Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1542608
tice. The experience in Ottawa will be complemented by host-city supported receptions and local partner venues including Rogers Centre Ottawa and Fairmont Château Laurier. "ASAE is thrilled to bring the 2026 Executive Leadership Forum to Ottawa, a city that truly reflects the forward-thinking mindset of our association commu- nity," said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. "This year's Forum will immerse execu- tive leaders in a highly interactive environment designed to spark new ideas, deepen connections, and equip them with practical approaches to the complex issues facing their organizations. Our collaboration with Destination Canada continues to elevate this experience, and Ottawa offers an inspiring back- drop for meaningful con- versations and actionable insights." "Ottawa is a natural fit for the Executive Leadership Forum and the association leaders who shape policy, inno- vation, and professional com- munities across North America," said Stephanie Seguin, Vice President, Sales, Business & Major Events, Ottawa Tourism. "As a G7 cap- ital with a compact, walkable downtown and a strong con- centration of national associa- tions, Ottawa offers a boutique experience at city scale. ELF's theme of 'Leading with Audacity' reflects the way our partners are reimagining meetings and events here, and we look for- ward to showcasing the city's ideas, venues, and people to this influential audience." Ottawa was selected as the next Canadian host city as part of ASAE's partnership with Destination Canada, which B M & T ••• January/February 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 6 IN THE NEWS ASAE'S 2026 EXECUTIVE LEADER- SHIP FORUM TO MEET IN OTTAWA, CANADA'S CAPITAL Ottawa Tourism will host ASAE's 2026 Executive Leadership Forum (ELF) in Canada's capital from June 28 to 30, 2026. The program will bring together approximately 100 to 150 association CEOs and senior executives, primari- ly from the United States with select Canadian leaders, at The Westin Ottawa in the heart of the city's walkable down- town. Under the 2026 theme "Leading with Audacity," the Executive Leadership Forum will provide a high-level envi- ronment for association leaders to explore bold approaches to governance, strategy, and organizational resilience. Delegates will engage in an intensive mix of leadership conversations, peer learning, and facilitated discussions designed to chal- lenge assumptions, spark innovation, and apply the "power of place" to complex, future-focused conversa- tions. Hosted at The Westin Ottawa, the program will feature dynamic sessions, hands-on learning, and meaningful peer-to-peer dia- logue that encourage participants to test new ideas and take- home practical strategies to elevate their leadership prac- Rideau-Canal and Rogers Centre Ottawa at dusk Rideau-Canal and Rogers Centre Ottawa at dusk photo credit: Rogers-Centre-Ottawa photographer: Neil Robertson