Invest Barrie and the County of Simcoe, along with representatives from Georgian College, Lakehead University, and several local businesses attended the CANSEC Global Defence and Security Trade Show in Ottawa as a delegation on May 29th and 30th 2024.
As Canada’s largest defence, security, and emerging technology event, CANSEC provided the delegation with education, connections, and support for the advancement of business opportunities in the sector. Invest Barrie and the County of Simcoe, in partnership with it’s sixteen member municipalities, collaborate to enhance the growth of the local and regional economy and support further investment into the area within key sectors. Through initiatives such as delegations to trade events, we support local businesses and help implement successful growth and advancement opportunities for industry.
A key opportunity for industry within the defence sector is the Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy; Canada’s main tool to leverage defence procurements for economic benefits. The ITB Policy requires a company awarded a defence contract to undertake business activity in Canada equal to the value of the contract. The policy applies to all eligible defence procurements over $100 million. The activities are not limited to the defence sector, supporting supply chain opportunities for small and medium enterprises. To learn more about the ITB Policy, please visit: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/industrial-technological-benefits/en
The regional delegation to CANSEC 2024 included:
Weldco-Beales Manufacturing
Weldco-Beales Manufacturing (WBM), which provides a service-oriented approach whilst engineering and manufacturing specialized equipment attachments for industrial machinery. With locations in Barrie, Ontario, as well as Alberta and British Columbia, WBM attachments are manufactured with the goal of creating a safe and effective work environment, by supporting a high level of skill and efficiency in the labour force. WBM’s in-house engineering team supports the customer’s values, as their main goal is to create attachments that are specifically designed for each customer, taking into consideration their work needs and environment.
Albarrie
Albarrie, a technical fabrics company located in Barrie, is focused on developing products that provide solutions to environmental issues in many industries. By manufacturing environmental-friendly technical fabrics, Albarrie focuses on areas such as maintenance-free oil containment systems, industrial air filtration, and material handling and conveyance. A main focus of their technical fabrics includes high-temperature and chemical resistance.
Volatus Aerospace
Volatus Aerospace, which specializes in drone production and emerging technologies across North America. Locally situated in Oro-Medonte at the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport, Volatus Aerospace provides access to enhanced data analysis, operation efficiency, decision-making aspects, and business outcomes whilst limiting costs for each business. They offer drone inspections, lidar services and aviation surveillance with safety and accuracy. Volatus Aerospace supports several industries including energy, oil, gas, defence, forestry, transportation, construction, mining, engineering, development, and more.
Sensor Technology Canada
Sensor Technology Canada, providers of acoustic sensors and systems for high-value aquatic environments. By manufacturing products such as piezoceramics, hydrophones, and other aquatic-acoustic technologies, the company has been able to expand and adapt their aquatic products for the past 40 years. With their two locations in Collingwood, Ontario and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, their technologies specialize in sectors such as defence, aquaculture, energy, oceanography and hydrography.
Raytheon ELCAN
Raytheon ELCAN, which produces high-precision optical systems using high-energy laser optics, weapons guidance and seekers, infrared search and track counter measures, space ISR, cockpit avionics and targeting systems. Being one of the largest private sector employers in Simcoe County, Raytheon ELCAN provides many industrial technological benefits across Canada, by supporting the Canadian Armed Forces with technologies and skill development. They are located in Midland, Ontario.
Georgian College
Georgian is MORE than an education – it’s an experience. The college offers 130+ market-driven programs, from degrees and diplomas, to certificates, apprenticeships, corporate training and more. A recognized leader in student work experience, our graduate employment rate – 90.3 per cent – is in the top 3 for Ontario colleges. Georgian graduates continue to play a pivotal role in meeting the demand for a highly qualified workforce. With campuses located in Barrie, Midland, Muskoka (Bracebridge), Orangeville, Orillia, Owen Sound, and South Georgian Bay (Collingwood), Georgian College provides first-rate support to these communities and to thousands of individuals, organizations, and businesses across Ontario. Georgian is the first – and only – college in Canada designated a changemaker college by AshokaU for our role as a leader in social innovation and changemaking in higher education.
Lakehead University
With campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay (Ontario), Lakehead University is a comprehensive research-intensive university. Drawing on local and global connections, Lakehead’s talented faculty researchers engage industry of all sizes in ways that accelerate the economy and advance innovation. Lakehead’s diverse degree programming and non-credit programs help foster a highly skilled workforce by providing quality education and training programs tailored to meet the needs of business and industry. In addition to valuable experiential learning in class, Lakehead students access work-integrated-learning options like co-op, internship, and applied research opportunities in order to explore their interests and prepare for their future careers. More than 96 % of graduates (96.3 percent) are employed two years after graduation.
Invest Barrie can connect businesses, big and small, to the information, connections and support you need to start or grow your business, attract talent and stay competitive. Please reach out to 705-728-9850 or email us at invest@barrie.ca. You can also follow along and access the latest updates through our social media platforms:
- LinkedIn (Invest Barrie)
- Twitter (@InvestBarrie, @SBCBarrie)
- Instagram (@creativebarrie)
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The County of Simcoe Economic Development Office (EDO) works collaboratively with area municipalities to help businesses in key sectors thrive and grow. We offer unique and complimentary services that support economic development and related learning opportunities.
They are pleased to assist you with all your business development and relocation needs. To contact them, please visit: https://edo.simcoe.ca/about/our-team/
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