Ottawa Tourism is celebrating winning a high-value association
conference which it helped secure through Destination Canada’s subvention fund.
The Canadian capital will host the International Institute of Municipal
Clerks (IIMC) Annual Conference in May 2029. The four-day event is expected to
welcome 1,000 delegates and generate CAD $2.8m in economic impact for the
city.
Destination Canada launched the International Convention
Attraction Fund (ICAF) in 2024 with the aim of helping Canadian destinations
compete for and secure high-value international conferences.
Virginie De Visscher, executive director, Business Events,
Destination Canada said: “This win reflects the strength of Ottawa’s
collaborative approach, its compelling value proposition for business events,
and Canada’s global reputation for delivering sustainable, high-impact
meetings.”
She said the ICAF was helping destinations compete for prestigious
international organisations whose events drive economic growth, knowledge
exchange, and long-term sector development.
“With a renewed $15 million investment over three years,
ICAF continues to be a catalyst in elevating Canada’s competitiveness on the
global stage, helping convert strong bids into successful outcomes that create
lasting benefits for communities across the country.”
Chris Shalby, executive director, IIMC, said Ottawa provided
a ‘unique stage’ for its annual conference.
“Its status as Canada’s capital delivers both professional
relevance and global profile for municipal clerks.
“The collaborative approach from Ottawa Tourism, Destination
Canada, and local partners reinforced our confidence that every detail will be
designed for our delegates’ needs.”
Ottawa Tourism said IIMC 2029 would follow a growing number of ICAF-supported
successes for Ottawa, including the recent International District Energy Association
(IDEA) Annual Conference & Trade Show, which took place at Rogers
Centre Ottawa in June 2026. That event brought an estimated 750 delegates to
the city, generated 1,825 total room nights, and delivered an estimated CAD
$2.9m in economic impact.
