APEX Southeast Alberta

10/06/2026

Think defence contracts aren't for your business? Think again. 💡

Defence projects need more than military technology.

They need manufacturers, fabricators, software developers, tradespeople, consultants, transportation providers, construction firms, training companies, and dozens of other specialized suppliers.

With a $1B modernization project planned for DRDC Suffield, businesses across Southeast Alberta have an opportunity to position themselves for future procurement opportunities.

Join us for a FREE Tradeshow and start building the partnerships you'll need.

📅 Oct. 28 2026, 4:30pm – 7:30pm
📍 Medicine Hat Lodge

The companies that benefit tomorrow are often the ones that start preparing today.

Get your free ticket today! https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/defence-growth-tradeshow--2026

10/02/2026

Want to know where the next generation of talent is coming from? Get your tickets today and find out at the Defence Growth Forum.

From high school flight training to defence science careers and industry partnerships, the future workforce is taking shape right here in Southeast Alberta.

Join Dr. Reagan Weeks (Prairie Rose Public Schools), Terri Super (Super T Aviation Academy) and Susan Rowsell (Suffield Research Centre) as they share how they're creating pathways into aviation, STEM, and defence careers while preparing the skilled talent needed for tomorrow's opportunities.

Get your tickets today! www.defencegrowth.ca

10/02/2026

🎨 Funding Opportunities for Canada’s Creative Sector

Looking to fund your next creative project, organization, or business? From financing and grants to industry-specific funding programs, there are opportunities available across Canada's creative and cultural sectors.

Publishers & Arts Organizations

📚 Expand the Reach of Canadian-Authored Books
Funding available through the Canada Book Fund for marketing, technology projects, internships, and professional development.
🚨 Closes October 31, 2026 🚨
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/book-fund/support-organizations.html

🎭 Get Up to $10,000 to Strengthen Your Arts Organization
Year-round micro-grants from the Canada Council for the Arts to support professional development, capacity building, and artistic growth.
https://www.arts-services.ca/s/fundingopportunity/119JQ000003Vz5XYAS/6601?language=en_US

🎤 Connect Audiences with Professional Arts
Support for festivals, performing arts series, and organizations through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund.
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/arts-presentation-fund.html

📍 Bring Major Exhibitions Within Reach
Reduce exhibition insurance costs through the Canada Travelling Exhibitions Indemnification Program.
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage.html

Film and Screen Projects

🎞️ Get Up to $15,000 to Help Finish Your Film
Independent filmmakers can access post-production support through the National Film Board's Filmmaker Assistance Program.
🚨 Closes October 10, 2026 🚨
https://production.nfbonf.ca/en/filmmaker-assistance-program-fap/

🎬 Find Funding for Your Next Screen Project
Telefilm Canada offers support for developing, producing, marketing, and promoting Canadian screen productions.
https://telefilm.ca/en/we-finance-and-support/our-programs

🎵 Music Funding for Every Career Stage
FACTOR's video program contributes to the cost of producing music videos.
https://www.factor.ca/programs/artist-programs/video/

📅 Several application deadlines are approaching this fall. Now is the time to start exploring funding opportunities and preparing your applications.

09/30/2026

Today, we pause to reflect, listen, and learn as we observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

We honour the resilience of Indigenous Peoples, remember the children who never came home, and acknowledge the lasting impacts of the residential school system.

Our office is closed today as we join communities across Canada in recognizing this important day. 🧡

09/25/2026

This week was a big one! We were proud to welcome Alberta Innovates & Alberta's Regional Innovation Networks to Medicine Hat for their annual provincial meetings and we made sure they got a taste of what the Southeast has to offer.

Medicine Hat College provided an excellent venue for the meetings and offered a great tour of the Simulation Labs, a great example of education innovation in our region.

A visit to Canadian Forces Base Suffield gave attendees a rare opportunity to observe a live operational testing event and see leading-edge defence and technology initiatives in action. A huge thank you to Susan Rowsell for providing expert insight throughout the experience.

We also hosted the Regional Spotlight at Medalta, bringing together past finalists and winners from across Southeast Alberta. The evening featured networking, local success stories, and conversations celebrating the innovation happening across industries throughout our region. Thank you to the team from Technology Alberta for your commitment to highlighting the innovation sectors in rural Alberta.

Thank you to everyone who made this week a success. This region is truly incredible.

ASTech Alumni:
1992 - Dr. Richard Taylor (Nobel Prize, 1990)
1995, 2024 - Praxis Science Outreach Medicine Hat
2022 - Kinetisense
2022 - TRAD Worm Industries Ltd
2023, 2024, 2025 - QinetiQ Target Systems - Canada
2023 - TruMe Whole Health
2023 - Chinook Applied Research Association
2024, 2026 - VirtuClinic
2025 - Carbon OxyTech Inc.
2025 - Grassroots Resource Optimization (Randy Valk)
2025 - UVAD
2025, 2026 - Landing Zones Canada
2025 - Tracy Stroud (APEX Southeast Alberta)
2026 - Paterson Consulting Inc.

ASTech Panelists:
Landing Zones Canada | Dylan Richards
Kinetisense | Dr. Ryan Comeau
QinetiQ Target Systems - Canada | David Sabados
TruMe Whole Health | Melissa Hozack

Regional Innovation Networks:
Calgary Innovation Coalition
East Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network
Edmonton RIN
East Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network
Wood Buffalo Regional Innovation Network
Innovate Northwest
APEX Southeast Alberta
Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta

09/18/2026

Tonight, Southeast Alberta is proudly represented at the 37th annual ASTech Awards Opening Ceremonies! 🎉

Please join us in celebrating the innovators and leaders showcasing the incredible talent, ideas, and momentum coming from our region:

Wesley Paterson | Paterson Consulting Inc.
⚡ Repurposing Orphan Oil Wells into Community Solar Energy Facilities
🏆 Energy Innovation Award Finalist
🏆 Regional Innovation Award Finalist (Medicine Hat)

Matthew Jubelius | VirtuClinic
🚪 The Digital Front Door to Workplace Wellness: On-Demand Access through Digital Health Advisors
🏆 Early Adopter of Alberta Innovation Award Finalist
🏆 Regional Innovation Award Finalist (Medicine Hat)

Spencer Fraser & Dylan Richards | Landing Zones Canada
⛅ AI-Driven Reusable Drone Systems for Atmospheric Monitoring
🏆 Aerospace, Defence and Dual Use Award Finalist

We're also proud to have Southeast Alberta represented by:

⛽ Brian Bietz | IEPSCanada Ltd., speaking about the Brooks Newell Hydrogen Hub and the opportunities hydrogen development presents for Southern Alberta.

👨‍🏭 Amber Smith | Community Futures Entre-Corp sharing insights on the workforce needs and opportunities that support innovators, entrepreneurs, and growing businesses across Southeast Alberta.

Congratulations to our finalists and thank you to everyone helping showcase the innovation happening right here in Southeast Alberta. You're solving real-world challenges, creating new opportunities, and proving that some of Alberta's most exciting ideas are coming from our corner of the province. We're proud to be in your corner tonight.

Please join us in wishing our finalists a wonderful evening of recognition and thanking Technology Alberta for being exceptional hosts! 🎉

09/18/2026

MEET ROBERT ROACH

What could increased defence spending mean for Southeast Alberta?

ATB Financial’s Deputy Chief Economist, Robert Roach will take a closer look at the economic landscape and explore the potential impact of increased defence spending on regional growth, investment and job creation.

What could this shift mean for businesses, communities and the broader regional economy?

Join us October 29 at the Defence Growth Forum to hear Rob’s perspective and explore what could be next for Southeast Alberta.

📍 Medicine Hat
📅 October 29, 2026
Register today: https://entre-corp.albertacf.com/dgf

09/17/2026

What if your next big idea helped solve a real-world defence challenge? 👀

Canada's IDEaS (Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security) program is looking for innovators ready to tackle some tough problems with big impact:

📡 RF data fusion for command and control
💨 Modular wind power for Northern operations
💧 Sustainable Northern operations: water and waste

And they're not just looking for ideas. They're looking for solutions that can be developed, tested, and demonstrated.

Each challenge offers up to $6.75 million in phased funding to help move solutions from concept to testing and demonstration.

Innovators from across Canada's research, business, and technology communities are encouraged to apply.

📅 Applications close October 20, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. EDT
🔗Learn more at https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/programs/defence-ideas.html

Know someone who always says, "I've got an idea..."? Now's the time to send them this.

The Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program, will boost Canada’s current defence research and development (R&D) program and enhance our ability to eliminate or mitigate emerging threats, stay ahead of potential adversaries, and meet evolving defence and security needs, while...

09/14/2026

Shaping Defence in Southeast Alberta

On October 29, the Defence Growth Forum brings leaders together to explore what’s next for Southeast Alberta:

🔹 Strategic Assets - What gives our region an advantage?
🔹 Growth Opportunities -Where can business plug into Canada’s defence growth?
🔹 Talent - Who will build the future?
🔹 Drone City - Why is Southeast Alberta becoming a hub for UAS innovation?

Come hear the conversation. Find your opportunity.

📅 October 29, 2026 | Medicine Hat

Register today and learn more: https://lnkd.in/gPZemYDp

09/14/2026

WE’RE NOT STARTING FROM SCRATCH.

Southeast Alberta already has the infrastructure, expertise and capabilities to play a bigger role in Canada’s growing defence and aerospace sector.

From DRDC Suffield and CFB Suffield to the Foremost UAS Test Range and a growing network of companies, innovators and institutions, the pieces are already here.

The question is: what can we build from them?

Join the conversation at the Defence Growth Forum on October 29 and explore how our region’s strategic advantages can translate into new opportunities.

📍 Medicine Hat
📅 October 29, 2026

Discover what’s possible. Register today: https://entre-corp.albertacf.com/dgf