From left, Eazy Benefits CEO Hugh Doyle, Welch LLP managing partner Jim McConnery, Gowling WLG partner Todd Burke, RBCx vice president of relationship management Lindy Ledohowski, Welch LLP director of business development Bruce Raganold and Cresa Ottawa managing principal Martin Aass were among the hosts of the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Defence on Deck: Ottawa’s defence sector charts a course for growth
For guests aboard Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies, the phrase “all in the same boat” took on a special meaning.
Some 150 professionals and leaders from the defence sector spent a spent a couple of hours early Tuesday night cruising the Ottawa River, exchanging ideas, strengthening partnerships and discussing opportunities arising from Canada’s renewed focus on defence and security.
The networking cruise was hosted by commercial real estate advisory firm Cresa Ottawa, employee benefits consulting firm Eazy Benefits, law firm Gowling WLG, financial institution RBC and accounting and advisory firm Welch LLP.
“We wanted to provide a different way for guests to interact with each other,” explained Altaf Bhulji, senior vice president at Cresa Ottawa.
The timing of the event couldn’t be better.
Canada is increasing its focus on sovereign defence capabilities as it faces growing pressure to meet NATO spending commitments. As a result, defence has become one of the country’s fastest-growing and most closely watched sectors.
The group held a similar networking event last September on the Rideau Canal that was “hugely successful” but tight on space, said Bhulji. “This year, we thought we’d upgrade to a bigger boat with more elbow room.”
Some 150 guests cruised the Ottawa River as part of the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies exclusive networking event co-hosted by Cresa, Eazy Benefits, Gowling WLG, RBC and Welch LLP. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Martin Aass, managing principal at Cresa Ottawa, and Ben Morris, senior vice president and head of Canada R&D for Syntronic, during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies exclusive networking cruise of the Ottawa River. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise returned for its second year, this time aboard a larger vessel on the Ottawa River. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Kara Higdon, director of business and community partnerships at the Ottawa Board of Trade, was among the guests of the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise of the Ottawa River. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Lindy Ledohowski, vice president of relationship management at RBCx, alongside Pulshn technology advisor Phil Kelly, Gem Venturino, co-founder and CEO of Pulshn, an Ottawa-based aerospace and clean-tech company, and James Nguyen, co-founder and CEO of Ottawa-based cybersecurity company Quantropi, during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Peter Nesbitt, managing director at Welch Capital Partners, seen listening to one of his guests during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise co-hosted by Cresa, Eazy Benefits, Gowling WLG, RBC and Welch LLP. Photo by Caroline Phillips
As the double-deck boat cruised along the Ottawa River, guests admired views of Parliament Hill, the Supreme Court, Canadian Museum of History, National Gallery of Canada, Rideau Falls and NCC River House while sailboats, rowing crews and other watercraft dotted the river.
“We forget how beautiful and how fortunate we are that this is in the middle of our city,” said Gowling WLG’s marketing and business development leader, Lynne Carriere. “We need to get out more and appreciate this.”
Carriere said their goal was to bring together businesses, service providers and industry leaders who might not otherwise have the opportunity to connect. “It was great because I met a couple of really interesting companies that were totally not on my radar,” she added.
Ottawa, she added, is a community that still retains a small-town sense of connection while positioning itself to capitalize on opportunities emerging in Canada’s growing defence sector.
“We’re all trying to figure out how to help each other, but there’s a lot going on. It’s only when you actually force people to bump into each other that you start to discover what’s out there.”
There was representation at the event from Invest Ottawa, the Ottawa Board of Trade, Kanata North Business Association and other organizations working to ensure the capital is well positioned to benefit from growth in the defence sector.
From left, Philippa Cimpaye and Allison Gardner with their colleague Lynne Carriere, marketing and business development leader at Gowling WLG, at the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise co-hosted by Cresa, Eazy Benefits, Gowling WLG, RBC and Welch LLP. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Ranovus vice president Mike Sekerka, left, and Gowling WLG partner Jacques Shore were part of the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise that took place on the Ottawa River on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Bruce Raganold, director of business development at Welch LLP and partner at Welch Capital Partners, and Wilson Kwan, founder and managing director of Kwantum Advisory, during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise co-hosted by Welch LLP. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Tag HR CEO Priya Bhaloo, Kara Higdon with the Ottawa Board of Trade, Kanata North Business Association executive director Kelly Daize and Veronica Farmer, chief marketing officer at Wesley Clover International, took part in the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise, co-hosted by Welch LLP. Photo by Caroline Phillips
“If you’d done a defence boat cruise five years ago, 10 years ago, the vibe would be very different than it is today,” said Peter Nesbitt, managing director at Welch Capital Partners, which is the corporate finance and mergers-and-acquisitions arm of Welch LLP.
“Everyone’s feeling more enthusiastic, excited and confident.”
Much of that optimism stems from a dramatic shift in Canada’s approach to defence spending. After decades of falling short of NATO benchmarks, Canada has now reached the alliance’s two-per-cent defence spending target and, along with other members, has committed to increasing defence-related spending to five per cent of GDP by 2035.
“I think everyone in this room is saying the same thing: we need to rebuild, we need to invest,” said Nesbitt.
From left, Bruce Raganold, director of business development at Welch LLP and partner at Welch Capital Partners, and Peter Nesbitt, managing director at Welch Capital Partners, during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise, which passed by Parliament Hill. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Katherine Baak (Cresa Ottawa), Dan Marques (Cresa Ottawa), Alex Childs (Cresa Ottawa) and Emma Smith (Cresa Ottawa) during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise, co-hosted by Welch LLP. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Lindy Ledohowski, vice president of relationship management at RBCx, with Sciemetric director of finance Cyndi Gould during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise, co-hosted by Welch LLP. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Ross Morgan (Crypto4A Technologies), Jim McConnery, managing partner of Welch LLP, and Eazy Benefits CEO Hugh Doyle during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies exclusive networking cruise. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Gowling WLG partner Jacques Shore, alongside the firm’s marketing and business development leader, Lynne Carriere, Gowling WLG partner Neil McCormick and Welch Capital Partners senior associate Luc Milling during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Dilip Raj (Welch LLP) in conversation with Patrick Shanahan (Eazy Benefits) during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Billy Francis (Department of National Defence), Welch LLP business development manager Josh Raganold, Ekidna Sensing founder and CEO Nic Boileau, and Jake Malette, vice president with RBCx, during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Hertford Advisors owner Andrew Bailes was a guest of the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise on the Ottawa River. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Wilson Kwan, founder and managing director of Kwantum Advisory, alongside The Attain Group president and CEO Derrick Hanson, and Candace Enman, president of Welch Capital Partners, during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies exclusive networking cruise. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Martin Aass, managing principal at Cresa Ottawa, in conversation during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Maria Paula Choque and Karan Puri from Invest Ottawa took part in the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, CADSI vice president James Lindhe in conversation with Gowling WLG partner John Peters during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Gowling WLG senior litigation partner Todd Burke and Crypto4A Technologies fractional CFO Ross Morgan, with the Rideau Falls in the distance. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Danielle Couturier (Leonardo Canada) in conversation with fellow guests during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise on the Ottawa River. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Some 150 people participated in an exclusive networking event hosted by Cresa, Eazy Benefits, Gowling WLG, RBC and Welch LLP on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Dave Sali (OBJ) and Dominion Dynamics head of finance Brett Merriman took part in the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise on the Ottawa River. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Nicholas Besner, lead mechanical design engineer at Drillco Mining and Exploration, in conversation with Invicton Labs president Kyle Kotowick during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise on the Ottawa River. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Carla Rino, supply chain manager with SEA Canada, and Bruce Raganold, director of business development at Welch LLP and partner at Welch Capital Partners, during the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise on the Ottawa River. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left to right: Martin Aass, Altaf Bhulji, Lukas Samson, Dan Marques, Nikki Fournier, Katherine Baak, Emma Smith, Zach Coakeley and Alex Childs, all with Cresa Ottawa, helped to organize the Defence on Deck: Anchors & Allies networking cruise on the Ottawa River. Photo by Caroline Phillips
This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WEALTH (WCPD), Syntax Strategic, RBC, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law and Prime Benefits Group.
hello@carolineinthecapital.ca
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