Michael Wood became the face and voice of small businesses throughout Ottawa, Ontario and Canada and continues to be. After the government-regulated shutdowns in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Michael watched the gross sales of his event rental company decline by ninety-seven percent compared to the previous year, resulting in losses of more than three million ($3,000,000.00) dollars. Michael had to lay off all twenty-three (23) full-time employees. His previous clients included the National Hockey League, FIFA, Cirque Du Soleil, the Canadian Football League and many local fairs, festivals, conferences and trade shows.
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After a conversation with a city councillor in March 2020, Michael began to appeal to elected officials and set up virtual round tables where hundreds of business owners could express their concerns directly to the federal, provincial and municipal governments. This was across all party lines as he is completely non-partisan. Elected officials who have met with Michael Wood include but are not limited to, Minister Catherine McKenna, Minister Mona Fortier, Chair of the Federal Finance Committee MP Wayne Easter, Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, Parliamentary Assistant, MPP Stan Cho and dozens more. Along with a handful of other small business leaders, Michael met with (former MP) Erin O'Toole and MP Pierre Poilievre. Michael has also met with top officials from the PMO and the Ontario Premier's Office.

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Michael has appeared twice before the House of Commons Federal Finance Committee (FINA) (June 2020/April 2021) as a representative of small businesses. Michael also appeared twice in August and November 2020 before the Ontario Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs (SCOFEA). Michael also appeared before the before the Ontario Pre-Budgetary Consultation in 2021, 2022 and 2024.

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Most recently Michael Wood had 911 services updated in Ottawa so calls can now be transferred to any city in North America. Ottawa is the only city in Ontario where this is possible and he is currently working with the Ontario government to have it updated across the province. In December, the Ottawa Sun put Michael on the cover of the newspaper highlighting this accomplishment.

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Michael is often a guest on many traditional media stations, including Rogers Radio, Bell Media Television and Radio, the CBC, the Globe and Mail, Postmedia and nationally on CTV News Channel. Michael has also appeared in media in countries including Australia and the United Kingdom on an international scale. 

 

Michael is an award-winning professor at Algonquin College, where he is a professor in a music, media and film program as well as the School of Business. Michael is a former touring guitarist and I was discovered by legendary radio DJ Casey Kasem.  He is a published author, a voting member for the Juno Awards, and the former American Idol Insider for various Fox News stations in the United States.
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Michael was a 2021 Premier’s Award Nominee for business, a 2021 Algonquin College Alumni of Distinction Award winner for business and was given the 2021 Most Influential Award by Meeting Planners International. Michael also received a 40 Under Forty designation, a Top 10 under 40 designation (Canadian Rental Service), a 2019 FEBE Community Builder Award, a Capital Educator Award and was recognized by the Province of Ontario with a 2017 Celebration Award. Michael was also given special recognition by the City of Ottawa around opioids and overdoses as well as being named in the top 50 most influential residents.