Public safety showcase breaks records for attendance this year

SecureTech 2014, Canada’s leading public safety, emergency management and security showcase, has concluded three days of conferences, business meetings and trade presentations at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa.

The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) event featured more than 2,400 registrants, which represents a 20 percent increase over 2013 registrations. It also featured more than 160 exhibit booths in 50,000 square feet of display space, and more than 110 business-to-business and business-to-government meetings, a five-fold increase over 2013.

"We’re very proud to have put together something this unique,” said CADSI President Christyn Cianfarani. “The public safety and security community is diverse. The issues range from common equipment and communication across first responder services in municipalities to a national conversation about privacy, the prevention of cyber attacks, and the management of the Canada-US border. To our knowledge, no other conference or trade show program in Canada or internationally addresses these issues. We were proud to have been able to bring world-class speakers, decision-makers and influencers to SecureTech 2014 to exchange information.”

Keynote speakers presented updates on new security measures that will strengthen Canada’s security measures against terrorism and other security threats. At the opening of the SecureTech Security Conference, Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney spoke about Bill C-44, legislation which will empower the Canadian Security Intelligence Service with greater surveillance authority, and with the authority to operate in Canada as well as internationally. These new powers will make it easier for the intelligence agency to track individuals who pose a threat to Canadians.

RCMP Assistant Commissioner Joe Oliver, during a luncheon speech addressing the theme of perimeter security, announced the Border Integrity Technology Enhancement Project. The $92 million surveillance web of video cameras, radar, ground sensors, thermal radiation detectors and licence plate readers, will span more than 700 kilometers of border between Canada and the United States in high-risk areas of Quebec and Ontario, he told delegates.

And at a luncheon presentation at the Soldier Systems conference, Defence Minister Robert Nicholson spoke about the “excellent relationship between the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian defence industry” as Canada works with its allies to tackle the threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant.

SecureTech 2014 also included several innovative conferences that addressed the needs and capabilities of the public safety, emergency management, and security communities:

• A Soldier Systems conference and showcase pavilion, held in collaboration with National Defence and the Canadian Textile Industry Association, that allowed delegates from both the security and military communities to exchange information about integrated soldier systems and future technologies. Conferences featured John Turner, Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) at National Defence, and Lieutenant General Marquis Hainse, Commander of the Canadian Army. The soldier systems pavilion featured more than 50 exhibitors displaying the latest in textiles, apparel and technologies.
• A Knowledge and Technology Forum, held in collaboration with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), the National Research Council and the Battelle Memorial Institute, that focused on the emergency responder of the future and on international collaboration on common solutions for emergency responders requirements. Presentations featured Dr. Marc Fortin, Assistant Deputy Minister (Science and Technology) at National Defence, and CEO of DRDC, and Dr. Phil Waters, Deputy Director at the US Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate.
• A four-track security conference that focused on border security, counter-terrorism, cyber resilience and critical infrastructure protection and resilience that featured high-profile speakers such as Ray Boisvert, CEO of ISECIS, James Malizia, Assistant Commissioner, RCMP, Glenn Foster, Head of Cyber Security, TD Bank, Mark Borkowski, US Customs and Border Protection, and John Proctor, VP of Global Cyber Security at CGI.
• A Professional Development Speaker Series, hosted by Women in Defence and Security, that explored the challenges and opportunities faced by women in the private sector, the military, police services and the public service. The featured speaker was Gwen Boniface, Deputy Executive Director of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.