Vanguard Magazine

4 JUNE/JULY 2025 www.vanguardcanada.com E D I T O R' S N O T E Canada's sovereignty has arguably never been more important than it is today. Newly elected Prime Minister Mark Car- ney energized the crowd with his victory speech by asking "Who's ready to stand up for Canada with me? Who's ready to build Canada strong?" Just weeks later, Defence Minister Da- vid McGuinty echoed that commitment at CANSEC 2025 defence trade show in Ot- tawa on May 28, vowing "immediate and decisive action to rebuild Canada's defence capacity." He emphasized the govern- ment's swift efforts to equip military for national security and global partnerships. The defence theme was central at CAN- SEC 2025, where more than 12,000 deci- sion-makers, 600 VIPs and over 40 inter- national delegations gathered in Ottawa May 28 and 29. This issue's feature story written by Commander Norm Normand, MBA, PCSC, CD, explores gaps in Canada's northern sovereignty efforts, citing sur- veillance deficiencies like the undetected Chinese spy balloon in 2023. Normand proposes airships as a solution – enhancing surveillance, cargo transport, humanitar- ian aid, and mineral extraction in remote regions. He warns that neglecting Arctic sover- eignty could spark debate about Canada's integration into the U.S. as the "51st state". The Royal Canadian Air Force unveiled new aircraft liveries and fleet names at CANSEC. The fleet will feature five aircraft types with historically significant names, cel- ebrating Canada's aviation history while equipping pilots and aircrew with cutting- edge training. Industry leaders are also preparing for Canada's transition from CF-18s to F-35 fighter jets. Top Aces International, a global leader in advanced adversary air (ADAIR) and close air support (CAS) training, is poised to support Canada's transition. In the ar- ticle, Group President Didier Toussaint emphasized the company's extensive expe- rience in fighter operations and training, ensuring smooth adaptation to the fifth- generation platform. Meanwhile, Dave Lohse, CEO of Inter- national Test Pilot School (ITPS) Canada, sees defense modernization as a growth opportunity positioning ITPS as a key player in pilot and tactical training. ITPS currently holds a contract with the RCAF for pilot and flight test engineer training. This issue of Vanguard also dives into the importance of anti-corruption compliance in defence procurement. Pat Poitevin, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Canadian Centre of Excellence for Anti-Corruption, shares insights, where industry representatives, including SMEs and major contractors, discussed evolving ethics programs. Transparency, third-par- ty accountability, and technology-driven oversight have transformed compliance from a checklist to a strategic advantage. And finally, as summer has arrived, take time to enjoy the sunshine! Terri Pavelic, Editor-in-Chief EDITORIAL E D I TO R-I N-C H I E F | T E R R I PAV E L I C terri@promotivemedia.ca P U B L I S H E R A N D E X E C U T I V E E D I TO R | J. R I C H A R D J O N E S john@promotivemedia.ca E D I TO R | M I C H E L E McL E A N CONTRIBUTORS C D R N O R M N O R M A N D PAT PO I T E V I N B Gen (Ret'd) T E R RY L E V E R S E D G E M I K E M U E L L E R EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD LGen S T U A RT B E A R E (Ret'd) Col R I C H A R D F AWC E TT (Ret'd) Capt(N) N O R M A N J O L I N (Ret'd) Col P I E R R E L E B LA N C (Ret'd) CA R I N N A L I N S H A N N O N McC L U R E SALES D I R E CTO R, CO N T E N T & B U S I N E S S D E V E LO P M E N T | DAV I D B LO N D E A U david@promotivemedia.ca ART & PRODUCTION A RT D I R E CTO R | E L E N A PA N KOVA elena@promotivemedia.ca S U B S C R I P T I O N S A N D A D D R E S S C H A N G E S C I RC U LAT I O N S E RV I C E S | circulation@promotivemedia.ca Publisher's Mail Agreement: 40052410 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to circulation dept. 21374, 2nd Concession Rd, East Gwillimbury, ON, L9N 0H7 Vanguard magazine is published 6 times per year by Promotive Communications Inc. All opinions expressed herein are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or any person or organization associated with the magazine. Letters, submissions, comments and suggested topics are welcome, and should be sent to terri@promotivemedia.ca REPRINT INFORMATION: Reproduction or photocopying is prohibited without the publisher's prior written consent. High quality reprints of articles and additional copies of the magazine are available through circulation@promotivemedia.ca PRIVACY POLICY: We do not sell our mailing list or share any confidential information on our subscribers. VANGUARD OFFICE 21374, 2nd Concession Rd, East Gwillimbury, ON, L9N 0H7 Phone: (905) 727-3875 THE FORUM FOR CANADA'S SECURITY AND DEFENCE COMMUNITY

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