Ottawa, Ontario Canada

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Ottawa: A Welcoming Destination

Make your plans now to attend the NPCA 43rd Annual Convention in Ottawa, Ontario, where you can catch up with friends, network with new members and industry executives, exchange problem-solving ideas, learn unique production and business methods and participate in committee meetings and other association events.

Nestled on the banks of the majestic Ottawa, Rideau and Gatineau Rivers, the Canadian city of Ottawa is one of the most beautiful national capitals in the world. A thriving international technology and business center and world-class tourism and convention destination, Ottawa is also rich in culture and heritage with its many national institutions, parklands, waterways and historic architecture. With a population of 1.2 million, the Ottawa region ranks as the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Canada.

Located 120 miles east of Montreal in southeastern Ontario province, Ottawa is home to a large number of foreign embassies and is a recognized center for both academics and professional training. As the Canadian national capital, Ottawa features a decidedly European flavor, offering an open and welcoming environment to cultures from around the world. Both English and French are spoken predominantly, but visitors to Ottawa will hear a host of other languages along the streets of this cosmopolitan city.

With Convention activities centered at the Westin Ottawa in the heart of the city, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to sample the many amenities that make Ottawa one of Canada’s most beautiful and interesting destinations – at an ideal time of year. The city comes alive with color in early fall, with high temperatures averaging in the mid-60s and lows in the upper 40s.

The 43rd Annual Convention features plant tours, outstanding optional events and the Precast Marketplace, our exhibition area, where you will find tabletop displays of the latest products and services for the industry. It all concludes with the Chairman’s Banquet, featuring the introduction of NPCA’s new chairman of the board and the presentation of the top two association awards, the Robert E. Yoakum Award and the Douglas G. Hoskin Award.

Ottawa Quick Facts

• A population of over 1.2 million makes the Ottawa region the fourth-largest urban area in Canada
• Ottawa is the national capital of Canada, and home to the Canadian government, Parliament, the Senate and the Supreme Court of Canada
• More than 1,800 advanced technology companies employ more than 76,000 people in Ottawa
• With the highest-educated workforce in Canada, Ottawa has more engineers, scientists and Ph.Ds per capita than any other city in the country
• The Ottawa region welcomes more than 7.3 million visitors per year
• Mercer Human Resources International recently placed Ottawa 18th in a survey of 200 cities worldwide for best quality of life. Another study by Mercer found that Ottawa is the least expensive major city in which to live in North America.
• Languages spoken include English (50%), French (32%) and a host of other languages including significant capabilities in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese and Arabic