TNSR begins sponsor and industry engagement and announces planned changes to sponsorship, a new core mandate for space, student program and redesigned site
True North Strategic Review (TNSR) today is proud to officially launch the Roadmap to Opening The Conversation, our 2027 strategic plan, and has began engagement with our sponsors and the defence industry as part of initial consultstions.
2026 was TNSR's first year as a full-time publication. We moved to daily publishing, have grown to more than 2,000 subscribers in 56 countries, and have covered CANSEC and events in South Korea and Sweden in person. Opening The Conversation sets out the next step: bringing more of Canada's defence community into TNSR's work, from industry and students to partners and allies.
Opening The Conversation is built on five pillars: Industry Engagement, New Voices, Expanded Coverage, Partnerships, and Institutional and International Engagement. Together they set out how TNSR will open its work to more contributors, partners and readers while keeping its editorial independence.
As part of this year’s plan, TNSR will undertake our second major revamp of our site and mandate to better align with our audience expectations and goals. These plans will be detailed more extensively as we head into the official launch of Opening The Conversation.
Changes To Sponsorships
As TNSR has grown, so has the number of companies that want to support its work. In 2027, TNSR will introduce a revised sponsorship system built on accountability, transparency for readers, and fair access for companies of every size, including small and medium-sized enterprises.
Current sponsors will be consulted first, followed by wider engagement with industry. Their input will shape the new system before it is finalized. TNSR's editorial independence is not part of that discussion. Sponsors will continue to have no say over what TNSR covers or how it covers it.
Space and Space-Based Defence
TNSR is making space and space-based defence a core part of its coverage mandate, alongside its existing work. Satellite communications, surveillance from orbit and space domain awareness now underpin much of what Canada does on land, at sea, in the air and in the Arctic. TNSR will expand our coverage to better reflect the programs, policies and companies behind that work with regular, dedicated reporting.
TNSR Student Program
TNSR is developing a student program open to post-secondary students. Students in defence, security, international affairs, engineering, policy and related fields will have an open forum to publish analysis and commentary and to engage directly with Canada's defence community. The program’s initial focus will be on students in bachelor’s degree programs.
Universities, colleges and academic programs are invited to get in touch now to help shape the program. Details, including how students can take part, will be released with the full plan.
A Redesigned Site
TNSR will remain on Substack for the forseeable future and will redesign its site for 2027. After a year of daily publishing, the redesign will make the site easier to navigate, make room for student and Guest Voice work, and give sponsors and industry a clearer place to engage.
What Come's Next
Sponsor and industry engagement runs from today until November 15th, 2026. The full Opening The Conversation plan will be released with TNSR’s 2026 Annual Report in December, along with the remaining initiatives under each pillar.
Sponsors, companies, universities, colleges and institutions interested in taking part can contact TNSR at info@truenorthstrategicreview.ca