We notice entrepreneurs involved in defence and dual-use technology recommend that other founders start conversations early and stay true to their mission if they see an opportunity. Callie Lissinna of Wyvern, James Neufeld of samdesk, and Christopher Cassin of Zero Point Cryogenics discussed the future of defence technology as part of an update on the MIT REAP Edmonton initiative at Edmonton Unlimited on March 3. Organizations in the region have been positioning Edmonton as a defence hub in recent months as the federal government aims to strengthen Canadian defence supply chains.
As a company that captures hyperspectral imagery from space, Wyvern fits naturally with defence applications. Lissinna said it wasn't the company's original focus, but the company still built relationships with the defence industry early on. "It turns out, in hindsight, that was a great move to have built the relationships, because oftentimes you're kind of waiting for times like now, when it's clear that there is willingness to spend," Lissinna said. "I would encourage companies whose technologies maybe don't lend themselves so naturally to dual use to consider building the relationships now … because Wyvern inadvertently did that, and it has been great."
Samdesk's real-time, AI-powered crisis monitoring and alerts are used by civilian companies as well as the defence departments in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, and Norway. Neufeld said that just two or three years ago, the company was chastised for its defence work: "Investors wouldn't touch us — we were an ESG risk," referring to environmental, social, and governance metrics that influenced many investment decisions in the first half of this decade. But the attitude toward defence has shifted. The entrepreneurs who are positioned to thrive in the dual-use environment are "people that have been always extremely committed to their mission," Neufeld said.
Thank you to our sponsors for helping to make our work possible:
Economic development
The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce has published a breakdown of the 2026 Alberta budget, noting investments in workforce development and infrastructure, while flagging that the province is financing those investments with debt and that a coordinated downtown safety strategy remains absent.
Chinatown businesses urged Edmonton city council to restore street parking on 101 Street, describing the bus lane conversion as "bike lanes on steroids," and arguing that it significantly harms businesses. Meanwhile, CityNews Edmonton reports that Chinatown business leaders told city council that while public perception of the area is slowly improving, there is still more work to do.
Capital Power CEO Avik Dey told analysts he is "more excited today than I've been at any other point in time" about opportunities to power data centres in Alberta, calling the company's Genesee Generating Station west of Edmonton "probably one of the most attractive generation sites anywhere in North America" for a potential data centre partner. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.6910 per share on its common shares for the quarter ending March 31, and recently renewed an agreement with the City of Edmonton to keep either a Canadian or global head office in the city for at least 10 years, among other things.
TransAlta has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Brookfield to develop a data centre at its Keephills power plant in Parkland County, with an initial power agreement for about 230 megawatts that could grow to 1,000 megawatts. Meanwhile, the 2026 Alberta budget introduces a levy of up to 2% on large data centres — expected to generate $102 million when it takes effect in 2028.
Emissions Reduction Alberta is distributing nearly $46 million to nine oil sands projects focused on mine water and tailings management through its Tailings Technology Challenge, with the investments expected to support hundreds of jobs and $220 million in GDP by 2027.
Brent Jensen, the senior director of business development with Edmonton Global, told BetaKit the Edmonton Region Defence Alliance allows the region to present a united front to attract defence investment. "We would be able to build a songbook where everyone is singing off of the same sheet, so it's understood clearly what the value proposition is here and then to decode how companies might get more involved in defence contracts," Jensen said.
Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation CEO Andrew MacIsaac spoke about the organization's partnership with Vimy Pharma to produce a generic GLP-1 product at the Critical Medicines Production Centre. "It's a total game-changer for us to be involved in this," MacIsaac told CBC's Your World Tonight during a segment that starts around 22 minutes into the show. "When you look at the geopolitical conditions that we're in right now, where we've got a whole bunch of tariffs that are being thrown around … if you don't have access to these medicines, your health systems are going to be in big trouble."
Sturgeon County has reopened its Small Business Incentive program, which provides eligible businesses up to $5,000 in matching funds for education, marketing, and equipment upgrades, following a first year that saw 13 businesses approved and $192,697 generated in private sector projects.
Visitor economy
Traci Bednard, president and CEO of Explore Edmonton, addressed the International Indigenous Tourism Conference, where she highlighted Edmonton's Indigenous-tourism strategy, Alberta Native News reported. She emphasized collaborative partnerships with Indigenous Tourism Alberta, Travel Alberta, and local experience providers to ensure Indigenous communities remain central to tourism development. The strategy includes the "In Good Spirit" marketing campaign and guidance from an Indigenous advisory circle, aiming to build capacity, increase cultural awareness, and ensure sustainable growth and shared value for Indigenous tourism operators in the region.
Explore Edmonton is preparing to share its five-year Visitor Experience Roadmap during a virtual event on March 18. The event will showcase how tourism businesses can make use of the roadmap, among other things.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed that Calgary and Edmonton have submitted a joint bid to host the 2028 World Cup of Hockey. An announcement regarding the host city or cities is expected in the coming weeks.
KDays is accepting applications for its feature product program until March 27, inviting businesses to create KDays-themed products in exchange for complimentary festival tickets to distribute to customers. Last year, 24 partners at 48 locations generated more than $330,000 in KDays-related revenue and helped bring more than 18,000 additional guests to the festival.
The City of Fort Saskatchewan awarded Tourism Hosting Grants of $3,000 each to three organizations bringing major events to the city in 2026: a ringette tournament, a girls' 3×3 basketball tournament, and the Wild Rose Old Time Fiddle Festival and Grand North American Old Time Fiddle Championships.
The Alberta 55 Plus Provincial Summer Games and the Slo-Pitch National Championships, held in Leduc in 2025, generated more than $4.2 million in total economic impact, including more than $1.7 million in direct visitor spending, according to the city's economic impact assessment reports.
Downtown Dining Week is back with great deals!
Edmonton's largest dining week returns March 11-22, and this year you have more than 65 restaurants to pick from. Downtown Dining Week offers you multi-course and multi-item menus at a discount, all while supporting locally owned restaurants.
RUNWITHIT Synthetics, which created a synthetic twin of the Edmonton region, has now created Synthetic Canada, a high-fidelity "digital sandbox" of the country that enables governments, industry, and communities to model scenarios related to emergency management, infrastructure, housing, energy, and defence. CEO Myrna Bittner said the platform addresses the challenge leaders face in navigating "extraordinary and dynamic landscapes." It was created using INFLECTOR AI, the company's agent-based platform, which RWI is ready to license to organizations seeking help to visualize the consequences of their decisions.
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals reported $271.3 million in 2025 annual net product sales for LUPKYNIS, its FDA-approved lupus nephritis therapy. That was up 25% from the prior year, with total revenues projected at $315 million to $325 million in 2026 as Aurinia advances aritinercept, a potential treatment for a broad range of autoimmune diseases.
The Moth Cafe's Khuyen Wales spoke to Edify about her family's decision to close the vegan restaurant after eight years, likely at the end of 2026. Wales cited plans to demolish its space as a reason for the closure.
Fluid Insight founder and CEO Patrick Emokpae joined the Executive Wins podcast to discuss how his company's real-time fluid monitoring technology helps mining operations reduce costs.
Gene Dub of Five Oaks and Dub Architects has sold the Inglewood Lofts to Strategic Group for $60.5 million, now that an art restoration project is complete. Dub converted the lofts from the Charles Camsell Hospital, where Indigenous patients were treated for tuberculosis and reportedly experienced horrific mistreatment.
ATB Place is set to gain a new conference centre, food and beverage options, and a fitness upgrade as part of a renovation project scheduled for completion in 2027, with manager Colliers aiming to make the complex as compelling after 5pm as it is during office hours.
Edmonton's executive committee is recommending a new Attainable Housing Program that would cover between 25% and 100% of property taxes for downtown apartment developers, depending on how many attainable units a project includes. The goal is to increase the downtown population to 24,000 by 2030.
CBC's This is Edmonton podcast has released an episode examining the heated infill debate at Edmonton city council. Reporters explored how lived experience colours Edmontonians' attitudes towards infill.
The 17,500-square-foot Tollwood Manor, built by the late Bruce Saville, is listed for $7 million.
CoStar has named its Power Brokers in the Edmonton market, recognizing the commercial real estate firms and brokers that achieved the highest sale and lease transaction volume in 2025.
The REALTORS Association of Edmonton has released Episode 4 of its RAEdio podcast, featuring home inspector Dennis O'Sullivan discussing the inspection process, common issues like Poly B piping and aluminum wiring, and the emotional aspects of buying and inspecting a home.
CBC profiled the Skillcity Institute, which helps marginalized newcomers and youth forge meaningful careers. The non-profit, operating from the Clareview Recreation Centre, has supported more than 6,000 people over the past decade, including 4,260 who found employment or additional training.
CPA Alberta is the professional organization for more than 30,000 Chartered Professional Accountants (CPAs) across the province. CPAs are known for the experience, expertise, and business acumen they bring to organizations everywhere. CPAs are leaders, entrepreneurs, business advisors, personal financial advisors, management consultants, financial analysts, and so much more!
