time, guidance and commitment have helped strengthen the Club and support its mission.

As the Canadian Club of Ottawa enters its 2026–2027 season, the Board will continue to play a critical role in shaping the Club’s future while honouring its history. For 123 years, the Club has created space for ideas, leadership and dialogue. Thanks to the dedication of its volunteer Board, that important work continues.

On April 23, leaders from government, industry, and the business community gathered at the Fairmont Château Laurier for a luncheon discussion on one of the most consequential issues shaping Canada’s economic future: critical minerals.

The event opened with remarks from Claude Guay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, who set the stage for a conversation grounded in both opportunity and urgency.

This was followed by a keynote address from Shaun Usmar, CEO of Vale Base Metals, who offered a global perspective on the evolving role of critical minerals in today’s economy. As demand accelerates and supply chains continue to shift, the discussion underscored the importance of positioning Canada as a reliable and competitive supplier.

The program concluded with a fireside chat featuring Candace Laing, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which brought a broader business lens to the conversation. The discussion touched on the conditions needed to support investment, strengthen supply chains, and ensure Canada remains competitive in a rapidly changing global landscape.

Across the program, a common theme emerged: Canada is well-positioned, but realizing that potential will require coordination, clarity, and sustained focus.

Thank you to all those who joined us for this important conversation, and to Vale Base Metals for their support.

View the event livestream recording.

View all photos in Google drive.  

The Canadian Club of Ottawa welcomed a full room on March 31 at the Fairmont Château Laurier for Canada’s Will to Win | A Culture of Ambition, a timely discussion on the country’s economic and energy future.

The event featured a keynote address by François Poirier, President and CEO of TC Energy, who spoke to the need for a renewed culture of ambition in Canada—one grounded in clear decision-making, stronger alignment, and the ability to deliver major projects with confidence. Drawing on TC Energy’s 75-year legacy and lessons from some of the country’s most significant nation-building efforts, he outlined a path forward focused on unlocking Canada’s full economic potential.

The conversation continued with a fireside chat between Poirier and Harry Culham, President and CEO of CIBC, bringing together two of Canada’s top CEOs for a candid discussion on investment, competitiveness, and the role of leadership in driving progress. Together, they explored how governments, industry, and Indigenous partners can work more effectively to move projects forward and create the conditions for long-term growth.

The event underscored the importance of ambition—not just as an idea, but as a practical approach to strengthening Canada’s position in a rapidly evolving global economy.

Thank you to our speakers and to everyone who joined us for this important discussion.

View the event livestream recording.

View all photos in Google drive.  

Thank you to everyone who joined us on March 23, 2026 for Arctic Neighbours: Advancing Canada’s Defence Export Potential Together.

Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab, spoke about the shared strengths of Canada and Sweden and why our countries are natural partners in advancing innovation, security, and defence. The conversation continued with a fireside chat led by Graham Richardson, Ottawa Bureau Chief for CTV.

A big thank you to Saab for making this event possible as well as to all our season sponsors (Deloitte, PWC, Welch LLP, RBC and The Hill Times) for their generous support. 

See a few highlights below or visit view all the photos in Google Drive.