Saskatchewan has long contributed to Canada’s defence industry through its strengths in mining, manufacturing, aerospace and research. The presence of 15 Wing at Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw also creates opportunities for local businesses and organizations to support defence operations.
The Government of Canada is working with unprecedented speed and scale to rebuild, rearm, and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces. And as Canada strengthens its defence industrial capacity through initiatives such as the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) and the Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII), Saskatchewan organizations are well-positioned to take advantage of new opportunities.
With support from PrairiesCan, several Saskatchewan organizations are already making progress and building connections in the defence sector. Their experiences show there are many pathways into the industry, particularly for businesses developing technologies and services that are dual-use - having both civilian and defence applications.
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology (SIIT)
SIIT is the largest Indigenous post-secondary institution in Canada and plays an important role in developing skilled workers for the aerospace and defence sectors. Starting in 2004, PrairiesCan has supported nine SIIT projects with a total value of $5 million, notably $1 million in Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative (ARRI) funding to help them expand their facilities and aerospace training program. Today, SIIT’s Aircraft Maintenance Engineer program helps meet workforce needs across the industry and maintains strong relationships with 15 Wing Moose Jaw and 4 Wing Cold Lake in Alberta.
SIIT also collaborates with industry partners, including Calian, and participates in the PrairiesCan-Funded Saskatchewan Aerospace Defence Forum (SADF), where defence Primes, small- and medium-sized businesses, and other defence organizations across the province meet.
Calian
Although Calian started as the space engineering division of the University of Saskatchewan, it has since expanded into the defence and space industries. The company maintains satellite communication networks and provides training for the Canadian Armed Forces and NATO partners and designs and manufactures complex electronics products for armored vehicle platforms. Many of the systems and products they produce are developed in Canada but used across the world. Calian also actively participates at the PrairiesCan-supported SADF.
Pro Metal Industries
Owned by Pasqua First Nation, Pro Metal has built a strong reputation in manufacturing and fabrication, serving industries such as mining, agriculture and defence. With support from PrairiesCan through $3.5 million in ARRI funding, the company expanded its operations with a state-of-the-art 50,000-square-foot facility, increasing its capacity to pursue opportunities in the defence sector.
Pro Metal continues to grow its capabilities, including adding a paint line designed to support military manufacturing requirements. The company also plays an active role in the SADF.
Growing opportunities ahead
These organizations demonstrate how Saskatchewan businesses and institutions are contributing to Canada’s defence industry while creating jobs, building expertise and strengthening local economies.
PrairiesCan continues to support businesses and organizations looking to grow in the defence sector through the Regional Defence Investment Initiative.
Eligible businesses can apply here.
Saskatchewan businesses are finding new opportunities in defence (length: 4:12 minutes)
Transcript: Saskatchewan businesses are finding new opportunities in defence
[Video begins inside a workshop and with the sharp and loud sound of metal grinding in the background]
[Dramatic electronic and epic music begins]
[Video transitions to a man sitting and grinding metal with sparks flying]
Narrator: It’s a really interesting time in Canadian sovereignty and securing the North.
[Video transitions to a man standing and working on a circuit board in a facility]
Narrator: in the defence industry here in Canada. We see the government pivoting and applying a lot of focus on areas
[Video transitions to a close up of a circuit card assembly]
[Video transitions to an assembly system assembling a circuit card]
[Video transitions to a tv monitor displaying the assembly of a circuit card]
[Video transitions to a man grinding metal with sparks flying]
[Video transitions to a close up of a metal being bent]
Narrator: There’s a lot of great programs out there right now in terms of defence investment to be able to build capacity and process improvement.
[Video transitions to a man grabbing a piece of metal from a machine]
[Video transitions to a group of students working on various aircraft components]
[Video transitions to a woman sitting in a room speaking to the camera with a small airplane in the background]
Narrator: If we are going to be successful in terms of defence of this country we need to engage Indigenous people in that process.
[Video transitions to a man assembling an aircraft component]
[Video transitions to a close up of the man removing a screw]
[Music changes to intense cinematic and orchestral music]
[Video pans to the Calian Advantage Technologies signage inside a building]
Narrator: We solve the hard problems for our customers in the defence and space industries. So whether that’s ensuring satellite…
[Video transitions to two men seated working on different assembly parts, while another man stands overseeing the process]
Narrator: … communications networks are up and running 24/7, training
[Video transitions to a close up of a man working on a part]
Narrator: NATO and Canadian Armed Forces officers and staff…
[Video transitions to a man assembling a part while another man oversees the work]
[Video transitions to a side view of a man standing beside big windows and speaking to a camera]
Narrator: …or developing systems and products that need to work all the time.
Text on the screen: Russ Beaudin, Vice President of Defence – Calian
Russ Beaudin: So a lot of the systems and products we use are developed here in Canada, but then they’re deployed worldwide.
[Video transitions to falling snow and the Pro Metal signage]
Narrator: Pasqua, their vision was, you know…
[Video transitions to a man sitting in a room speaking to the camera with a machine in the background]
Text on the screen: Mark Brown, President – Pro Metal Industries Ltd.
Mark Brown: …we’re going to hold this, this company for generations. We’re going to grow it.
Mark Brown: We’re not in it to divest. And they looked at all the industries of government procurement…
[Video transitions to a man putting on work gloves and walking towards a lazer machine]
[Video transitions to a laser cutting through metal]
Mark Brown: …and around the world, like military and defense spending is the government’s largest procurement.
[Video transitions to the exterior of the laser cutter machine]
[Video transitions to the exterior of the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies building, showing the signage]
Narrator: Here at SIIT, we are one of four accrediting post-secondary institutions in Saskatchewan.
[Video transitions to a woman sitting in a room talking to a camera with a small airplane in the background]
Text on screen: Vickie Drover, Vice President of Academics – SIIT
[Video transitions to a female student working on an aircraft part]
Vickie Drover: We are the only Indigenous accrediting institution which means that we have degrees, diplomas, certificates …
[Video transitions to a close up of the student’s hand tightening screws]
[Video transitions to a wide shot of students working separately on aircraft parts]
Vickie Drover: … that are designed from an Indigenous worldview.
[Music changes to more suspenseful cinematic, orchestral, and electronic music]
[Video transitions to the side view of Russ talking]
Russ Beaudin: So, some of the things we do in the facility here in Saskatoon supports our armored vehicle programs.
[Video transitions a man standing grabbing a circuit board]
Russ Beaudin: Calian has a state-of-the-art surface mount technology line here, which allows us to build …
[Video transitions a close up of a circuit board inside a machine]
Russ Beaudin: … to the requirements in the military as well as the space systems.
[Video transitions to a wide shot of machines and a man moving circuit boards]
[Video transitions to Mark sitting and talking]
Text on the screen: Mark Brown, President – Pro Metal Industries Ltd
Mark Brown: The one thing that was always important for us, and will always continue to be important for us, is to remain diversified.
[Video transitions to a man scanning a metal sheet]
Mark Brown: In addition to defence, which is our main strategic focus, we still want to service the local Saskatchewan markets as well.
[Video transitions to Vickie sitting in a room speaking]
Vickie Drover: In 2012, we were able to launch the Aircraft Maintenance Mechanical program, and that’s a two year Transport…
[Video transitions to a wide shot of a small airplane inside the SIIT building]
Vickie Drover: … Canada approved program.
[Video transitions to a tighter shot of the small airplane]
Vickie Drover: We are directly supporting the aerospace and defense sector within Saskatchewan and within the prairies.
[Video transitions to a wide shot of a helicopter and a student and teacher working alongside it]
[Video transitions to two students picking up different metal parts from a table]
[Video transitions to a classroom with a male teacher at the front teaching]
Vickie Drover: In not only AMEs, but IT as well as business.
[Video transitions to a female student sitting and listening to the teacher]
[Video transitions to a wide shot of the classroom with students looking at the smart board and teacher]
[Video transitions to Vickie in a room speaking]
Vickie Drover: We have very close linkages with both CFB Moose Jaw and CFB Cold Lake. And we work very closely with the H.R. teams at both bases, to meet that need.
[Video transitions to a male student putting down a metal part]
Vickie Drover: We’re hoping to expand our AME program into southern Saskatchewan to even more closely support CFB Moose Jaw.
[Video transitions to a close up of a student placing a metal part into a machine]
[Video pans to a small airplane inside the SIIT building]
[Music changes to another dramatic, orchestral, electric and epic music]
[Video pans to a room filled with printed instructions, and a man enters and puts down an assembled part]
Russ Beaudin: We’re very fortunate in Saskatchewan to have direct access to Prairies Economic Development and also to the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership teams.
[Video transitions to a woman working on a wiring harness]
[Video transitions to Russ standing speaking]
Text on a screen: Russ Beaudin, Vice President of Defence - Calian
Russ Beaudin: These teams provide a lot of great continuity throughout Saskatchewan in the business community.
[Video transitions to a wide shot of the Saskatchewan Aerospace & Defence Forum event]
Mark Brown: PrairiesCan absolutely has been very supportive…
Text on screen: Saskatchewan Aerospace & Defence Forum, Saskatoon, SK
[Video transitions to the Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership Aerospace and Defence and PrairiesCan banners on stage]
[Video transitions to a group of people networking in the event]
Mark Brown: …all the way from the Regional Development Officers and then all the way up to the manager of ITB, ADMs, the president of PrairiesCan.
[Video transitions to two men standing having a conversation]
[Video transitions to the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) reps talking on a panel on the stage]
[Video transitions to a Canadian Armed force representative talking to two men]
[Video transitions to a woman sitting smiling to her colleague]
Mark Brown: So a lot of great networking opportunities, introduction to primes that are looking for partners.
[Video transitions to two men standing and having a conversation]
[Video transitions to three people networking and happily sharing business cards]
[Video transitions to a group of people taking a photo together]
Mark Brown: And also the PrairiesCan support on our capital expansion needs…
[Video transitions to a man touching a screen monitor connected to a machine]
[Video transitions to a close up of the machine logo and the PrairiesCan logo sticker on it]
[Video transitions to an inside of a small empty airplane]
Mark Brown: … and really capacity building and giving us the tools to be able to grow in the defence industry.
[Video transitions to a waterjet machine cleaning metal]
[Video transitions to a man measuring pieces of metal]
Vickie Drover: In 2022, I believe, we were able to secure a deal with Boeing Canada for $17 million dollars …
[Video transitions to Vickie in a room speaking]
[Video transitions to a sign showing a picture of the site of the Saskatchewan Aviation Learning Centre supported by Boeing and PrairiesCan]
Vickie Drover: … to expand and double the footprint of our facility and support
[Video transitions to a wide shot of the interior of the aviation learning centre with students working]
[Video transitions to Vickie in a room speaking]
Text on the screen: Vickie Drover, Vice President of Academics - SIIT
Vickie Drover: … ten years of avionics training here in Saskatchewan.
[Video transitions to a wide shot of a helicopter with a SIIT.CA label]
Vickie Drover: That wouldn’t have been possible without Prairies Economic Development or PrairiesCan.
[Video transitions to a group of students working together on an avionic part]
[Video pans to the Calian facility with a man working on a machine]
Russ Beaudin: Getting into the defence industry can be a bit challenging.
[Video transitions to Russ standing speaking]
[Video transitions to a man sitting and welding metal]
Russ Beaudin: There’s a lot of policies, procedures that you’ll need to bring your companies up to
[Video transitions to another man sitting and working on parts]
[Video transitions to a wide shot of three men sitting and working side by side]
Russ Beaudin: So really the focus is to ensure …
[Video transitions to Russ standing speaking]
Russ Beaudin: … you’re in this for the long game, but the rewards are really great.
[Video transitions to a man hammering a metal inside a machine]
Mark Brown: I say the big thing is just really support small medium-sized …
[Video transitions to the machine spraying water to clean the metal]
Mark Brown: …businesses, allow them to scale because they’re going to be the lifeblood of the defence industry in five years and create exports as well.
[Video transitions to a man sitting and welding metal]
[Video transitions to a man pushing a metal into a machine to bend it]
[Video transitions to Mark sitting in a room speaking]
Mark Brown: For export capability to our NATO partners and European partners as well.
[Video transitions to a woman welding metal as the sound of loud, sizzling welding noise fills the background]
[Video screen gradually fades out to black]
Text on screen: Prairies Economic Development Canada signature
[Music slows down and ends]
