Coffee with Sonya: Bringing the Tough Questions to the Table

June 24 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Café Amore

The #WhyNotOrléans movement has sparked countless conversations about our community’s future. On June 24, we’re taking those conversations straight to one of Ottawa’s most influential economic leaders.

Join us at Café Amore for Coffee with Sonya, an informal but impactful discussion with Sonya Shorey, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa, where no question is off limits and no opportunity is too big to explore.

For years, Orléans residents, businesses, and community leaders have been asking:

Why not invest in Orléans?
Why not create more jobs in Orléans?
Why aren’t more federal government workspaces located in the east end?
Why not consider Orléans for military-related opportunities and facilities?
Why not host more major events here?
Why not accelerate implementation of our Secondary Plan?
And perhaps most importantly, is Orléans truly being promoted as an option when businesses are considering where to invest and grow?

This is your opportunity to hear directly from the person helping shape Ottawa’s economic future.

Sonya Shorey brings nearly two decades of leadership experience in technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development. As President and CEO of Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards, she leads the city’s economic development agency and has played a key role in securing more than $123 million in funding for complex, multi-partner initiatives that drive innovation and growth.

Her career spans leadership roles with Nortel, CMC Microsystems, and her own successful strategy consulting practice. She is also a passionate community builder, volunteering with organizations such as MindTrust, TiE Ottawa, Habitat for Humanity, Impact AI, and TiECon Canada.

But on June 24, we’re less interested in résumés and more interested in answers.

The #WhyNotOrléans movement is about challenging assumptions, advocating for equitable investment, and ensuring that when decisions are being made about Ottawa’s future, Orléans is not an afterthought—it is part of the conversation from the beginning.

Whether you’re a business owner, community advocate, resident, or simply someone who believes in the potential of Orléans, we invite you to pull up a chair, grab a coffee, and join the discussion.

Because if we’re serious about asking “Why Not Orléans?”, then we need to ask the people who can help turn that question into action.