RBC Place London, 300 York Street, London, Ontario N6B 1P8
Location
London, Canada
Organizer
Pilot Hill Ltd. / Ontario Defence Association
Cost
paid
Scale
intimate
Recurrence
annual
Reg. deadline
8 Sept 2026
Format
On-site
Why it matters
Best Defence is the most accessible entry point into Ontario's defence-industrial ecosystem — Canada's largest — offering direct, affordable face-time with CAF procurement officers, federal/provincial decision-makers, and prime contractors at a fraction of the cost of CANSEC or major trade shows. For SMEs and startups, the Technology Showcase provides a curated on-stage pitch opportunity directly in front of CAF and government buyers. The ODA's official backing adds institutional credibility and a growing member network, making it a high-ROI event for companies seeking Canadian programmes of record or teaming partners.
Best Defence Conference is Canada's annual defence-industrial conference held in London, Ontario — the heart of Canada's largest provincial defence-industrial base. Now the official conference of the Ontario Defence Association, the two-day event brings together Canadian Armed Forces commanders, federal and provincial procurement decision-makers, prime contractors, SMEs, and technology innovators for keynotes, roundtables, a Technology Showcase, and curated B2B/B2G matchmaking. The program covers Canadian defence procurement pipelines, supply-chain development across air, land, naval, and C4ISR domains, and emerging capabilities in AI, cyber, quantum, and autonomy.
Market intel
Cheap pricingmedium confidence
Best Defence is a focused, intimate Canadian defence conference self-described as one of Canada's top-three defence events, averaging around 500 attendees drawn from industry, CAF, and government procurement. The 2026 edition is the first under the official ODA banner, with a marquee speaker lineup including senior CAF generals, federal ministers, and defence-industry executives. Exhibitor and sponsorship numbers are not publicly disclosed; the event positions itself on quality of access over scale.
Notable exhibitors
General Dynamics Land Systems–CanadaBDC (Business Development Bank of Canada)Roshel Inc.ANVIL IntelligencePalitronicaDeloitte LLPBell CanadaDominion Dynamics
AI-researched Tue, 25 August 2026. Estimates from public sources. Verify with the organizer.
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