Highlights from the Aerospace Defence and Security Expo (ADSE) 2026
August 6 - 7, 2026
Tradex in Abbotsford, British Columbia
Highlights from ADSE 2026
AIAC was pleased to bring together leaders from industry, government and the Canadian Armed Forces in Abbotsford for another successful Aerospace Defence and Security Expo (ADSE).
Under this year’s theme, Agility: Aligning Industry and Government, ADSE 2026 featured two days of insightful conversations, innovative exhibits and valuable networking opportunities focused on strengthening collaboration and advancing Canada’s aerospace, defence and security sectors.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to making ADSE 2026 a success. Take a look back at some of the highlights from this year’s event.
August 6, 2026 (Day 1)
August 7, 2026 (Day 2)
Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors :
Supporting Partner:
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Supporter Sponsors
Media Partners
Highlight from ADSE 2026 Exhibit Hall & B2B
The ADSE 2026 Exhibit Hall and B2B brought together aerospace and defence companies, government partners and industry leaders to showcase Canadian capabilities, exchange ideas and build new connections.
From emerging technologies and innovative solutions to conversations about the future of Canada’s aerospace and defence sector, the exhibition floor was a hub of activity throughout ADSE 2026.
Thank you to our world-class Exhibitors who participated in the ADSE 2026 Trade Show:
ADSE Welcome Reception & Conair Tarmac Tailgate After-Party
The conversations at ADSE 2026 continued well into the evening as leaders from industry, government, the Canadian Armed Forces and partner organizations came together at the ADSE Welcome Reception to strengthen relationships, exchange ideas and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
Special thanks to our Welcome Reception speakers:
- Brad Vis, Member of Parliament for Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford
- Ross Siemens, Mayor of City of Abbotsford
- Chris Niemann, President & CEO, Conair Aerial Firefighting
Their remarks highlighted the importance of collaboration in advancing Canada’s aerospace, defence and security sectors and the strength of British Columbia’s aerospace community.
Following the ADSE welcome reception, attendees had another opportunity to connect with colleagues from across Canada’s aerospace and defence community at Conair’s Tarmac Tailgate After-Party in Abbotsford.
Thank you to Chris Niemann and the entire Conair Aerial Firefighting team for hosting and for their continued support of ADSE 2026.
Thank you to our ADSE 2026 Sponsors
Thank you to our generous Sponsors for your support of ADSE 2026:
Supporting Partner:
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Supporter Sponsor
Media Partners
ADSE 2026 Speakers
The Honourable Stephen Fuhr
Secretary of State – Defence Procurement
Government of Canada
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Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet
Commander
Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)
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Lieutenant-General Iain Huddleston
Deputy Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command
Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)
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Christiane Fox
Deputy Minister
Department of National Defence
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Colonel David Donald (Don) Saunders
Acting Director
Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Innovation and Science (BOREALIS)
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Lieutenant-Colonel Nick Verreault
Head,Joint Uncrewed Systems (UxS) Office
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)
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Mike Kelloway
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Government of Canada
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Sandra Buckler
Senior Director, External Affairs and Public Relations
Bombardier
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Philip Garbutt
Senior Vice President, Global Support
PAL Aerospace
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Fredrik Gustafson
Head of Group Business Development
Saab
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Kendal Hembroff
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Industry Sector
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
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Carl Kumpic
Vice President Defence & Government Programs
Voyageur Aviation Corp.
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Kyle Kusznieryk
Chief Executive Officer
Cota Aviation
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Kristen Leroux
Vice President and Regional Executive for Canada and Latin America
Lockheed Martin
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Stu McIntosh
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Cascade Aerospace
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Tracy Medve
CEO
KF Aerospace
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Richard Morris
Director, Government Programs
Airbus Helicopters Canada
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Michael Nault
Vice President and General Manager
Bell Textron Canada
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Chris Nieman
President & CEO
Conair
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Steve Patrick
Vice President Growth & Strategy
Bombardier
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Philippe Poutissou
Vice President, Strategic Partnerships
De Havilland Defence
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Kevin Russell
Vice President & General Manager
Asco Aerospace Canada Ltd.
Neil Sweeney
Vice President Corporate Affairs
De Havilland Aircraft of Canada
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Clare Timmis
Vice President, International
Mach Industries
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Ray Townsend
Canada Public Sector Partnership Lead
Cohere
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Ibrahim Yimer
Vice President, Transportation and Manufacturing
National Research Council Canada
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ADSE 2026 Program
In Partnership with
Platinum Sponsor
Thursday, August 6
| 8:00 am – 4:00 pm | Registration |
|---|---|
sponsored by  |
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| 9:00 am – 5:00 pm | Opening of the Exhibit Hall |
| 9:00 am – 5:00 pm | Opening of the B2B meetings |
sponsored by  |
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| 8:45 am | Welcome Remarks |
| Featuring: • Mike Mueller, President and CEO, AIAC • ADSE Master of Ceremonies Sandra Buckler, Senior Director, External Affairs and Public Relations, Bombardier |
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| 9:00 am | Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • Clare Timmis, Vice President, International, Mach Industries |
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| 9:30 am | Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • Kendal Hembroff, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Industry Sector, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada |
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| 10:00 am | Refreshment Break in Trade Show |
sponsored by  |
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| 11:00 am | Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • Michael Nault, Vice President & General Manager, Bell Textron Canada Limited |
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| 11:30 am | Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • Tracy Medve, CEO, KF Aerospace |
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| 11:50 am | ADSE Luncheon & Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • Lieutenant-Colonel Nick Verreault, Head, Joint Uncrewed Systems (UxS) Office, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) |
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| 1:00 pm | Panel |
| Featuring: • Steve Patrick, Vice President, Bombardier Defense – Growth & Strategy • Ibrahim Yimer, Vice President, Transportation and Manufacturing, National Research Council Canada |
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| 1:30 pm | Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • Richard Morris, Director Government Programs, Airbus Helicopters Canada |
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| 2:00 pm | Panel: Canada’s Defence Industrial Base Here in BC – In Action Today and Driving Growth for Tomorrow |
| Moderator: • Kristen Leroux, Vice President and Regional Executive for Canada and Latin America, Lockheed Martin Panelists: • Kyle Kusznieryk, Chief Executive Officer, Cota Aviation • Stu McIntosh, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Cascade Aerospace Inc. • Kevin Russell, Vice-President & General Manager, Asco Aerospace Canada Ltd. |
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| 2:30 pm | Refreshment Break in Trade Show |
| 3:30 pm | Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • Colonel David Donald (Don) Saunders, Acting Director Operations, Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Innovation and Science (BOREALIS) |
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| 4:00 pm | Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • Fredrik Gustafson, Head of Group Business Development, Saab |
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| 4:30 pm | Announcement & Closing Remarks |
| ANNOUNCEMENT Featuring: • STRIXCLOSING REMARKS Featuring: • Uwe Zachau, Chair, AIAC Board of Directors |
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| 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm | ADSE Welcome Reception |
| For all ADSE attendees and exhibitors Reception at TradeX Abbotsford 1190 Cornell St, Abbotsford, BC V2T 6H5 sponsored by  Conair Tarmac Tailgate After-Party 1404 Tower Street – Conair Hangar 2 After the reception until 8 pm – Aircraft Tour, Food & Drinks Shuttle from Tradex & Parking Available |
Friday, August 7
| 8:00 am – 2:30 pm | Registration |
|---|---|
| sponsored by |
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| 8:00 am – 8:45 am | ADSE Breakfast |
sponsored by  |
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| 8:30 am – 3:00 pm | Opening of the Exhibit Hall |
| 8:30 am – 3:00 pm | Opening of the B2B meetings |
| sponsored by |
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| 8:50 am | Day 2 Welcome Remarks |
| Featuring: • ADSE Master of Ceremonies Sandra Buckler, Senior Director, External Affairs and Public Relations, Bombardier |
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| 9:00 am | Speaker Session |
sponsored by  Featuring: • Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister of National Defence, Government of Canada |
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| 9:30 am | Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • Ray Townsend, Canada Public Sector Partnership Lead, Cohere |
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| 10:00 am | Refreshment Break in Trade Show |
sponsored by  |
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| 11:00 am | Speaker Session |
sponsored by  Featuring: • Lieutenant-General Iain Huddleston, Deputy Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) |
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| 11:30 am | Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • Philippe Poutissou, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, De Havilland Defence |
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| 11:50 am | ADSE Luncheon & Fireside Chat Without the Fire |
| sponsored by Featuring: • Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, Commander, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Topics include:
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| 1:00 pm | Refreshment Break in Trade Show |
| 2:00 pm | Canadian Multi-Role Emergency Response Capabilities Panel |
| Featuring: • Philip Garbutt, Senior Vice President, Global Support, PAL Aerospace • Carl Kumpic, Vice President Defence and Government Programs, Voyageur Aviation • Chris Niemann, President & Chief Executive Officer, Conair Aerial Firefighting • Neil Sweeney, Vice President Corporate Affairs, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada |
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| 2:30 pm | Fireside Chat Without the Fire |
sponsored by  Featuring: • The Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State – Defence Procurement, Government of Canada |
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| 3:00 pm | ADSE Closing Remarks |
| Featuring: • Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Government of Canada • Mike Mueller, President and CEO, AIAC |
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| 3:30 pm – onwards | Abbotsford International Airshow Twilight Dinner |
| Twilight Show Shuttle sponsored by |