January 7, 2025

Read in Browser

Nomination Deadline

We invite you to submit nominations for two awards that recognize excellence in Canadian defence and security: the Captain Nichola Goddard Leadership Award and the Ross Munro Award. By nominating someone whose work and sacrifices have inspired you, you help us continue recognizing individuals who contribute to Canada’s defence and security and deserve to be honoured for their dedication and service.

Nomination Deadline: January 31, 2026.

Captain Nichola Goddard Leadership Award

The Captain Nichola Goddard Leadership Award recognizes an early-career professional who has already made a meaningful contribution to Canada’s security and defence. It celebrates a young Canadian innovator and trailblazer demonstrating strong impact, drive and leadership within the defence community, and honours the leadership, character and vibrant spirit of Captain Nichola Goddard.

The award will be presented at the Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence, March 4–5, 2026 at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier.

Captain Nichola Kathleen Sarah Goddard, MSM (May 2, 1980 – May 17, 2006) was the first female Canadian combat soldier to make the ultimate sacrifice in combat, and the 16th Canadian soldier killed in Canadian operations in Afghanistan. Since her passing 17 years ago, Nichola has become Canada’s daughter and a permanent symbol of courage in the face of adversity. 

Learn more

The Ross Munro Award

The Ross Munro Award honours Canadians whose work shows the importance and influence of national defence and security storytelling across journalism, videography, photojournalism, and authorship.

Recipients are recognized for professional excellence and objective coverage that offers meaningful insight, analysis, or context on defence and security issues. Their work may focus on the Canadian Armed Forces, government departments, or national security agencies, and should contribute to broader public understanding and national conversation.

The award will be presented at a private reception before the launch of the Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence, on March 3, 2026 at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier.

Ross Munro was the Canadian Press’s lead war correspondent in Europe during World War II. He covered a Canadian raid in Spitsbergen, the 1942 raid on Dieppe, the Allied landings in Sicily, the Italian campaign, D-Day and the campaign in Northwestern Europe. His memoirs of the campaigns, published as From Gauntlet to Overlord, won the Governor General’s Award for English-language non-fiction in 1945. He later covered the Korean War, and after retiring as a war correspondent became publisher of the Vancouver Daily Province, the Winnipeg Tribune, and the Edmonton Journal. Munro was appointed OBE in 1946 and OC in 1975.

Learn More

Save the Date: March 4-5 2026,

Fairmont Château Laurier, Ottawa, ON

Conference theme: The Road to 5%

In June 2025, the federal government announced its intention to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. This historic commitment will expand the size, structure, and readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces, strengthening Canada’s warfighting capabilities across all domains. Yet the path to 5% is about more than increasing military capacity—it requires careful choices to safeguard Canada’s sovereignty, security, and prosperity. 

Over two days, through panels, keynote addresses, and fireside chats, the Ottawa Conference will examine the threats Canada faces and the importance of remaining a credible ally; lessons from abroad to transform defence procurement; the economic and social impacts of this investment on Canadian society; the development of a robust Canadian defence industrial base; the role of private investment, venture capital, and sovereign technology; and the importance of diplomacy and foreign policy in shaping national security and defence. 

Registration opening January 2026.

Firewall or security settings blocking links?

You can still access the newsletter by copying and pasting the full URL below into your web browser and removing the spacing following "//".

https:// campaignlp.constantcontact.com/em/1105533385898/c2c751e6-731a-41b9-bcd6-7b35d7fa36ca

About Us

The CDA Institute is a non-partisan, registered charity dedicated to advancing informed, evidence-based debate on issues of national security.

Join the conversation