Royal Kingston United Services Institute

10/15/2026

Very Limited Tickets for October 30th Defence Forum "RACE to Readiness" NOW Available on a FIRST COME - FIRST SERVED basis. All those on waiting list accommodated.

RKUSI and Kingston Economic Development have partnered to host the 2nd (all day) Annual Defence and Security Forum October 30, 2026 at Fort Frontenac.

09/30/2026

October 30th RACE to Readiness RKUSI's second annual defence forum at Fort Frontenac Kingston. Limited number of tickets available for $50. Includes 2 keynote speakers, 3 panel discussions, Curry Lunch, coffee breaks, after event social.
https://rkusi.org/event/rkusi-defence-and-security-forum/

Schedule:
Registration:0730-0830 (FFOM, coffee and bagels/pastries)
Welcome Address: 0835-0840 MGen (Retd) Dean Milner, RKUSI President
Opening Keynote Address: 0840-0925 Gen (Retd) Tom Lawson, Chair CDAI
Panel 1 – Personnel and Mobilization: 0930-1030 – LGen Erick Simoneau, Chief of Military Personnel
Break: 1030-1100 (FFOM)
Panel 2 – Procurement: 1100-1200 Vincent Robitaille, Assistant Deputy Minister, Procurement, Defence Investment Agency and BGen (Retd) Ross Ermel
Special Presentation – US blockade of Iran & Strait of Hormuz, 1205-1230- Dr. Phillip Drew, CIDP Fellow
Lunch: 1230-1330 FFOM Dining Room (Curry Buffet)
Panel 3 – Modernization: 1330-1430 LGen Mike Wright, Commander of the Canadian Army and LGen Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force TBC
Closing Keynote Address: 1445-1530 General (Retd) Walt Natynczyk, former CDS
Forum Key Takeaways: 1540-1550
Forum Closing Comments: 1550 MGen (Retd) Dean Milner, RKUSI President
Post Forum Social Event: 1600-1800 (FFOM)

RKUSI and Kingston Economic Development have partnered to host the 2nd (all day) Annual Defence and Security Forum October 30, 2026 at Fort Frontenac.

09/21/2026

October 30th RKUSI's second annual defence forum RACE to Readiness features Keynote speakers: Retired Generals Tom Lawson and Walt Natynczyk, 3 panel discussions on the Modernation of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), Mobilization of CAF, and Procurement for CAF. SOLD OUT

RACE to Readiness is a full day forum with lots of opportunities for you to learn and question Defence issues facing Canada. Lunch and coffee breaks included.

Natynczyk spent five years as a Royal Canadian Air Cadet in 1977 before starting his military career. His career with the Canadian Armed Forces spanned many years and many different commands.
After a short tour of commanding the Land Force Doctrine and Training System, he was appointed to the new position of Chief of Transformation, responsible for implementation of the force restructuring plan and associated enabling processes and policies. In 2006, Natynczyk was appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, and in 2008 was promoted to General and named Chief of the Defence Staff, the first graduate of CMR Saint-Jean to be so named. Natynczyk remained CDS until his retirement from military service in 2012. Recognized widely as “a gentleman general”, his extended term witnessed the continued restructuring of the CAF against the backdrop of the heavy fighting in Afghanistan.

After his military service, Natynczyk continued to serve Canada as a senior Public Servant, first as President of the Canadian Space Agency (2013-14), and then as Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) for seven years from 2014 until his final retirement in 2021. As Deputy Minister, Natynczyk was instrumental in reorienting the culture of VAC to one of Care, Compassion and Respect to re-establish trust with the veterans who served in peacekeeping operations and fought in the Afghanistan War.

After retirement, Natynczyk accepted the appointment of Colonel Commandant of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, a position that he held for three years until 2024. Volunteer service has included membership on the Board of the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans, Patron for the Homes for Heroes Foundation and the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association, and Honorary President of the Last Post Fund.

Walter Natynczyk was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2024, recognized as a pillar in Canadian society for his inspirational leadership in both the CAF and the Public Service of Canada.

09/15/2026

Throughout history, when Canada’s sovereignty, and security was tested, Canadians answered with resolve.

During the Second World War, a nation of just 11 million people transformed itself into one of the world’s leading producers of Allied war materiel. Aircraft. Ships. Vehicles. Weapons. Industrial capability at a unparalleled scale.

It happened because a country understood what was at stake. The hearts and minds of a nation aligned behind a common purpose.
Today, the world has changed. Canada’s sovereignty and security are once again under threat. Canada is responding. The Defence Industrial Strategy sets out the vision.

The challenge now is ex*****on.

How do we move from ambition to capability? From procurement to production? From buying equipment to building the industrial strength, resilience and sovereign capacity required to sustain it?

On September 17, the Royal Kingston United Services Institute welcomes former Member of Parliament and defence industry leader Leona Alleslev for a discussion on Canada’s defence procurement challenge — and why the real issue may be much bigger than procurement.

It may lie in the decades we have spent treating defence production as government purchasing, overlooking that the real requirement is to build, sustain and regenerate the military and industrial capability upon which sovereignty depends.

This is about outcomes, not process. About accountability. Capacity. National will. And about what Canada must do to ensure it can protect the nation, preserve its sovereignty and defend the values for which it stands.

Join us for a discussion on building Canada's defence production capability and the national purpose required to make that vision a reality.

Leona Alleslev September 17th 1900 Officers' Mess Fort Frontenac. Social gathering prior. No admission fee.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR OCTOBER 30TH - RKUSI's second annual defence forum RACE to Readiness. Limited tickets @ $50 including full day of keynotes, panel discussions about procurement, modernization and mobilization of CAF. Curry lunch.
https://rkusi.org/event/rkusi-defence-and-security-forum/

09/08/2026

October 30th at RKUSI's second annual Defence Forum, Fort Frontenac Kingston, is a date you can't miss. If you want to know more about procurement, mobilization and modernization of the Canadian Armed Forces our RACE to Readiness forum gives you the opportunity to ask questions and get answers.

A full day of Keynote speakers, 3 panel discussions, lunch and breaks, after the forum social all included. Limited number of tickets for just $50.
The opening Keynote is retired General Tom Lawson:
Chief of the Defence Staff: Lawson served as the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Armed Forces from 2012 to 2015, where he was the principal military adviser to the Canadian government and oversaw the operations of the Canadian Armed Forces.
NORAD Command: Lawson was the Deputy Commander of NORAD from 2011 to 2012, where he played a key role in the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
Afghanistan Mission: As CDS, Lawson oversaw the completion of the Canadian mission in Afghanistan.
Eastern Europe Deployment: Lawson was involved in the deployment of Canadian troops to Eastern Europe as part of NATO’s response following Russian aggression in Crimea.
Coalition Effort Against ISIS: Lawson contributed to the coalition effort against the Islamic State.
General Lawson's extensive military experience and leadership have made him a sought-after strategic consultant and a respected figure in the defense and security sectors.
Keep checking. More to come about the closing Keynote from retired general Walt Natynchuk, panel discussions, yummy curry lunch, and discussions about key defence issues. Tickets are going fast. https://lnkd.in/gjbkW73j

09/01/2026

Want to know what few do about Canadian and World defence issues? Read the Torch. A curated content digital magazine that features dozens of recent and archived articles from think banks around the globe. Find insightful articles like "The U.S. mu*****ns Crisis" and "The world wants more of Canadian Waterbombers". www.RKUSI.org Scroll through the Torch highlights on the main page.

Also mark your calendars for 2 important events at Fort Frontenac Kingston:
1. September 17th 1900 hr Defence Procurement presentation by Leona Alleslev.
https://rkusi.org/event/leona-alleslev-krofchak-presentation-on-defence-procurement/
2. October 30th (All Day) 2nd annual defence conference: RACE to Readiness. Co-hosted by RKUSI and KEDCO. Limited tickets available $50 - Keynotes and Panel Discussions, plus lunch and after event social. https://rkusi.org/event/rkusi-defence-and-security-forum/

A graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, Class of 1991, Leona Alleslev‑Krofchak has built a career defined by service. First to Canada’s Armed Forces and later to public […]

08/24/2026

Mark September 17 18:30 in your calendars. Leona Alleslev-Krofchak will be speaking about Procurement for the Canadian Armed Forces at our first monthly speaking engagement of the year. We have a seat for you reserved at the Officers' Mess at Fort Frontenac.

Leona Alleslev-Krofchak is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, Class of 1991, Leona Alleslev‑Krofchak has built a career defined by service. First to Canada’s Armed Forces and later to public life in Parliament. Her professional journey reflects a sustained commitment to leadership, national service, and public responsibility.
See more about Allesley https://rkusi.org/event/leona-alleslev-krofchak-presentation-on-defence-procurement/

Also mark October 30th for RKUSI's second annual defence forum "RACE to readiness" where procurement will be a major panel discussion. Limited tickets, including lunch and coffee at $50. https://rkusi.org/event/rkusi-defence-and-security-forum/

08/24/2026

Mark September 17 18:30 in your calendars. Leona Alleslev-Krofchak will be speaking about Procurement for the Canadian Armed Forces at our first monthly speaking engagement of the year. We have a seat for you reserved at the Officers' Mess at Fort Frontenac.

Leona Alleslev-Krofchak is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, Class of 1991, Leona Alleslev‑Krofchak has built a career defined by service. First to Canada’s Armed Forces and later to public life in Parliament. Her professional journey reflects a sustained commitment to leadership, national service, and public responsibility.

See more about Allesley on RKUSI.org

Also mark October 30th for RKUSI's second annual defence forum "RACE to readiness" where procurement will be a major panel discussion. Limited tickets, including lunch and coffee at $50.

08/04/2026

Limited Tickets available at $50. for RKUSI's second annual Defence Forum RACE to Readiness. October 30 8am full day. See video below. https://rkusi.org/event/rkusi-defence-and-security-forum/

07/15/2026

Mark October 30th in your calendars for our Second Annual Defence forum "RACE to Readiness" Revitalization of the Canadian Armed Forces.

RKUSI and Kingston Economic Development Corporation are co-hosting a full day seminar on defence with 2 Keynote speakers, panel discussions, lunch, Q+A sessions, and lots of opportunities to comment on the revitalization of Canada's armed forces.

Details at RKUSI.org

Be a part of history...register now - limited tickets available at $50.00 per person. https://rkusi.org/event/rkusi-defence-and-security-forum/