HFI Pyrotechnics Inc., Canada's Pyrotechnic Centre of Excellence, today marked $120 million in growth and expansion at its Edwardsburgh Cardinal facility with a groundbreaking ceremony. Funded through a combination of new contracts and investment, the work is expanding the company's infrastructure, production capacity, and technical capabilities to meet rising global demand for its military training and search-and-rescue products.

The ceremony was attended by federal and provincial officials, including Michael Barrett, MP, Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes; Tyler Allsopp, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade; Steve Clark, MPP, Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes; and Tory Deschamps, Mayor, Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal. Representatives of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and the Algonquin Nation of Pikwakanagan attended as Indigenous partners, alongside local business leaders, community organizations, and HFI leadership and employees.

HFI acknowledges that its facility sits within the unceded territory of the Algonquin Nation and the treaty lands of the Mohawk Nation and is grateful for the participation of Indigenous partners at today's ceremony.

The $120 million is the first phase of a five-year growth plan, with more to follow. It brings new contracts, new infrastructure, and new research programs to the site, work that is already creating jobs in Leeds and Grenville.

Regional job creation and economic impact: as one of the largest employers in Leeds and Grenville, HFI's growth is already creating local jobs. The company has added 50 positions since November 2025 and expects to add more through the rest of this year as production grows.

Infrastructure expansion and site additions: over the next one to two years, HFI is investing in new buildings, civil work, and heavy equipment across the site. Following the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal's Phase 1 land bank transaction in April 2026, HFI has secured about 2,500 acres, giving it room to grow and buffer for its operations. Construction is underway across the site, including new buildings, access roads, and supporting infrastructure. A major project on the production floor is increasing capacity for Marine Location Markers (MLMs), with new industrial equipment to raise output. New utility work is complete, including a Hydro One power upgrade to support the larger site and a Bell FibreOp connection for secure, high-speed data.

Innovation and digital transformation: alongside the physical build-out, HFI is investing in new research and in the systems that support it, including new research programs to develop new products and manufacturing processes, a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system to modernize supply chain and day-to-day operations, and ongoing cybersecurity upgrades to strengthen data security and meet the requirements of defence supply chains.

“Securing this initial $120 million in new contracts and investment is a turning point for HFI,” said Rhiannon Iles, President of HFI Pyrotechnics Inc. “We have added 50 team members since late last year, and that is only the start. The Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal's land bank, completed this past April, made the land available for us to grow, and we are investing to develop it with new buildings, equipment, and utilities. It sets us up for further investment over the next five years as we grow, add local jobs, and help strengthen Canada's defence supply chains.”

“The expansion of local defence company HFI Pyrotechnics is exciting news for our community and important to our country. Congratulations to HFI Pyrotechnics, HFI President Rhiannon Iles, and the entire team on its continued success and growing their manufacturing of training and safety products for our military. I value the collaboration with HFI, a strong local employer, and regional partners working together to deliver results for our community and to support the men and women in our Canadian Armed Forces,” said Michael Barrett, MP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

“Congratulations to HFI Pyrotechnics on its expansion and thank you for this investment that will create jobs in our community. I'm incredibly proud to have this growing company that manufactures products used to train and protect the men and women of Canada's Armed Forces located here in Leeds and Grenville. I was honoured to welcome Premier Ford to HFI's facility and to support the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal in acquiring surplus provincial land that helped make this expansion possible,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

“On behalf of the Council of Edwardsburgh Cardinal, I want to extend congratulations to HFI on this exciting expansion. It stands as a fantastic example of all levels of government working together to support meaningful economic growth. This expansion is incredibly important to our Council, not only because it brings high-quality, good-paying jobs to our community, but because it transforms lands that sat unproductive for far too long into a hub of opportunity. We are proud to support HFI's continued success and look forward to the long-term benefits this and other future projects will bring to Edwardsburgh Cardinal,” said Tory Deschamps, Mayor of the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal.

About HFI Pyrotechnics Inc.: HFI designs, manufactures, and supplies specialty pyrotechnic products for military, defence, and commercial customers worldwide. Its products help train and protect armed forces and support search-and-rescue and safety operations. As Canada's Pyrotechnic Centre of Excellence, HFI combines specialized technical knowledge, manufacturing capability, and more than 150 years of experience in specialty pyrotechnics.