Ottawa's Biggest Event Venue Is Getting a Rebrand
Ottawa's EY Centre — the sprawling convention and event venue near the airport on Uplands Drive — is set to be renamed after a Toronto-based artificial intelligence company acquired the facility's naming rights.
The move signals a growing trend of tech companies, particularly in the booming Canadian AI sector, using major venue naming deals to raise their profile beyond Silicon Valley circles and into mainstream public awareness.
What Is the EY Centre?
For those who haven't attended a trade show, consumer expo, or major concert at the facility, the EY Centre is one of the largest event venues in the National Capital Region. Located just minutes from Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, it boasts over 50,000 square feet of flexible convention space and has hosted everything from Canada's largest cat shows to major industry conferences and live performances.
The venue has carried the EY name — a reference to the global accounting and consulting firm Ernst & Young — since a previous naming rights agreement. Naming rights deals like this are common across sports arenas and major venues, but it's less typical to see them attached to convention centres, making this deal notable.
A Toronto AI Company Plants Its Flag in Ottawa
The company acquiring the naming rights is Toronto-based, part of Canada's fast-growing artificial intelligence industry that has seen major investment and international attention in recent years. Toronto has emerged as one of North America's top AI hubs, and companies based there are increasingly seeking ways to expand their visibility nationally.
For Ottawa, the deal is a reminder of the city's role as a destination for major national events and conferences — and potentially signals that the new naming partner sees value in associating with the capital's business and government audience.
What It Means for Ottawa
The renaming won't change what happens inside the venue — Ottawans will still find trade shows, expos, and events filling the calendar. But locals can expect to start seeing a new name on signage, tickets, and event listings in the near future.
The EY Centre has been a key piece of Ottawa's events infrastructure for years, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and supporting the local hospitality economy with out-of-town attendees filling nearby hotels. That role isn't changing — just the sign above the door.
No specific timeline for the rebrand has been announced, but venue naming transitions typically roll out over several months as existing signage, contracts, and marketing materials are updated.
Ottawa's Convention Scene Keeps Growing
The naming rights deal comes as Ottawa continues to invest in its meetings and conventions sector. The Ottawa Convention Centre downtown handles large government and association conferences, while the EY Centre handles the high-volume consumer and trade show market on the south end of the city.
Keep an eye on the south end of town — a new name is coming soon.
Source: CTV News via Google News Ottawa RSS feed
