Award-winning collaboration delivers results at the G7 Summit
August 5, 2026 – Defence Stories
Estimated read time – 1:54
Caption
From left to right: Mike MacDonald (A/Chief Information Officer of Canada); Rob Stone (Director General, RCMP); Robyn Hulan (CIO, RCMP); Sgt. Mathieu Aubin and Durriya Noorbhai (team leads, RCMP); Col. Jason Estrela (digital leader, DND); and Maj. Martin Simard (team lead, DND), accept the Excellence in Data and Information Stewardship award.
When global leaders gathered in Alberta for the 2025 G7 Summit, security operations faced a uniquely complex challenge: coordinating personnel, assets, and information across a vast, mountainous landscape in real-time.
To meet that challenge, the Front Line Security and Awareness Enablement team came together to design and deploy a tailored Blue Force Tracking system that gave a shared, real-time view of operations. This was a joint effort involving the Department of National Defence (DND), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and Shared Services Canada (SSC).
Their innovative work would ultimately earn them a 2026 Digital Community Award.
Meeting a complex operational challenge
Large-scale events like the G7 Summit, which bring together international leaders from the world’s major advanced economies, require precise coordination and a shared understanding of rapidly evolving situations. Traditional approaches can struggle to deliver a consistent, real-time operational picture, especially across dispersed and difficult terrain like the Rockies in Alberta.
Taking an innovative approach, the Front Line Security and Awareness Enablement team developed an in-house solution designed to meet the operational realities of the Summit.
The customized system combined multiple data sources into a single, easy-to-use platform. It tracked personnel and VIPs on the ground and in the air, connecting more than 25 summit sites.
Supported by reliable video, radio, and network infrastructure, the system ensured all partners had access to the same real-time information. By turning complex data into a clear, shared operational picture, the system improved situational awareness at every level. Teams could anticipate issues, coordinate effectively, and adapt quickly as conditions change.
Recognizing excellence in Digital Government
The team’s work earned the Excellence in Data and Information Stewardship Award at the 2026 Digital Community Awards Gala that was held in Ottawa on May 6. Hosted by the Treasury Board Secretariat and the Association of Public Sector Information Professionals (TBS/DPI), these awards recognize public servants delivering meaningful results for Canadians through innovative digital tools and practices.
Led by Durriya Noorbhai of the RCMP, the team included key contributors from DND, notably Sgt. Al Carrier and Maj. Martin Simard.
A model for future collaboration
Beyond the G7 Summit, this effort demonstrates how cross-government collaboration and in-house innovation can solve complex challenges. It sets a strong precedent for future operations requiring real-time coordination and shared situational awareness.