Inaugural Halifax Citadel Reception a Success at DEFSEC 2021

Samuel Associates held a successful inaugural Halifax Citadel Reception on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. We had a tremendous turnout with over 250 people attending the event throughout the evening.

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The Reception celebrated the defence and security community in Atlantic Canada and was the first event related to the DEFSEC Tradeshow.

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We were grateful to the Citadel staff for providing our guests with an exceptional bagpiper and an impressive rifle demonstration from the 78th Highlanders. These performances remind us of the enduring spirit of Canada and the historical significance of Halifax in the defence and maritime communities, as our Senior Associate Vice-Admiral (Ret’d) Mark Norman inferred during his remarks at the Reception. 

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The Citadel Reception came on the heels of the seventh anniversary of Samuel Associates' business incorporation. The occasion was marked with a strong delegation from the firm led by President and CEO Goran Samuel Pesic and including Ottawa-based staff Jonas LeBlanc-Wilmink and Aliénor Peyrefitte. In addition, Senior Associates from Ottawa, Vice-Admiral (Ret’d) Mark Norman, from the Samuel Associates Halifax, Fredericton and Charlottetown offices, The Honourable Jamie Baillie, Brian Macdonald, and Dr. Jeffrey Collins, respectively.

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The event saw guests from DEFSEC, private industry, provincial government, officials from the Government of Canada, and the Canadian Armed Forces, including the Royal Canadian Navy. Additionally, we were pleased to host officers of the British Royal Navy and the Chilean Navy as well as former Minister of National Defence, The Honourable Peter MacKay, PC, QC. 

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The Reception showcased some of the firm's most innovative and progressive defence and security clients. These included Satellogic North America from the USA, Global Spatial Technology Solutions (GSTS) from Halifax, the ECA Group from France and Belgium, and the Kavin Group from Toronto. 

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"We are delighted that the Halifax Citadel Reception welcomed many DEFSEC Atlantic 2021 delegates and exhibiting companies as well as special guests from Atlantic Canada. We look forward to hosting next year's Reception and working with DEFSEC's organizers to make the event an even more spectacular experience as part of DEFSEC's program," remarked Goran Samuel Pesic, President and CEO.

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Samuel Associates was also honoured to invite a representative of the Millbrook First Nation Band of the Mi'kmaq Peoples, to attend the Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Association (ACADA) Dinner and Awards Presentation. We were also privileged to host senior executives from Dalhousie University and the Ocean Frontier Institute at the Samuel Associates dinner tables. We look forward to attending next year’s DEFSEC.