Free Online Speaker Series
As part of our commitment to our Mission statement, the CCCO is hosting a quarterly speaker series to offer members, and the public interested in our organization, the opportunity to learn about the symbolic and substantive role of the Capitals.
There is no cost or fee to attend, you simply need to register at secretariat@ccco-occ.ca
Night Matters: The Nighttime Economy in Capital Cities
Date: March 23, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. (PDT) / 12:00 p.m. (EDT)
Format: Virtual session
Kurt Tittlemier, Winnipeg (Nuit Blanche)
Mélanie Brulée, Ottawa Music Industry Coalition / Capital Music Week (CxMW)
Travis Van Wyck, Toronto (Project Manager, Night Economy)
- The mandate and governance role of Night Commissioners
- Cross-department coordination between culture, safety, licensing, transportation, and economic development
- The cultural and economic impact of large-scale night programming
- Music ecosystem advocacy and regulatory reform
- Tourism strategy and visitor economy implications
- Lessons emerging from Canadian capital cities
Accessible Housing in Canada’s Capital Cities
Date: February 25, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. (PDT) / 12:00 p.m. (EDT)
Format: Virtual session
Join the Canadian Capital Cities Organization for the next session in its quarterly Speaker Series. In collaboration with OCASI (Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants), this discussion will examine how housing systems and municipal policy frameworks are shaping newcomer experiences in Canada’s capital cities.
The panel will explore:
- Barriers to accessible housing for newcomers
- The unique realities facing LGBTQIA+ refugees
- Municipal policy levers and intergovernmental coordination
- Service system challenges and opportunities for cross-sector collaboration
This session is designed for municipal staff, elected officials, policymakers, housing practitioners, settlement agencies, and community leaders working at the intersection of housing and newcomer support.
Speakers
Panellists include OCASI leaders and policy experts from the housing and settlement fields. We are featuring representatives with expertise in accessibility policy, refugee settlement services, and municipal housing systems.
Registration
To register, please visit: https://shorturl.at/91vYY
For additional information, you may contact:
Erin McDonald
Secretariat
secretariat@ccco-occ.ca
If you require accessibility accommodations, please email the Secretariat for support.
The Speaker Series: Ecological Leadership Across Canada was held on Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Thank you to the panelists for their presentations :
– National Capital Commission – Promoting Healthy Ecosystems in the National Capital Region
– City of Fredericton – From seed to canopy: Cultivating a Greener Future in a Net Zero Greenhouse
– Canadian Wildlife Federation – Supporting our local and migratory wildlife
Session held on December 6, 2023
Thank you to Erin McDonald, MBA candidate and CCCO Treasurer, and to Tzadeka, artist, facilitator and community advocate for their presentations on unifying power of arts, culture, and heritage.
The recording of the presentation is available by clicking on this link.
(please note that the video might take a minute or two to download).
Thank you also to all participants for providing their insights during the presentations.
Session held on November 3, 2022
The session focused on the impact of Legislatures in our Capital Cities
The panelists discussed youth engagement, the local economy and lifestyles along with their role in ceremonial events.
The recording of the presentation is available by clicking on this link.
(please note that the video might take a minute or two to download)
Thank you to our panelists:
- Erin MacDonald, Programming Manager, Legislative Assembly of Alberta;
- Her Worship Kate Rogers, Mayor of Fredericton, NB;
- Jason Quilliam, Saskatchewan Chief of Protocol, Regina, SK.
Session held on May 31 2022
The presentations featured the role of Capital Cities in Heritage.
The panelists discussed Heritage in our Capitals with presentations on reframing heritage designation, first nations perspective on heritage and safeguarding local knowledge.
The recording of the presentation is available by clicking on this link.
(please note that the video will take a minute or two to download)
Thank you to our panelists:
Heather Thomson, MCIP RPP, National Capital Commission Heritage Program Manager, Ottawa, ON
Jackie Albany, Councillor, Songhees Nation, Victoria, BC.
Dale Jarvis, Folklorist and Heritage NL Executive Director, St. John’s NL
Fourth Session held on March 16 2022
The presentations featured the role of Capital Cities in Placemaking.
The panelists discussed placemaking through the lens of long-term planning, Indigenous Place-Naming, and making good cities great.
The recording of the presentation is available by clicking on this link.
(please note that the video will take a minute or two to download)
Thank you to our panelists:
Aaron Barter | Director, Innovation and Sustainability, Waterfront Toronto – Toronto, ON
Rob Houle | First Nations Indigenous Adviser to the Geographical Names Board of Canada – Edmonton, AB
Trevor McIntyre | Global Director for Placemaking, IBI Group, Canadian Society of Landscape Architects – Toronto, ON
Third Session Held November 23, 2021
The presentations featured the role of the provincial governments in Remembrance, the Capital Cities opportunities of involvement with the Royal Canadian Legion and the importance of continued commemorative events for remembrance.
The panelists also provided insight on how to educate and engage youth in the recognition of the contribution and ultimate sacrifice of Canadian veterans, on initiatives and activities by communities to keep in touch and connect with veterans along with examples of events and activities throughout the year to commemorate and acknowledge their service.
The recording of the presentation is available by clicking on this link.
Thank you to our panelists:
- Gregory Lawrence, MLA for Moose Jaw Wakamow and Military Liaison
Government of Sasktachewan - Freeman D. Chute, Director – Poppy & Remembrance Division
The Royal Canadian Legion National Division - Jo Riding, Executive Director
Canadian Tulip Festival
Second Session Held June 15, 2021
The presentations offered pathways to reconciliation through the lens of economic development, events, and collaborative administration with First Nations Governments.
The recording of the presentation is available by clicking on this link.
Thank you to our panelists:
- Christina Clarke | CEO of the Songhees Development Corporation – Victoria, BC
- Mike Gau | Director Development Services – City of Whitehorse, YT
- Brendon Smithson | North American Indigenous Games Host Society – Halifax, NS
First Session Held April 13, 2021
The panelists provided us with insight on the challenges facing the tourism industry and our capital cities during the COVID pandemic. Their presentations provided means of recovering from COVID exhaustion, the importance of partnerships along with the opportunities of sport tourism and the economic benefits of promoting tourism in your own hometown.
You can obtain the recording of the presentation by clicking on this link.
Thank you to our panelists:
- Catherine Callary, VP of Destination Development, Tourism Ottawa, ON
- Paul Nursey, Chief Executive Officer, Destination Greater Victoria, BC
- Wayne Long, Events Development Officer, City of Charlottetown, PE