National defence growth forum held in Medicine Hat

Posted on November 12, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

By Brendan Miller
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Medicine Hat welcomed defence and industry leaders from across the country on Oct. 28-29 for a Defence Growth Forum and trade show that included several keynote speakers.

The two-day event brought established companies, startups, researchers, entrepreneurs and economic development leaders under one roof for a networking and informational event discussion about defence funding, building partnership, strengthening capabilities and identifying new opportunities within the defence ecosystem.

A trade show, held by Community Futures EntreCorp Businesses Development, kicked off the two-day event held at Medicine Hat Lodge and was followed by an all-day event with speakers on Oct. 29.

The event included an economic update from ATB’s deputy chief economist Rob Roach, The Next Chapter for CFB Suffield, defence research at CFB Suffield, federal programs that support business growth, building chemical and biological labs, Foremost UAS test range, next waves of drone defence, future aviation defence, Alberta aerospace and fence economy and advancing Alberta defence and security ecosystems.

Along with Roach, feature speakers included Susan Rowsell, chief scientist at Suffield Research Centre; Reagan Weeks, superintendent, Prairie Rose Public Schools; Elliot Hewitt, manager of Prairies Economic Development Canada; Dan Juhlin of Juhlin Aerospace Consulting; Pamela Pilsner, adviser with Business Development Bank of Canada; Michael Onieu, CD, CMgr with CFB Suffield; Terri Super, CEO with Super T Aviation; Kathryn Ambler, executive with Alberta Aviation Aerospace & Defence; Dylan Richards, CFO with Landing Zones Canada; Cal Koskowich, industrial technology advisor with National Research Council Canada; Vincent Malley, vice president of UVA Dynamics and several more.

The local Chamber of Commerce says Medicine Hat and surrounding communities could greatly benefit from defence spending because of several factors like location and abundance of resources.

The chamber says few regions can offer the combination of assets already found in southeast Alberta, such as CFB Suffield, Canada’s largest military training area, Defence Research and Development Canada Suffield, British Army Training Unit Suffield and the Foremost UAS Test Range.