I debated if I would do a personal post this year. My plan was for photos, and that's it. It felt easy enough, simple and to the point. Deep down I didn't feel like there was much people csred for beyond photos. So why come on here to discuss my thoughts on an event most of my audience eother doesn't know or know too well? Or hell, attended!
Buuut I need CANSEC content. I have my Day 2 photos, I just have to get them all collected and tagged and such. I didnt have time last night, I crashed, and was on a bus home the other day, and getting the kids resettled. It just isnt my work enviornment. I'm sorry, I can't do it. I have more stuff to do too, wanna clean up the Day 2 photos so they aint as bad as the Day 1 photos. Then I still got the Q&A to do and shit… Ill get that out soon.
But in the meantime I thought it would at least be worthwhile to come on here and just, like, talk I guess? CANSEC is a weird place, weirder this yesr. My distain for it is not unknown. I make it a mission to mention I don't like attending CANSEC. I attend because it's the biggest show of the year.
It's loud, no one can really talk to you, and this year especially was crowded. It was so crowded infact that I got stuck at the Vard booth twice waiting for people to move their asses along. The whole first day, I avoided the main corridor our of both spite and fear of being trampled.
Im sorry also to all of you whom I could not see this year. I debate if I need to do more shows just to meet you all! Maybe Best? DEFSEC? DEFSEC sounds monumentally nice to me. DEFSEC basically has everyone attending already, even if some of the higher execs skips.
Anywho, CANSEC was hell this year. No one I knew kept their schedule. No one I knew had the slightest idea what was going on. It was crazy. I myself had several meetings that took up a large part of my time. While there, I was able to engage quite well with several companies attending including:
• New Frontier Robotics
• Roshel
• INKAS
• Vard
• Seaspan
• Babcock
• Hanwha
• TKMS
• D-TA Systems
• MDA and 49North
• Cadex
• M1 Composites
• Sentinel AI
• Volatus
• Geospectrum
• Kongsberg
• Qinetic
• Ontario Shipyards
• UTV
• Telesat
• Safran
• AVSS
• Paradigm Shift
• Zighra
• Wuxly
• Rheinmetall
• Lockheed Martin
• Saab
• ITPS
If you're curious about why I had so little time to walk the floor organically, blame the people above! I enjoy talking to folks, so I am grateful that everyone was willing to engage and doscuss with me for at least a few minutes of their time. I always appreciate it.
This year was different from last. Last year was full of hesitation, of doubt in the future. This ywar was far more hopeful, far more excited. I could tell that people were actually engaged with what was going on, were actually able to say that they were excited about the scene and feel genuine about it.
That says a lot to me. It's a shift in mentality that I have seen on a smaller scale, but not so widespread. I kinda went in to CANSEC still expecting people to have lots of hesitation and concerns, but if they did I did not see it. Maybe it's because im Media, and people naturally close off a bit to Media folks. It happens.
Funny enough I was surprised by how many people knew me. I was surprised also by how many people outright stopped me to talk, or called me over to their booths. I never really expect to be popular at these events. It's still hard to believe we're a legitimate media group, but the amount of booths who knew me was a surpriser to say the least.
On that note, several times I was stopped, and deep down in glad for that. If you see me at events like this, never be afraid to say hello! I love talking, and I love meeting folks. I also love physical brochures, so if you ever wanan bribe me and shit, I'm just saying…
I tried to not gossip at CANSEC, I will say that. A lot of you really want me to share scoops. I think it's morally responsible to not try to give inside info to companies, especially if they just call me over to ask. Had that several times. Please don't do that Gang. If you wanna know, I'll usually share but not if thats the only reason you call me by. I am not a leaker to be used for cheap updates.
On that note, 99% of the people I met were very kind and willing to engage as much as they could. Many admitted they didnt have long, but I did collect over a hundred new cards for my collection! I still have to organize them, but it's always nice to have peoples info if I need it.
I should also say, if yall wanna talk you can email or DM me. I'm willing to hop on calls and shit to have a chat. I don't know why so many people thinks the giy with fox ears is gonna be some super serious person who is restrictive on who he talks with.
Also, yeah, I have managed to gaslight people into thinking I was always a fox instead of a cat. That alone is my biggest achievement of CANSEC. I didn't make the Fox nickname for myself. I just stole it, but I am going to exploit it for my own joy.
Overall, CANSEC was a fun time. A time where people felt genuinely interested in engaging, and had hope that things were moving in a good direction. There was a sense of excitement in the air that I have not felt at an event like this, in my meetings with many others. That alone made me very happy.
I don't know the next event I will attend. Likely DEFSEC. I might be in the Toronto Area for a few days this summer, so if younare in the GTHA nad wanna connect later this summer, let me know! I am more than happy to see people. I would like to attend MSPO, since Canada is the lead country, but sadly I am too broke to afford a plane trip to Poland. If someone wants to bring me along though, hit ya boy up.