Ottawa Special Events lays off majority of staff over coronavirus-related cancellations

Ottawa Special Events is laying off 16 of its 21 full-time employees as local COVID-19-related event cancellations and suspensions continue to affect the business.

Partner Michael Wood says they usually provide light and sound production for a number of events at this time of the year, and nearly all of them have been postponed or cancelled.

He explained that year-over-year, from March to May 2019, Ottawa Special Events' business has fallen 94 per cent.

Just a few of the events Wood and his crew would normally be working over the next few months include the Ottawa Gatineau International Auto Show, the Ottawa Wedding Show and I.LEAD Ottawa (which is the largest Islamic conference in Ottawa and Gatineau). 

Wood expects the majority upcoming events they would be scheduled to work at the Shaw Centre and EY Centre to be either suspended or cancelled as well.

If you've ever been to Glowfair Ottawa or Capital Pride, you've likely seen the work of Ottawa Special Events.

Wood says, not only did they have to lay off full-time staff, but the freelance technicians that rely on them for a job are most likely going to be out of work for a while.