Ottawa champions a new standard in sustainable events
In an era where environmental responsibility and community impact are increasingly central to event planning, Canada’s capital is stepping up with purpose
Ottawa has introduced a new tool that empowers planners to take meaningful steps toward sustainability at events without sacrificing quality or delegate experience.
The Responsible Events Guide, launched by Ottawa Tourism, is a practical and inspiring resource designed to help organisers host more environmentally conscious, inclusive events that connect with their communities. It serves as both a framework and a call to action, encouraging planners to consider the wider impact of their decisions.
Built around five core themes — waste reduction, food recovery, accessibility, social impact and communication — the guide offers a fresh approach to event design, rooted in thoughtful decision-making and collaboration with local organisations.
Practical tools for purposeful planning
A central feature of the guide is the Responsible Event Planning Decision Tree, which encourages planners to consider every element of their programme — from delegate kits to menu choices. The message is simple: assess what’s essential, remove what’s wasteful and replace it with more sustainable alternatives.
In terms of catering, the guide offers a notably wide selection. It promotes menus with a lower carbon footprint, advocating for plant-based and seasonal options, local sourcing and strategies to reduce waste before, during and after service. It also urges planners to minimise single-use items and to provide reusable alternatives wherever possible.
However, what makes Ottawa’s catering approach stand out is its emphasis on community benefit. The À la Carte Food Recovery Program, created in partnership with La Tablée des Chefs, ensures that leftover food from events at more than 20 venues can be redistributed safely to local charities. Organisations like The Ottawa Mission and Shepherds of Good Hope directly benefit from this initiative, which recovered more than 18,500 meals during a single major hockey tournament — the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
For organisers looking to deepen their event’s legacy, the guide includes a donations directory and a list of group volunteer opportunities. Delegates can contribute to meaningful causes from environmental cleanups and tree planting with Forêt Capitale Forest to hands-on support at community centres.
Embracing accessibility and inclusion
Recognising that inclusivity is a pillar of sustainability, the guide encourages proactive accessibility planning. This includes gathering accommodation requests during registration, offering resources in advance to support informed decisions and working with partners like Whimble Care to provide adaptive services on-site. Post-event feedback is also strongly encouraged to support continuous improvement.
Telling your story
Sustainability is not just about behind-the-scenes logistics, it’s a story worth telling. The guide offers strategies to help planners communicate their values clearly and effectively, from pre-event delegate briefings to thoughtful signage and post-event summaries. Transparency and authenticity, it suggests, are essential to building trust and inspiring others.
Hosting with intention
Ottawa’s evolution into a values-led destination is no accident. With award-winning venues, expanding hotel infrastructure and a reputation for cultural and environmental leadership, the city is positioning itself as a natural home for events that want to do more than gather - they want to give back.
For those seeking to create meaningful, memorable and responsible events, Ottawa offers more than just a stage - it offers a path forward.
Download the guide here and contact the Meetings and Conventions Team to start planning your next sustainably minded event:
Theresa Gatto, Senior Manager, Business Events:
[email protected]
Nicholas Litt, Manager, Business Events:
[email protected]
Stephanie Sequin, Director Sales, Business & Major Events:
[email protected]
