Some networking events come with keynote speakers. This one came with Shaggy and Gwen Stefani.

RBC welcomed clients, community partners and friends to its VIP suite at Ottawa Bluesfest, where business cards stayed in pockets while guests danced like no one was watching.

The evening was co-hosted Saturday by a team of RBC executives that included regional vice president Justin Schurman; Ray Rashed, managing director of RBCx; and Yasser Ghazi, vice president of commercial financial services.

RBC is a 15-year sponsor of Bluesfest, which was founded in 1994 and has grown into one of Canada’s largest music festivals.

From left, RBC regional vice president Justin Schurman, RBC vice president of commercial financial services Yasser Ghazi, RBCx vice president of banking Jake Malette, RBC regional director of marketing and citizenship Glenn Sheen, and RBCx managing director Ray Rashed in the RBC VIP suite on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at Bluesfest. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Stéphane Brutus, dean of the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, was among the guests. In 2025, Telfer received a $2-million gift from RBC Foundation to establish the Green Academy, which prepares students to address global environmental challenges through sustainable business.

Brutus said he wouldn’t pass up the chance to be a guest in the RBC suite, not when Bluesfest remains one of the signature events of the summer.

“There’s Canada Day and then there’s Bluesfest,” said the Montreal native, who moved to Ottawa five years ago.

The academic leader also praised the artist lineup for its diversity. “They have something for everybody,” said Brutus, who was seen chatting with fellow guest Cara Vaccarino, president and CEO of The Royal. Brutus serves on the mental health and research hospital’s board of trustees.

From left, Justin Schurman, regional vice president at RBC; Stéphane Brutus, dean of the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa; and Glenn Sheen, RBC regional director of marketing and citizenship, at Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Award-winning women’s leadership advocate Solange Tuyishime Keita, president and CEO of Elevate International, grooved to Shaggy in the RBC VIP suite at Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Shaghayegh (Sherry) Poursalimi and her husband, Saleh Taebi, founder and CEO of CanadaWheels and USAWheels, joined by Lila Kelland, Mike Kelland, CEO of Planetary Technologies, Ray Rashed, managing director of RBCx, his wife, Aniseh Rashed, Amanda Conohan and Jay Conohan, founder and CEO of The LoudCup Company, in the RBC VIP suite at Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Guests also included Veronica Farmer, chief marketing officer at Wesley Clover International, founded by serial tech entrepreneur Terry Matthews. Wesley Clover works closely with RBCx, the technology and innovation banking arm of RBC.

“They assist our entrepreneurs who are scaling up their companies,” said Farmer, pointing to their collaboration on the inaugural Ottawa Tech Investment Summit this past May. It brought together founders, investors and innovation leaders.

Farmer said she was “very grateful” to be a guest of RBC and to be surrounded by company founders and members of the RBCx team. “We have an amazing community,” she added.

From left, RBCx vice president of banking Jake Malette, Solink co-founder and CEO Michael Matta, Wesley Clover International chief marketing officer Veronica Farmer and Martin Soukup, chief technology officer at Solink, in the RBC VIP suite at Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Among the company founders were CEO Corey Ellis and CFO Aida Burke of Ottawa-based agri-tech company Growcer. Ellis was back for a second straight night at Bluesfest, this time trading his crowded spot in the sea of festival-goers for the comfort of the RBC’s catered VIP suite.

“This is nice,” he said, “because you can actually walk around.”

Another guest was Jay Conohan, founder of The LoudCup Company. His plus-one, however, was not the world’s loudest cup.

Dan Carruthers, CEO of Raven Connected, and his wife, Denise Carruthers, chilled in the RBC suite while their grown daughter, Kaylah, joined the massive crowd below. Given the choice, Denise was more than happy to be exactly where she was.

She said she remains inspired by the countless people who consistently turn out to support Bluesfest and its artists during the nine-day festival. She was excited to return Sunday to see The Guess Who, whose 1970 hit American Woman became the first song by a Canadian band to top the U.S. singles chart.

Bluesfest is a side of Ottawa that residents don’t see all the time, said Blaine Fitzgerald, who recently joined StackAdapt as its chief financial officer. “We always think of Ottawa as this quiet little city but when you see the energy out here, it’s pretty awesome.”

From left, RBCx managing director Ray Rashed with guests Dan Carruthers, CEO of Raven Connected, and his wife, Denise Carruthers, in the RBC VIP suite at Bluesfest. Photo by Caroline Phillips

With Ottawa’s skyline behind her, Aniseh Rashed embraced the energy of Shaggy’s performance in the RBC VIP suite at Ottawa Bluesfest, held at LeBreton Flats. Photo by Caroline Phillips

StackAdapt chief financial officer Blaine Fitzgerald and his wife, Marie-Eve Noël, were at Ottawa Bluesfest as guests of RBC. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The RBC Stage as seen from the RBC VIP suite at Ottawa Bluesfest, where Shaggy and Gwen Stefani performed on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Growcer CFO Aida Burke and CEO Corey Ellis in the RBC VIP suite at Ottawa Bluesfest on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Even during Shaggy’s performance, there was still room for conversation as Cara Vaccarino, president and CEO of The Royal, leans in to chat with Stéphane Brutus, dean of the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Carrie Irvine, founder and CEO of Carrie Irvine Communications, and her associate, Jesika Arseneau, were invited by Yasser Ghazi. Their paths frequently cross through Ottawa’s charitable sector.

“As a small business, we’re thrilled to be included in the RBC suite,” said Irvine. “It feels good to be here.”

Added Arseneau: “It’s fun to see people in a more relaxed environment. It feels less stuffy than your more typical networking event.”

She had a point. Business mixers don’t usually lead to dancing. Among those to join in were Aniseh Rashed and Solange Tuyishime Keita, president and CEO of Elevate International. Ghazi serves on the board of the Ottawa nonprofit, which champions women and girls in leadership.

Fortunately, the skies cleared in time for Bluesfest, leaving only a brief sprinkle during Shaggy’s performance — one easily handled with the umbrellas RBC had on hand.

From left, Carrie Irvine Communications marketing and PR strategist Jesika Arseneau alongside its founder and CEO, Carrie Irvine, Gérardine Nkurunziza and her sister, Solange Tuyishime Keita, president and CEO of Elevate International, with their host, Yasser Ghazi, vice president of commercial financial services at RBC, at Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Yasser Ghazi wasn’t so lucky, though. He got caught in a downtown deluge while making his way to the festival earlier that afternoon.

He ducked into the Rideau Centre and bought a discounted sweater at Simons. While the sale was a bonus, the real draw was just finding something dry to wear.

“I was as wet as a dog,” he said with a laugh.

If anyone looked ready for Gwen Stefani, it was Milkyway Sirois with her bright colours and bold red lipstick.

“It’s the music I grew up with,” said Sirois, recalling her response when her husband, Gabriel Sirois, chief financial officer at H2 Analytics, asked her if she wanted to go.

“I was, like, ‘Oh, hell yeah.’ ”

Milkyway Sirois, seen with her husband, Gabriel Sirois, chief financial officer at H2 Analytics, was all set for the Gwen Stefani concert at Bluesfest. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Telfer School of Management’s dean, Stéphane Brutus, The Royal’s president and CEO Cara Vaccarino, and her husband, Brian Bohunicky, and Sabina Saeed, executive director of philanthropy, community engagement and partnerships at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, in the RBC VIP suite at Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Conrad Dickinson, president of The Ottawa Business Club — a local networking and professional development group — and his mom, Jill Dickinson, president at CKL Properties, were guests of RBC in its VIP suite at Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Aniseh Rashed, whose husband Ray Rashed is managing director of RBCx, showed off her dance moves during the Shaggy performance at Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Dana Dingman, Hertford Advisors CFO Andrew Bailes, Jessica Ramien and Ken Jennings, CEO at Jennings Group of Companies, in the RBC VIP suite at Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo by Caroline Phillips

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WEALTH (WCPD), Syntax Strategic, RBC, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law and Prime Benefits Group.

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