Welcome to CANSEC 2025!
On behalf of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI), I’m proud to welcome you to the 28th edition of the show.
This year’s CANSEC takes place amid a period of heightened tension both globally and within North America. The ongoing Canada-U.S. trade dispute, coupled with broader economic and geopolitical challenges, has increased pressure on our federal government to prioritize and invest in defence. The importance of diversifying supply chains while supporting Canada's own defence industrial base is now undeniable.
It’s time for renewed commitment and strategic policies that support a stronger, more self-reliant Canada. Sovereign defence capabilities are not only key economic drivers but tools of foreign policy that have been sadly underutilized by successive Canadian governments.
Our core message at this year’s CANSEC is that the time for talk, slogans, and vague commitments is over. Canada must dramatically alter course when it comes to defence, and it will be the work of a generation. That work must begin here, now, with all of us.
With this commitment to change in mind, my team set out to deliver the biggest and best CANSEC yet. Our mantra was ‘If we build it, they will come,’ and we’ve expanded the show's footprint accordingly, with an entirely new hall which even includes a Spotlight Stage so that you can hear about the latest technological developments coming to the sector. We have used every square inch of available space, and then some, to ensure that our industry can put its best foot forward at this critical moment.
It’s now up to you – our members, government and military partners, and closest allies – to leverage CANSEC to the hilt. I encourage you all to use these two days to their full advantage, connecting with one another and showcasing everything our defence industry has to offer Canada and the world.
As always, please don’t hesitate to share your feedback with us as we begin preparations for CANSEC 2026 and beyond. I look forward to speaking with as many of you as possible over the next two days, and I wish you all a fantastic show.
Christyn Cianfarani
President and CEO