Military, government and industry leaders explore in Kingston defence modernization, procurement, personnel and mobilization
November 6, 2026 – Kingston Economic Development Corporation, in partnership with the Royal Kingston United Services Institute (RKUSI), hosted the 2nd Annual Defence + Security Forum: RACE to Readiness – Revitalization of the Canadian Armed Forces on October 30 at the Fort Frontenac Officers’ Mess. The forum brought together over 150 senior military leaders, government representatives and defence industry professionals to examine the priorities shaping the future readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Discussions focused on modernization, defence procurement, personnel and mobilization, as well as the infrastructure, training, recruitment and retention needed to support a larger, more capable force. The program featured keynote addresses from two former Chiefs of the Defence Staff, Gen (Ret’d) Tom Lawson, Chair of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute, and Gen (Ret’d) Walt Natynczyk, alongside panel discussions with LGen Mike Wright, Commander of the Canadian Army; LGen Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force; LGen Erick Simoneau, Chief of Military Personnel; and defence procurement experts.
“Canada is entering a period of significant defence investment and modernization. That creates an enormous opportunity, but also an obligation, to think differently about how government, the Canadian Armed Forces, industry, academia and communities work together,” said Donna Gillespie, CEO, Kingston Economic Development. “Kingston is one of the few places in Canada where industry, academia and military end users intersect in one community and is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between defence need and defence solution in one highly connected ecosystem.”
The forum’s strong turnout reflects the depth of Kingston’s defence and security ecosystem. The city is anchored by CFB Kingston, one of Canada’s largest Army bases, and is home to the Royal Military College of Canada, the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics, the Canadian Forces School of Military Intelligence and 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment. Together with Queen’s University and St. Lawrence College, these institutions sit alongside a growing base of companies in advanced materials, aluminum processing, critical minerals, shipbuilding and precision manufacturing. For defence and dual-use companies looking to establish or expand operations as federal investment in defence grows, Kingston offers specialized talent, research capacity and supply chain partners in one community.
“We were thrilled to see the event was sold out with over 150 participants, many of whom were members of the Kingston business community. Coincidentally, the government released “The Plan for a Stronger Canada: National Security for Canadians” the day prior which made the Forum both timely and highly relevant,” said Dean Milner, President, Royal Kingston United Services Institute. “A common key outcome was that while our Prime Minister has set the framework in our “Race to Readiness”, Canada needs to move faster given the current state of our military and the pace of growing threats. It was also clear that there is an overdue need to make a significant investment in defence in order to revitalize of Canada’s neglected armed forces.”
“Kingston has the talent, research strength and established manufacturers that Canada needs as it rebuilds its defence capacity,” said Shelley Hirstwood, Director of Business Development, Kingston Economic Development Corporation. “Forums like this connect the people setting Canada’s defence priorities with the companies ready to deliver on them, and they make a clear business case for Kingston as a centre for defence manufacturing.”
The Corporation and RKUSI thank event sponsors MREL Group of Companies, MetalCraft Marine, Calian, Babcock Canada, Commissionaires, Queen’s University’s Centre for International and Defence Policy (CIDP), the Conference of Defence Associations (CDA) and the Conference of Defence Associations Institute (CDAI), as well as RKUSI and the speakers, panellists and attendees who contributed to a day of meaningful discussion on Canada’s evolving defence priorities.
The third annual Defence + Security Forum is scheduled for October 29, 2027.
To learn more about Kingston’s defence assets, visit investkingston.ca/defence.
Media Contacts:
Daniel Solorio
Marketing & Communications Manager
Kingston Economic Development Corporation
613-329-9270
solorio@investkingston.ca
