Ontario-focused. Industry-led. Defence-ready.

Ontario’s Defence Industry Association

The Ontario Defence Association represents, connects, and supports Ontario companies working across defence, security, dual-use technology, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, cyber, AI, critical minerals, nuclear, and supply-chain capability. ODA helps firms build supplier readiness, engage Ontario’s defence ecosystem, and align with provincial, Canadian, and allied defence priorities.

Representing industry to strengthen Ontario’s defence industrial base.

The Ontario Legislative Building at Queen’s Park, Toronto
Industry Insights · Findings Report

ODA Defence Industry Exchange 2026

On September 29, 2026, ODA hosted its inaugural Defence Industry Exchange at the Royal Canadian Military Institute in Toronto. The Event Consolidation and Industry Findings Report captures what industry told us.

110 attendees · 48 categorized roundtable observations · 21 survey responses
Royal Canadian Military Institute, Toronto · Report published October 13, 2026
Attendees in the Otter Room at the Royal Canadian Military Institute during the Defence Industry Exchange 2026
Official Conference of the ODA

Best Defence Conference 2026

ODA is a proud supporter and partner of the Best Defence Conference. Through this partnership, ODA has officially designated Best Defence its Official Conference — two days connecting Canada’s defence ecosystem for networking, B2B/B2G engagement and business development.

October 20–21, 2026 · RBC Place London, Ontario
500+ expected attendees · 16 years connecting Canada’s defence ecosystem
ODA members receive 10% off attendee registration
A Canadian Armed Forces officer speaking at the Best Defence Conference in London, Ontario
Attendees seated at round tables in the Otter Room during the Defence Industry Exchange 2026
Industry Insights

ODA Defence Industry Exchange 2026

Held Tuesday, September 29, 2026 · Royal Canadian Military Institute, Toronto · Findings report published October 13, 2026

The Event Consolidation and Industry Findings Report from ODA’s inaugural Defence Industry Exchange — demand visibility, industry matchmaking, financing, supplier readiness, workforce and coordination. Read it online or download the full report.

For ODA Members · Start Here

Your Member Codes and Where to Find Them

ODA issues separate codes for separate things. Your organization’s primary contact received the Member Hub access code by email. The Defence Industry Exchange discount code and the Best Defence discount code are different codes, emailed to members and available in the Member Hub under Benefits & Codes. The Service Provider Directory is open to members and non-members alike.

Members Only
01

Enter the Member Hub

Use the access code emailed to your primary contact to open the Member Hub — bulletins, the Member Network and Directory, Defence Intelligence, the Capability Atlas, the SME Resource Navigator and the Procurement Intelligence Portal.

Go to the Member Hub
Best Defence Conference 10% Member Discount
02

Get Your Best Defence Discount Code

ODA members receive 10% off attendee registration for the Best Defence Conference. The code is under Benefits & Codes inside the Member Hub — or check the email sent to your organization’s primary contact.

Open Benefits & Codes
The library at the Royal Canadian Military Institute, Toronto, set for a roundtable discussion Industry Insights
03

Read the Defence Industry Exchange Findings

The Event Consolidation and Industry Findings Report from ODA’s inaugural Defence Industry Exchange on September 29, 2026 — open to members and the public to read online or download.

Learn about the industry insights
Service Provider
Directory
Open to All
04

Become a Service Provider for ODA Members

Members and non-members alike can apply to be listed in the Service Provider Directory — legal, financial, compliance, cyber, certification, manufacturing, logistics and more. ODA reviews every submission before it is posted.

Apply to get listed
Already a Member?

Don’t have your code yet? Your organization’s primary contact can obtain it by completing the Member Hub Access Terms & Conditions. The passcode is emailed immediately on completion.

Complete the Terms & Conditions

Can’t find your code? Email info@ontariodefence.ca and Holly, our administrator, will confirm the code for your organization.

300+
defence firms in Ontario
13,000+
Ontario defence workers
50%
of Ontario defence revenue from exports
1st
Ontario Defence Industrial Strategy now in development

Source: Ontario Defence Industrial Strategy framework, Government of Ontario, May 2026.

Our Members

A Growing Defence Network Across Ontario and Beyond

Every point on the map is a member organization. ODA membership spans Ontario, Canada and international partners, and continues to grow across defence, dual-use, advanced manufacturing, technology, aerospace, cyber and supply-chain sectors.

What ODA Does

An Industry Association Home for Ontario Defence and Dual-Use Companies

01

Represent Ontario Industry

A provincial industry association home for Ontario defence, dual-use and defence-adjacent companies.

02

Build Supplier Readiness

Support for firms working through procurement pathways, defence-market fit, compliance, quality and security expectations.

03

Map Industrial Capability

Supplier and capability mapping across regions and domains, now taking shape as the Capability Atlas.

04

Convene Industry and Partners

Bringing together SMEs, primes, government-facing stakeholders, funders, researchers and ecosystem organizations.

05

Support ODIS Alignment

Translating Ontario industry needs into programming aligned with the Ontario Defence Industrial Strategy.

06

Activate Opportunities

Member briefings, forums, program updates, Best Defence integration and market intelligence.

Who ODA Works With
Ontario defence companies
Dual-use technology firms
Advanced manufacturers
Aerospace, land, maritime, space, cyber, AI, autonomy & C4ISR
Critical minerals, nuclear, energy, materials & logistics
SMEs seeking defence-market readiness
Primes seeking Ontario supply-chain visibility
Colleges, universities, RTOs & innovation hubs
Economic development organizations
Supporting Ontario's Defence Industrial Strategy

Aligning Ontario's Industrial Capacity with Defence Priorities

Ontario is developing its first Defence Industrial Strategy to strengthen the province's role in Canadian and allied defence supply chains. ODA supports that direction by organizing industry input, building supplier readiness, mapping capability, and convening partners.

“Ontario is the trusted industrial and innovation backbone for Canada and its allied partners, where defence and dual-use capabilities are invented, built, scaled and exported.”

Ontario Defence Industrial Strategy framework, Government of Ontario, May 2026
Programs and Initiatives
Defence Industrial Readiness ProgramIn Development
Member Opportunity SignallingMember Resource
Capability & Supplier MappingIn Development
Industry ForumsIn Development
Strategic Collaborator FrameworkActive / In Development
Best Defence Conference IntegrationActive

Ontario's Defence Moment — the 2026 Intelligence Briefing. Sixty-eight curated publications synthesized into the five signals shaping Ontario's defence sector this year. Free to read.

Member Hub

The ODA Member Hub

Approved members receive an access code to a protected area holding ODA's intelligence, directory and readiness tools.

Now live. Approved members receive an access code by email from the Association.
Procurement Intelligence Portal
Daily bulletins
Member Network & map
Membership Directory
Capability Atlas BETA
Defence Intelligence
SME Resource Navigator
Associations & Organizations
Programs & Events
Best Defence discount
Benefits & Codes
Partner showcase
Best Defence Conference Official Conference of the Ontario Defence Association

Best Defence Conference

ODA is a proud supporter and partner of the Best Defence Conference. Through this partnership, ODA has officially designated Best Defence its Official Conference of choice.

  • October 20–21, 2026 · RBC Place London, Ontario
  • 500+ expected attendees, 16 years connecting Canada's defence ecosystem
  • ODA members receive 10% off attendee registration — code in the Member Hub
A Canadian Armed Forces officer speaking at the Best Defence Conference in London, Ontario
Partner With ODA

Partner with ODA

Three engagement pathways, each preserving ODA's institutional neutrality and public trust.

Our Founding Members & Strategic Partners
Founding Member
BDC — Business Development Bank of Canada
Strategic Partner
Publicus
Strategic Partner
ENTEX

Founding Members

A limited group of formative institutional supporters making a multi-year commitment to establish and scale the Association. By invitation or strategic discussion.

Founding Member pathway

Strategic Partners

Annual or multi-year support, or approved strategic in-kind value, advancing ODA programming, member value and sector-building activities.

Strategic Partner pathway

Ecosystem Partners

No-fee reciprocal collaboration that extends ODA's reach, strengthens regional and sector connectivity, and builds awareness across the ecosystem.

Ecosystem Partner pathway
Join ODA

Join Ontario's Defence and Dual-Use Industry Association

Become part of a province-wide industry association working to strengthen Ontario's defence-industrial base, supplier readiness, and role in Canadian and allied defence supply chains.