President's Message - October 2026

Come fall, it’s time for awards season, and amongst the lesser events such as the Emmy’s or the VMAs, the standout of the season is definitely the MPI Ottawa Prix Prestige Awards. The Awards were held on September 24^th at Lago’s in Dow’s lake.  It’s always such a joy to be able to celebrate such talent in our industry. 

Attempting to pick a winner amongst such a talented field is not an easy task as our chapter is truly the best of the best within the industry.  This year’s event also featured a refreshed look and format, shifting to an earlier timeslot in response to member feedback that was looking for more variety of times within events that are held throughout the year.  The committee did an outstanding job and certainly celebrated the stars of our chapter. Congratulations to all the nominees and award winners, you truly make our industry shine.

If you were unable to join us that evening, I wanted to share with you the very special news that was announced during the event. In June, our industry felt a huge loss both personally and professionally with the passing of Jennifer Beatty.  Beginning next year, The Global Meetings Industry Day Influence Award will be renamed the “Jennifer Beatty Influence Award” which will continue to honour her legacy in the future.

The award is given out each spring by the Ottawa chapter during our celebration of Global Meeting Industry Day (GMID) and recognizes an individual or organization that shows passion for our industry, advocacy and the ability to make a meaningful impact, qualities that Jennifer capably demonstrated throughout her career.

The process to rename the award began last year and was done with a great deal of thoughtful consideration by the Ottawa Chapter Board of Directors. We also reached out to Jen with the proposal to ensure that it was something that would be well received.  We felt it was important to commemorate her contributions to the industry and as we reflected on the chapter’s awards and what each one represents, the Influence Award criteria stood out as the perfect fit.

Jennifer was very involved in the meetings industry locally in Ottawa and across Canada as well as the Global level.  Her more than 20 year long career in the tourism and events sector exemplifies the power of influence, bringing people together, advancing new ideas, and advocating for meaningful change within the meetings and events industry and beyond.

Her legacy is reflected not only in the organizations and initiatives she helped shape, but in the people she brought together, inspired, and encouraged to think differently. Her influence extended across the Canadian and global meetings and tourism industries through both her professional and volunteer leadership. She held leadership roles with Ottawa Tourism, Travel Alberta, Resiada, Tourism Calgary, and Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), and served as President of the MPI Ottawa Chapter, Director with Meetings Mean Business Canada, a member of the MPI International Board of Directors, Chair of the MPI Global Board of Trustees, and a contributor to the MPI Foundation.

Jennifer had a unique ability to identify opportunities, connecting the right people together, and turning ideas into action. Her impact included co-founding Destination Direct Canada, establishing a national network for tourism bureau leaders, and advancing professional education and dialogue. Her influence continues through initiatives such as the Jennifer Beatty Endowment Legacy, established by the MPI Foundation to support scholarships for Canadians (suppliers / planners) to attend the MPI World Education Congress and TheEVENT for years to come.

Her advocacy extended beyond the meetings industry. Through her personal health journey, she courageously encouraged others to advocate for themselves when navigating complex systems such as health care. By sharing her experience through forums including the Ignite Your Events: The podcast - Brewing up Advocacy (and also, screw cancer); and the in-person event, In Her Own Words – Tea for Advocacy, she inspired others to ask questions, seek support, and ensure their voices were heard.

Jennifer Beatty’s professional leadership, industry-building initiatives, volunteer service, and personal advocacy collectively reflect a distinguished record of collaboration, innovation, courage, and influence.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Jen was warm and funny, and very dedicated to her family, community, and anything she threw herself into. I was lucky enough to serve on the board of directors with her early in my career when she was in the office of the president, and got to experience her spirit, inclusivity, and leadership up close. She extended her mentorship throughout the industry, and made newcomers feel welcome.

We hope this re-named chapter award will continue to recognize the spirit of advocacy, leadership, and commitment that Jen exemplified locally and in our wider community. She will be greatly missed.

 Article edited by: Darlene Kelly-Stewart, Stonehouse Sales & Marketing Services