The Honorary Consuls in Vancouver—Evaleen Jaager Roy and I—have been actively planning the next chapter of our Canada–Europe Connects campaign. Launched in Vancouver in October 2025, the initiative now turns its attention to the nation’s capital, with a high-level gathering scheduled for May 26th in Ottawa.
The Ottawa event will bring together senior leaders for a strategic briefing on building a dynamic new corridor of Canada–Europe trade and investment in defence and strategic industries. Timed deliberately ahead of CANSEC—Canada's premier annual global defence and security trade show—the gathering will convene European and Canadian defence and innovation companies, key government officials, and EU organizations.
Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly stressed the need for economic resilience in the face of global geopolitical instability, noting that national and economic security are inseparable and that investment in defence is now a federal priority.
The urgency behind this initiative has been underscored by two recent ministerial visits to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly stressed the need for economic resilience in the face of global geopolitical instability, noting that national and economic security are inseparable and that investment in defence is now a federal priority.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand echoed this sentiment the following week, highlighting her ministry’s focus on forging economic partnerships worldwide to diversify Canada’s trading relationships and strengthen its long-term resilience.
Both ministers’ remarks reflect a growing federal consensus: Europe is central to Canada’s strategy for both national and economic security. The May 26th Canada–Europe Connects gathering aims to translate that political commitment into tangible partnerships, building the transatlantic ties that will support Canada’s and Europe’s strategic future.
The Canada-Europe event will have a focus on Estonia as a gateway to the EU’s 450 million consumers, highlighting successful partnerships between the two countries. For more information about the gathering visit cityage.com/events/canada-europe-connect/ .
