That One Time ... We Made DEFSEC World-Class

Launched as an airshow and trade event in the 1990s, DEFSEC Atlantic has grown into Canada’s second-largest gathering for Aerospace, Defence, and Security– a key platform for national and international networking and collaboration among industry leaders, military representatives, and government officials. The Halifax Convention Centre has been DEFSEC's home base since 2021 while growing into the space year over year. In 2024, DEFSEC occupied the entire 120,000-square-feet of the Convention Centre for the first time, welcoming over 1,550 participants, facilitating 822 business-to-business meetings and 197 exhibitors, and partnering with international ocean-tech conference OCEANS 2024. It was the biggest DEFSEC event until 2025.  

Based in Halifax, DEFSEC Atlantic supports Nova Scotia’s central role in Canada’s defence sector, anchored by CFB Halifax, the country’s largest naval base, and as the home to military assets like the Maritime Warfare Centre and two air force bases. Nova Scotia is home to nine of Canada’s top ten defence companies, making it a hub for global leaders in naval defence, shipbuilding, cybersecurity, and advanced technologies like sonar systems.  

With 30% of Canada’s leading defence firms also based in Halifax, DEFSEC Atlantic is vital to this ecosystem, providing an unmatched opportunity for Nova Scotia’s defence and security sectors to showcase their capabilities and advancements through B2B networks. DEFSEC fosters essential relationships between industry and government, supports the local economy by drawing in national and international business, and highlights Nova Scotia’s strategic importance in the defence sector.  

According to DEFSEC's Executive Director Colin Stephenson, the Halifax Convention Centre has been a key driver of the event's growth, offering a world-class experience in a world-class city. Watch our exclusive interview with him and learn about that one time we made DEFSEC world-class.