March 6, 2026 - Western Sentinel
Representatives from the Department of National Defence (DND), Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and organizations across the Edmonton region recently gathered to discuss ways of working together to support Canada’s defence industry and national sovereignty.
The Edmonton Region Defence Alliance (ERDA) hosted a roundtable on Feb. 12 at Edmonton Global’s office, with participants attending in person or virtually. Invited to take part in the event, 3rd Canadian Division (3 Cdn Div) supported the roundtable as a facilitator and helped connect DND and CAF decision makers with Edmonton‑region industry leaders to discuss defence capacity and collaboration.
"The Canadian Armed Forces welcomes the opportunity to work with partners across Western Canada,” said Brigadier‑General Wade Rutland, Commander 3 Cdn Div / Joint Task Force West, who attended as one of the CAF’s representatives. “This will strengthen readiness, resilience and innovation in support of our mission.”
ERDA is a newly formed alliance led by five Edmonton‑area organizations: Edmonton Global, Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association, Edmonton International Airport, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and the University of Alberta. Founded in 2026, its goal is to present the region as a strategic centre for Western and Northern defence readiness. The Feb. 12 roundtable was the first of its kind and aimed to foster mutual understanding between the DND/CAF and Edmonton’s industrial actors.
Edmonton Global CEO Daryn Edgar explained Edmonton’s size and location—the northernmost large city in North America—along with its evolving industrial ecosystem and technological talent base, plays a huge role in why the region can play a significant role in defending Canada and asserting sovereignty in the North.
“With our geography, infrastructure, talent and innovation strengths, the Edmonton region is uniquely positioned to support Canada’s defence priorities while attracting long‑term investment and trade opportunities,” she said. “The Edmonton region is Canada’s western hub for defence and security, and the Edmonton Region Defence Alliance brings that co‑ordination into focus. As a founding partner, Edmonton Global is helping to align industry, academia and government to present a clear value proposition to investors, prime contractors and partners – turning sustained trade and economic growth for the Edmonton region, aligned with Canada’s defence priorities.”
The roundtable took place less than a week before the federal government unveiled Canada’s new Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) – a multibillion‑dollar plan that aims to reshape the country’s defence ecosystem by dramatically increasing domestic procurement, boosting serviceability rates of military equipment and creating up to 125,000 jobs over the next decade. The DIS, released on Feb. 17, seeks to ensure Canada can sustain its own defence capabilities and reinforce national sovereignty, particularly in the Arctic and across the North.
While the roundtable sought to present the merits of the Edmonton region, it also served to assist ERDA members and the other attendees with understanding the DND and CAF’s priorities as the Canadian Army undergoes its Modernization transition.
Among topics discussed were how procurement and research pathways work, what emerging capabilities need to look, and where regional partners can meaningfully contribute. Understanding these aspects of the DND and CAF’s operations environment will help industry and academia better align their offerings to best support national defence objectives.
Beyond representatives from 3 Cdn Div and the members of ERDA, the roundtable drew attendees from various governmental and non‑governmental entities.
On the DND/CAF side Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) Materiel, ADM Infrastructure and Environment, and ADM Policy sent participants, alongside Director Land Requirements, Defence Research and Development Canada, and Royal Canadian Air Force – Mobility West. Federal government agencies such as Global Affairs Canada, Defence Construction Canada and Prairies Economic Development Canada also attended. The Alberta government’s Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration sent representatives to the roundtable as well.
Among the non‑governmental organizations present were the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, Invest Alberta, chambers of commerce from area communities, and various industrial companies spanning construction, chemical engineering and technology.
BGen Rutland expressed gratitude at seeing the wide range of organizations in attendance.
“As a network partner, we appreciate the collaborative effort that is bringing industry, academia and communities together to better understand defence needs and identify where Canadian capacity can contribute,” he said.
The roundtable allowed attendees to gain a clearer picture of the operating environment and the different factors influencing defence capability development. Participants noted innovation can occur at different speeds across Defence, industry and academia, and finding ways to better align these efforts can support more effective collaboration. The discussion also acknowledged the federal procurement system is centralized and complex, which can make co‑ordination important when developing and delivering new capabilities.
Throughout the roundtable it became clear the ERDA event could be a jumping‑off point for similar events in communities across Canada to engage industry, academia and other organizations in pursuit of stronger Canadian sovereignty and a bolstered defence industry. For ERDA, the roundtable also marked the beginning of an ongoing effort to support collaboration, knowledge‑sharing and alignment between regional capabilities and national defence needs.
As the Canadian Army undergoes its Modernization transition, and in particular as 3 Cdn Div transforms into Manoeuvre Division, it will be integral for the Army to leverage relationships with the industries and academic institutions in the communities where its operations are located. To that end, the importance of events like ERDA’s roundtable take on increased significance.
“The Edmonton Regional Defence Alliance is one example of how regional partners are aligning to support national objectives,” said BGen Rutland. “We welcome continued engagement that helps connect people and generate ideas and practical solutions.”