Ottawa is reinforcing its position as one of North America’s most relevant destinations for defence, security and cyber events, as Canada’s capital builds fresh momentum across policy, innovation, investment and international collaboration.
At a time when governments, industry and academic institutions are working more closely together to address new security challenges, Ottawa offers something few destinations can match: direct access to the people, organisations and ideas shaping Canada’s response.
As the seat of Canada’s federal government and a G7 capital city, Ottawa is home to decision-makers across defence, diplomacy, public safety, technology, cyber security, research and regulation. The city’s ecosystem includes federal institutions, international missions, leading universities, global technology firms and innovative SMEs, with strengths spanning cybersecurity, aerospace, defence, AI and advanced communications. Anchored by Canada’s largest technology park and one of North America’s most concentrated technology talent pools, Ottawa provides a natural platform for events that connect policy, innovation and real-world application.
The timing is significant. Under Prime Minister Mark Carney, Canada has placed renewed emphasis on defence capability, industrial strategy, cyber resilience and strategic autonomy. That national momentum is being mirrored in Ottawa, where the city’s meetings and major events sector is increasingly aligned with the communities driving these conversations forward.
“Ottawa’s strength in this sector is not simply that it is Canada’s capital. It is that defence, security, cyber, diplomacy and innovation actively intersect here. For event organisers, that creates a powerful opportunity to convene the right people, in the right place, with access to the expertise, infrastructure and partnerships that can turn a conference into something far more meaningful.” says Stephanie Seguin, Vice President, Meetings & Major Events at Ottawa Tourism.
That positioning has been further strengthened through Ottawa Unlimited, the collaborative initiative between Ottawa Tourism, Invest Ottawa and the Ottawa Board of Trade. By bringing togetherdestination marketing, economic development and business leadership, Ottawa Unlimited provides a unified platform for showcasing the city’s scale, ambition and sector expertise to national and international audiences.
Recent activity across the city demonstrates the strength of that platform. Ottawa Innovation Week, which took place from 8 – 12 June 2026, brought together founders, researchers, investors, corporatesand community leaders across sectors including AI, defence, health and cleantech. The programme highlighted Ottawa’s ability to connect innovation with real-world application, reinforcing the city’s role as a place where ideas move quickly between government, industry, academia and investment, and where organizations can advance innovations from research and testing to commercialisation and global growth. The city also continues to host major defence and security events with national and international reach. CANSEC, Canada’s leading defence, security and emerging technology event, returned to Ottawa in May 2026, bringing together defence, government, industry and international delegations. Its scale and profile reflect Ottawa’s unique position as a natural gathering place for the defence and security community.
Cybersecurity is also playing an increasingly central role in Ottawa’s event strategy and reflects one of the city’s core areas of expertise. As home to a globally recognized cybersecurity ecosystem that includes industry leaders, innovators, government agencies and research institutions, Ottawa has earned a reputation as a hub for digital security and resilience.
In December 2026, the National Capital Region will host INCYBER Forum Canada, a major pan-Canadian and international conference focused on cybersecurity, AI safety and national digital resilience. The event will bring together public, private, academic and international stakeholders at a time when secure digital systems, trusted technologies and cyber resilience are high on the agenda for governments and organisations worldwide. The event was brought to Ottawa through the leadership of the International Cybersecurity Forum (ICF) Canada and local partners, helping secure the forum’s presence in Canada while strengthening Ottawa’s role as a centre for cybersecurity collaboration and innovation.
What sets Ottawa apart is the accessibility of its ecosystem. Organisers can connect directly with government decision-makers, industry leaders, researchers, innovators and policymakers whose work shapes national conversations on defence, security and cyber resilience. Combined with a compact downtown core, bilingual environment and established meetings
For Ottawa Tourism, the opportunity is not only to attract more events in defence, security and cyber, but to help those events achieve greater impact.
“The most successful events in this space need more than venues and logistics. They need access to knowledge, credibility, networks and a destination that understands the importance of the conversation. Ottawa can offer that combination. Through Ottawa Tourism, Invest Ottawa, Ottawa Board of Trade, the Rogers Centre Ottawa and our wider city partners, we can help organisers connect with the ecosystem that makes their event more relevant, more valuable and more connected to Canada’s future.” continues Seguin.
As Canada increases its focus on defence, resilience, cyber security and trusted innovation, Ottawa is well placed to welcome the events that will support that agenda. For international associations, corporate organisers, government-linked groups and specialist sector communities, the city offers a clear proposition: a capital destination where collaboration happens, decisions are made and the future of security is actively being shaped.
