Medicine Hat defence forum and tradeshow to explore opportunities in SE Alberta

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Organizers say more than $1 billion in local defence and research modernization projects are underway, while more than $500 billion in national defence investments are planned over the coming decade.

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The forum will examine how southeastern Alberta can benefit from those investments, including through work at Canadian Forces Base Suffield and the Foremost Uncrewed Aerial Systems Test Range.

Sessions will cover the future of defence research, federal programs available to businesses, and the role of drone technology in the region’s economic development.

Speakers will also discuss preparing workers for future defence and aviation jobs, including pathways from high school into science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers.

Featured speakers attending the forum include:

• Rob Roach — ATB deputy chief economist
• Susan Rowsell — Suffield Research Centre chief scientist
• Mike Onieu — CFB Suffield Futures Project officer
• Pamela Pilsner — Business Development Bank of Canada
• Elliot Hewitt — Prairies Economic Development Canada
• Cal Koskowich — National Research Council Canada
• Steve Donovan — Foremost UAS Test Range
• Dylan Richards — Landing Zones Inc.
• Markus Lemke — Amtech Military and Automation Systems
• Vincent Malley — UVA Dynamics Inc.
• David Sabados — QinetiQ Target Systems Canada
• Vladimir Mravcak — Atlantis Research Labs Inc.
• Terri Super — Super T Aviation
• Dr. Reagan Weeks — Prairie Rose School Division
• Kathryn Ambler — Alberta Aviation, Aerospace and Defence
• Dan Juhlin — Juhlin Aerospace Consulting
• Jordan Cicoria — Aerial Evolution Association of Canada
• Nabil Rahman — Government of Alberta, Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration
• Dr. Chioma Onyedikachi Okoro — Alberta Innovates
• Mike Horobec — EllisDon
• Shawn Storozhenko — EllisDon
• Bryan Rapati — University of Alberta, DEFENDS

Forum moderators:

• Sean Blewett — Community Futures Entre-Corp
• Tracy Stroud — APEX Regional Innovation Network
• Amber Smith — Community Futures Entre-Corp
• Kristi Liboiron — Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium

Exhibits at the Tradeshow include rockets, a supersonic uncrewed aerial vehicle, a weather-balloon drone system, and an uncrewed helicopter target drone.

The events are organized by Community Futures Entre-Corp and APEX Regional Innovation Network.