Ontario’s defence and aerospace sector is taking a major step forward with the creation of a new industry body — the Ontario Defence Association (ODA). Announced by Heather Pilot, President of Pilot Hill and organizer of the Best Defence Conference, and Ted Kirkpatrick, CEO of Ontario Shipyards (and incoming CEO of the new association), the ODA aims to unify the province’s defense stakeholders under one strong, coordinated voice.

The association comes at a pivotal time for Canada’s defense industry, as federal spending commitments rise and global security concerns reshape priorities. In this exclusive interview with CDR’s Publisher, Brett Kitchen, Pilot and Kirkpatrick discuss why now is the right time to relaunch a provincial association, what it means for Ontario’s global competitiveness, and how it will advocate for innovation, growth, and a stronger national defense presence.

CDR: We’re here with Ted Kirkpatrick, CEO of Ontario Shipyards, and Heather Pilot, President of Pilot Hill and organizer of the Best Defence Conference. Heather and Ted, thank you both for speaking with CDR today. We understand there’s some big news from Ontario’s defense sector. Can you tell us what that is?

Heather Pilot: Yes, we are happy to announce the creation of the Ontario Defense Association, and Ted will be leading it as CEO.

CDR: That’s exciting news. Ted, where will the association’s headquarters be located? Will it be in London, Ottawa—or somewhere else?

Ted Kirkpatrick: The intention is to base the association out of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

CDR: Got it. Now, what happened with Defense Ontario? We haven’t heard much from them in quite a while.

Heather Pilot: It’s gone—it was actually legally dissolved last year. But it hadn’t been active since I left in 2019. They just didn’t do anything, so it was formally dissolved in 2024.

CDR: Why does now feel like the right time to set up a new association?

Heather Pilot: I’ve been approached several times over the past few years about re-establishing a defence association. But with what’s happening globally—and with the 5% procurement spending commitment—it seemed like the right time.

With major increases in both global and domestic defense spending, and Canada’s new defence priorities emerging, this is an essential moment for Ontario’s defence industry to have a voice, nationally and beyond.

Ontario’s sector has done well even without a dedicated Ottawa-based advocate, but the world has changed. Our industry could benefit immensely from a strong, unified voice at the national level.

CDR: You mentioned that Ontario’s defence industry has remained strong despite the lack of an association. How will this new group help strengthen global competitiveness, innovation, and talent development?

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Ted Kirkpatrick: Ontario has traditionally been the center of Canada’s industrial defence landscape. During World Wars I and II, over half of the vessels built for the Allied war effort were produced here, and that level of contribution extended across land, sea, and air.

We have a strong foundation to build on. What’s been missing over the past decade is the recognition that Ontario—being the largest province—still needs focused attention and a consolidated voice. The innovation and capability are here; it just needs to be coordinated and highlighted. That’s exactly what this association aims to do.

Heather Pilot: Exactly. Ontario’s defence industry is healthy, viable, innovative, and strong—it’s just been held back by procurement challenges.

CDR: That makes sense. And Ted, as someone from the shipbuilding sector, you’ve seen that firsthand. There’s also a lot of emerging tech in the province that smaller companies are developing, correct?

Heather Pilot: Absolutely. Those smaller firms are driving innovation. One of the pillars of the Ontario Defense Association will be to identify fast-growing, innovative companies and make sure the government is aware of them—and supports them—so they aren’t just cherry-picked by other provinces or countries.

CDR: You mentioned Ontario’s strength in aerospace and defence. What are some key indicators you use to gauge the health of the industry?

Heather Pilot: The Defense Industrial Strategy (DIS) team is doing great work right now. They’re reaching out to industry, learning more about company capabilities, and identifying areas for current and future growth.

For example, Yuri Moran from the DIS team has been visiting companies across Ontario. That kind of engagement is something we haven’t seen before, and it’s terrific.

CDR: In terms of global competitiveness, are there specific regulatory barriers that hold Ontario’s defence sector back? How might the association address them?

Heather Pilot: That came up recently during a roundtable with Mitsubishi Aerospace Canada. In Europe, companies are often mandated to “build in-country,” and that’s something Canada needs to do more of—developing a true Build in Canada approach.

That doesn’t mean we can’t have strategic partnerships—those are important and happen all the time—but we need to ensure Canada’s own industrial base is supported. There’s a lot of international interest right now, especially from South Korea, in entering the Canadian defence market.

CDR: Yes, we’ve seen that as well. In fact, we’ll be visiting South Korea in a few weeks to tour several major aerospace and defense manufacturers.

Heather Pilot: That’s great! They’ll take good care of you—just be ready for the social side of Korean business culture!

CDR: Duly noted. So, back to the new association—since it’s still in its early stages, how many members are you hoping to start with? And what’s your longer-term vision?

Ted Kirkpatrick: We’re still finalizing what the executive and board will look like. It’s important that the leadership reflects all military domains—land, sea, air, space, and tech. We want the board to represent the diversity of Ontario’s broader defence industry.

From a membership standpoint, Ontario has a tremendous number of companies. We want the association to be accessible, meaningful, and impactful. The goal is to take all of Ontario’s voices and focus them in Ottawa so that we have a real, coordinated influence on Canada’s defense priorities.

CDR: When do you expect to start accepting memberships?

Ted Kirkpatrick: We’re aiming for the first quarter of 2026. By then, we’ll have finalized the board, executive team, membership structure, and dues—and we’ll open up to members across the province.

CDR: Excellent. I really appreciate your time, both of you. Any final thoughts before we wrap up?

Heather Pilot: We’re genuinely excited about this initiative. It’s already generating a lot of positive feedback.

Ted Kirkpatrick: Yes, absolutely. We’re seeing the largest increase in defence spending since World War II, and it’s vital that Ontario companies are represented—not just to capture opportunities, but to ensure Canada can leverage Ontario’s industrial base to achieve its national defense goals.

CDR: Well said. There’s tremendous opportunity ahead for Ontario’s defense firms. Thank you both for your time and insight.