Over the years, the diversity of the Canadian Armed Forces personnel has helped create a strong, resilient and flexible military that is able to apply a broad array of perspectives and talents across the spectrum of operations.

“The Canadian Armed Forces is focused on attracting recruits from across Canada who represent our country’s diverse population. Today, I am proud to announce this first series of collaboration between the IDEaS program and Canadian innovators on new ways to ensure that all members who wear the uniform thrive in the Canadian Armed Forces.”

Minister of National Defence Harjit S. Sajjan

“Our Government is committed to providing the Canadian Armed Forces with the equipment and services it needs to carry out its important work on behalf of Canadians. We are proud to award these important contracts, which will help make careers in the Canadian Armed Forces more accessible to women.”

Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility Carla Qualtrough

“The full spectrum of career opportunities in the Canadian Armed Forces is available to women. Our military is an all-volunteer force and it is ultimately up to all potential applicants to decide if the military lifestyle is for them. As Chief Recruiter, I welcome initiatives that will help Canadian women to consider the Canadian Armed Forces as an option to recognize their career and life goals, and ultimately regard us as an employer of choice.”

Lieutenant-General Charles Lamarre, Commander Military Personnel Command

• Canada’s Defence Policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, makes the recruiting of women a key priority of the Department of National Defence (DND) and the CAF.

• For more than 100 years, women have had an active role in Canada’s military and contributed to Canada’s rich military history and heritage. 

• The Canadian Forces Recruiting Group enrolled 860 women by the end of Fiscal Year 2017-2018, representing 17% of the total recruiting objective of enrolling 5,000 new members that year.

• The IDEaS competitive projects’ call for proposal was administered by Public Services and Procurement Canada on behalf of the DND.

• The second call for proposals under competitive projects will be launched in fall 2018.

• Through IDEaS, the DND will:

  • Create networks of innovators (academia, industry, individuals, and other partners) to conduct leading-edge research and development in areas critical to future defence and security needs;
  • Hold competitions and invite innovators to present viable solutions to specific defence and security challenges; and
  • Implement new procurement mechanisms that allow DND to develop and test concepts, and to follow through on the most promising ideas.

• IDEaS will help innovators by supporting analysis, funding research, and developing processes that facilitate access to knowledge. It will also support testing, integration, adoption, and acquisition of creative solutions for Canada’s defence and security communities.

Associated links

• Backgrounder - IDEaS awards its first innovation contracts to recruit, retain, and reach 25% representation of women in the CAF by 2026
• News Release – National Defence launches IDEaS Program to solve Defence and Security challenges through Innovation
• Backgrounder - Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) Program
• Backgrounder – Government of Canada calls on innovative thinkers to solve defence and security challenges
• IDEaS website
• Strong, Secure, Engaged
• Canadian Forces Jobs

Byrne Furlong
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-3100
Email: Byrne.Furlong@forces.gc.ca

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca