Ottawa's fall lineup of business networking and charity events kicks off next week and stretches all the way to the end of November, according to the Ottawa Business Journal's latest datebook and the Ottawa Board of Trade.
Next week: community breakfast and a mayoral debate
First up is 'A Good Morning with United Way,' set for Sept. 29 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Infinity Convention Centre. United Way East Ontario is billing it as a morning of community and purpose, bringing together workplace champions, philanthropists and community leaders to mark the group's collective impact.
Days later, the Ottawa Board of Trade Mayoral Debate 2026 runs Oct. 1 from 5 to 7 p.m., giving Ottawa's business community a chance to hear directly from candidates ahead of the municipal race.
A boxing match for cancer research
On Oct. 3, from 5 to 10 p.m., Fight for the Cure lands at Rogers Centre Ottawa. The event puts 14 Ottawa business leaders in the ring, organized by the Ottawa Cancer Foundation to raise money for cancer research. It's one of the more physical entries on an otherwise buttoned-up fall calendar.
Small Business Week gets its own summit
The Ottawa Small Business Summit 2026 runs Oct. 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bayview Yards, timed to Small Business Week. It's a full-day program aimed at Ottawa's small business owners and entrepreneurs, held at the city's innovation hub.
Awards season: Best Ottawa Business Awards
The biggest date on the calendar for many local business leaders is Nov. 26, when the Best Ottawa Business Awards 2026 takes over The Westin Ottawa from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Jointly organized by the Ottawa Business Journal and the Ottawa Board of Trade, the awards cover more than 25 categories, including CEO of the Year, CFO of the Year, Newsmaker of the Year and a Lifetime Achievement Award. It's the closest thing Ottawa's business scene has to its own night at the Oscars, and it draws executives and entrepreneurs from across the city.
Police gala marks 15 years
The gala supports Voice Found, the Capital Prosperity Foundation and Beechwood Cemetery, three causes tied closely to community and commemorative work in the capital.
Christmas Cheer Breakfast hits 75 years
Capping off the fall run, the Christmas Cheer Breakfast on Nov. 27 at The Westin Ottawa marks a 75-year milestone for the long-running event. It supports the Ottawa Food Bank, The Ottawa Mission and Ronald McDonald House Charities Ottawa, three organizations that see demand climb heading into winter.
Why it matters for Ottawa
Taken together, the calendar gives Ottawa residents and business owners a clear run of dates to plan around, whether that means catching the mayoral candidates in person, buying a ticket to support cancer research, or just knowing when the city's business community will be out in force at The Westin or Rogers Centre Ottawa. With municipal elections approaching and charities gearing up for the holiday season, several of these events carry weight well beyond the boardroom.
Sources: Ottawa Business Journal, Ottawa Board of Trade
