Lend-a-Lanyard program, sustainable menu and a new Ottawa Therapy Dogs partnership bring practical benefits for organisers and delegates
Rogers Centre Ottawa is expanding the range of wellbeing and corporate social responsibility focused initiatives available to conference organisers, introducing practical new ways to support more thoughtful, sustainable and welcoming events.
A recent example was seen at the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) Annual Conference 2026. The event welcomed over 600 attendees, who took part in the Lend-a-Lanyard program, which provides event organisers with lanyards to use during the event and then are returned at the end for reuse rather than disposal.
“For CPS, caring for children includes caring for their future. Reusing lanyards through the Rogers Centre Ottawa and Ottawa Tourism’s ‘Lend-a-Lanyard’ program is a simple step toward more sustainable events,” said Wendy Eligh, Senior Manager, Conference & Events Strategy and Operations, Canadian Paediatric Society.
The initiative is part of a wider approach at Rogers Centre Ottawa to help organisers make practical choices that reflect their values, without adding complexity to event delivery. Alongside the Lend-a-Lanyard program, the centre continues to work with clients on selecting menu options that provide events a lower carbon footprint.
In September, Rogers Centre Ottawa launched its new Sustainability Menu, bringing together food and beverage choices designed with more responsible sourcing, operational practices and reduced environmental impact. Plant-based options are clearly identified across breakfast, lunch, dinner and reception menus, alongside estimated carbon reductions to help planners understand the impact of their choices. For example, selecting plant-based mains rather than beef for a 100-guest dinner can save an estimated 600 kg of CO2e.
The Centre also works with La Tablée des Chefs to redirect untouched surplus food from events to people in need. La Tablée des Chefs is a non-profit organisation that equips venues hosting large events, including international congresses, with tools to facilitate the donation of surplus food to local community organisations.
Rogers Centre Ottawa has also named Ottawa Therapy Dogs as a preferred supplier, enabling clients to request professionally trained therapy dog teams for relevant events, addressing complex or sensitive subjects. The teams can offer comfort, help reduce stress and support attendee wellbeing, giving organisers another thoughtful way to create moments of calm and connection within specific conference programmes that contain challenging or potentially triggering content.
“We know that clients are looking for ideas that are practical, visible and straightforward to put into action, while still making a genuine difference,” said Carly Grace, Vice-President of Sales at Rogers Centre Ottawa. “Whether that is reusing lanyards, making more sustainable menu choices or introducing supportive wellbeing touches through partners like Ottawa Therapy Dogs, our goal is to help organisers deliver events that are thoughtful from every angle.”
By combining operational flexibility with initiatives that support sustainability and delegate wellbeing, Rogers Centre Ottawa is continuing to evolve its offer in ways that are meaningful for clients, attendees and the wider community.
To learn more about these initiatives, organisers are encouraged to visit the Rogers Centre Ottawa team on stand D3017.
