DEFSEC Atlantic: Canada's 2nd largest defence show goes international
From Hangar Corners to International Stage: The Story of DEFSEC Atlantic
Industry delegates from 18 countries, NATO DIANA delegates from 32 countries, and more than 2000 attendees are in Halifax this week for Canada’s second-largest defence conference in max capacity conference centre.
Big things rarely look big when they start.
In the late 1970s, DEFSEC Atlantic was nothing more than a dozen card tables at the Shearwater Air Show. No branding, no buzz - I can’t find Shearwater on a map - just a few companies wedged in next to the static aircraft.
Nobody would have guessed that it was the seed of something that would anchor Canada’s East Coast defence industry and make it the envy of the rest of the country.
Then came the Maritime Helicopter Program in the late 1990s. Suddenly, the game changed. Eighty exhibitors. A dedicated hangar. They even gave it a name: “D Hangar.”
-The MHP program has still not ended by the way (you thought Navy programs were long), but I digress.-
Growth never comes without setbacks. In 1998, Swissair Flight 111 went down eight kilometres southwest of Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia. The air show was cancelled, and the hangars housed part of the investigation into the crash.
In the event management and non-profit world, one dud can be the end of the story.
Not this one.
By 2004, the industry side broke away from the air show altogether. A new name. A port-side venue. Two years later, another rebrand - DEFSEC Atlantic was born. The first events were rough: converted warehouses. Pigeons in the rafters (is it true they shot them?) Delegates arriving anyway.
I still recall being in the hall when bits of the Cunard Centre ceiling fell onto an exhibitor’s booth.
Canadian industry giants don’t appear out of thin air. They start small, stumble, adapt, and then they own the stage.
That’s how you know it’s real - people keep showing up.
Fast forward to 2021. Halifax Convention Centre. Full building. More than 1,000 delegates despite being in the middle of a pandemic.
What started as card tables in a hangar corner is now Canada’s second-most important defence trade show. A place where global primes, SMEs, and government buyers converge.
This year, it is held alongside NATO DIANA’s annual general meeting (with 32 attending countries).
Hear from Colin Stephenson, Executive Director, DEFSEC Atlantic, himself on the show.
The DNA hasn’t changed: approachable, practical, and proudly Atlantic. Small talk and big programs. What looked like a sideshow is now a front door to global supply chains.
Here’s the takeaway: Ignore Atlantic Canada at your peril. It’s a region that consistently punches above its weight in shipbuilding, aerospace, and defence services. It was in defence when defence wasn’t trending, and thanks to that, it’s gone international.
What’s making waves this week across the Atlantic
Canada briefly floated buying two types of submarines (from two suppliers: Korea and Germany) before rescinding the idea due to the potential costs, returning to a winner-takes-all competition.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the UK in order to shore up a long-standing relationship, discussing trade and security.
Denmark suffered a malicious drone incursion shutting down numerous airports - despite having numerous companies that offer counter-drone technology. Canada and Denmark were due to meet but the latter cancelled due to the crisis.
Upcoming events:
Access2Markets platform Access2Markets Live Training Seminar - EU-Canada trade | is held 7 October 2025
Free Trade with Europe (CETA): what’s in it for us? Virtual event held Monday 27 Oct 2025
The Ontario Critical Minerals Forum coming to Toronto November 18-19
The Canada EU Economic Chamber launched registration for its annual event in Brussels taking place 27 November
–We’re inviting contributors, recommendations, and ideas to make this a community-driven resource for people working in this transatlantic crosswind.--
Subbed based on Noah's recommendation