Feb 2027 Symposium

The Canadian Military, Veteran & Family
Connected Campus Consortium (CMVF3C):
ONE CANADA 2027: From Capacity to Capability

Canada possesses significant capacity across its post-secondary institutions, defence organizations, governments, industry, and communities. The challenge is how to better connect and mobilize that capacity to build the people, institutions, and capabilities Canada will need in the years ahead.

The CMVF3C National Symposium 2027 will bring together leaders and practitioners from across Canada’s defence, post-secondary, government, industry, military- and Veteran-serving, and partner communities to explore how Canada can better mobilize its talent, education, research, and innovation advantage.

How can we better mobilize the capacity Canada already has to build the capability Canada needs?

Event: "ONE CANADA 2027" From Capacity to Capability: Mobilizing Canada's Talent, Innovation, and Education Advantage

Dates: February 17th-18th, 2027

Location: Carleton University, Richcraft Hall (2nd floor)
Ottawa, ON & Virtual

Cost: FREE

Dress: Business attire or No.3 Service Dress for military attendees, for both days

Registration: Please fill out the registration form by clicking the "Register Here" link below

Virtual Link: Will be e-mailed to registered participants the week prior to the event.

About the 2027 National Symposium:

From Strategic Direction to Practical Action

ONE CANADA 2027 is designed to move beyond identifying Canada's available capacity toward examining how that capacity can be better connected, mobilized, and translated into capability.

The two-day Symposium will deliberately progress from strategic direction and alignment to practical implementation:

February 17 — Strategic Direction, Alignment and Leadership

Senior leaders and participants from across defence, post-secondary education, government, industry, and partner organizations will examine Canada's evolving requirements and the contribution of its talent, education, research, and innovation ecosystems. Discussions will focus on where greater alignment and institutional leadership can strengthen Canada's defence and national capability.

February 18 — From Strategy to Action: Implementation and Practice

Building on the strategic discussions of Day 1, participants will turn to implementation: military-education-employment pathways, institutional readiness, and the practical barriers that must be addressed to translate strategic ambition into coordinated action.

Throughout both days, moderated Critical Conversations will be paired with facilitated participant discussion and synthesis, creating opportunities for attendees to contribute directly to the priorities and practical actions emerging from the Symposium.

Who Should Attend: Leaders, practitioners, researchers, students, military members, Veterans, and partners from across Canada's post-secondary, defence, government, industry, research, and military- and Veteran-connected communities. The Symposium is designed for both senior decision-makers and those working directly on the policies, programs, partnerships, and institutional practices being discussed.

Format: Hybrid, with participation available in person at Carleton University and virtually across Canada (please note, the agenda is in Eastern Time).

Program: Wednesday, February 17h

This tentative agenda is listed in Eastern Time, please adjust accordingly for your time zone.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION, ALIGNMENT & LEADERSHIP

0830 | Registration & Networking Breakfast

Join colleagues and partners from across Canada for breakfast and informal networking before the Symposium begins.

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0900 | Welcome, Opening Remarks & Context Setting

Opening remarks will welcome participants and set the context for the 2027 National Symposium.

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0930 | Strategic Address

Canada’s Strategic Environment: What Capabilities Will Canada Need in the Next Decade?

A strategic perspective on Canada’s evolving defence and security environment and the capabilities, partnerships, and national capacity required to meet emerging challenges.

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1000 | Executive Leadership Plenary

From Institutional Capacity to National Capability

Building on an executive working session held in advance of the Symposium, post-secondary and defence leaders will share key perspectives on the role of institutional leadership in strengthening Canada’s defence talent, education, and national capacity.

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1045 | Strategic Reflection & Participant Discussion

Where is Canada currently underusing the capacity of its post-secondary system?

Participants will reflect on the morning’s strategic perspectives through facilitated discussion and interactive engagement.

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1115 | Break

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1130 | Critical Conversation 1

Mobilizing Canada’s Talent Advantage

How does Canada build the workforce needed for defence, security, sovereignty, health, and resilience?

Canada’s talent capacity extends across military, post-secondary, government, industry, and community systems. This Critical Conversation will explore where those systems remain disconnected and what greater alignment could mean for Canada’s defence workforce and broader national capability.

Moderated conversation • Participant discussion • Report-back and synthesis

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1300 | Lunch & Networking

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1345 | Critical Conversation 2

Research, Innovation & National Capability

How can Canada better connect research, innovation, and industrial capacity to national priorities?

This conversation will examine opportunities to strengthen connections among defence priorities, post-secondary research, innovation ecosystems, and industry—including emerging areas such as dual-use research, research security, commercialization, and artificial intelligence.

Moderated conversation • Participant discussion • Report-back and synthesis

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1515 | Break

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1530 | Strategic Synthesis

From Capacity to Capability

Given what we have heard today, what must Canada do differently over the next 3–5 years to turn existing capacity into national capability?

The final discussion will identify emerging priorities from Day 1 and the questions that should guide the Symposium’s implementation-focused conversations on February 18.

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1550 | Closing & Day 2 Handoff

1600 | Strategic Program Concludes

The Symposium Networking Reception and Dinner will follow the conclusion of the day’s strategic program.

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1600 | Symposium Networking Reception

Join Symposium participants, speakers, and partners for an informal networking reception following the conclusion of the day’s strategic program.

1700 | Symposium Dinner

The evening program will bring participants together for dinner, conversation, and a special guest address.

Dinner Address: To be announced

1930 | Evening Program Concludes

Program: Thursday, February 18th

This tentative agenda is listed in Eastern Time, please adjust accordingly for your time zone.

FROM STRATEGY TO ACTION: IMPLEMENTATION & PRACTICE

0900 | Networking Breakfast

Join colleagues and partners for breakfast and informal networking before the second day of the Symposium begins.

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1000 | Opening — From Strategy to Action

What We Heard Yesterday. What We Need to Solve Today.

Day 2 will begin with a synthesis of the strategic discussions from February 17, highlighting the priorities, challenges, and questions identified by participants and setting the task for the day’s implementation-focused conversations.

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1025 | Critical Conversation 3

Building the Pathways: Connecting Military Service, Education & Employment

What must change in Canada’s systems so people can move more effectively between military service, post-secondary education, and civilian employment?

This Critical Conversation will examine the systems and interfaces that shape pathways between military service, education, and employment, including recognition of military education and training, prior learning assessment and recognition, learner mobility and transfer, skills translation, data and learner identification, and opportunities to better connect military and civilian talent systems.

Moderated conversation • Participant discussion • Report-back and synthesis

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1155 | Lunch & Networking

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1245 | Critical Conversation 4

Building Institutional Readiness: What Does Implementation Require?

What does it actually require for Canadian institutions to become effective partners in defence, resilience, and military-connected learner support?

Moving from systems to institutions, this Critical Conversation will examine the practical capabilities, policies, relationships, and leadership required within post-secondary institutions and partner organizations—including institutional readiness, executive sponsorship, military literacy, learner identification and support, partnerships, research and industry relationships, and implementation capacity.

Moderated conversation • Participant discussion • Report-back and synthesis

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1415 | Break

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1430 | From Conversation to Action

Identifying Priorities for Collective Action

Drawing on discussions across both days of the Symposium, participants will work together to identify practical priorities for action over the next 12–24 months:

What can institutions act on now?

What requires action by governments, the Canadian Armed Forces, or other system partners?

What requires coordinated national action?

The resulting priorities will help inform continued work by CMVF3C and its partners following the Symposium.

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1535 | Closing, Commitments & Next Steps

Closing reflections will bring together the key themes and priorities emerging from the two-day Symposium, identify opportunities to carry the work forward, and outline next steps following ONE CANADA 2027.

1600 | CMVF3C National Symposium 2027 Concludes

Background & Recommended Reading

FEBRUARY 2026 CMVF3C SYMPOSIUM
STRATEGIC REPORT & EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

A "One Canada" Approach: The Role of Post-Secondary Institutions in National Resilience, Sovereign Capability, and Societal Safety

2026 CMVF3C National Symposium — Day 1 Graphic Summaries

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About the 2027 National Symposium:

From Strategic Direction to Practical Action

Program: Wednesday, February 17h

STRATEGIC DIRECTION, ALIGNMENT & LEADERSHIP

0830 | Registration & Networking Breakfast

0900 | Welcome, Opening Remarks & Context Setting

0930 | Strategic Address

1000 | Executive Leadership Plenary

1045 | Strategic Reflection & Participant Discussion

1115 | Break

1130 | Critical Conversation 1

1300 | Lunch & Networking

1345 | Critical Conversation 2

1515 | Break

1530 | Strategic Synthesis

1550 | Closing & Day 2 Handoff

1600 | Strategic Program Concludes

1600 | Symposium Networking Reception

1700 | Symposium Dinner

1930 | Evening Program Concludes

Program: Thursday, February 18th

FROM STRATEGY TO ACTION: IMPLEMENTATION & PRACTICE

0900 | Networking Breakfast

1000 | Opening — From Strategy to Action

1025 | Critical Conversation 3

1155 | Lunch & Networking

1245 | Critical Conversation 4

1415 | Break

1430 | From Conversation to Action

1535 | Closing, Commitments & Next Steps

1600 | CMVF3C National Symposium 2027 Concludes

Background & Recommended Reading

FEBRUARY 2026 CMVF3C SYMPOSIUM STRATEGIC REPORT & EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

2026 CMVF3C National Symposium — Day 1 Graphic Summaries

FEBRUARY 2026 CMVF3C SYMPOSIUM
STRATEGIC REPORT & EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: