ConvergX Brings Aerospace, Defence, and Supply Chain Leaders to Cranbrook

City of Cranbrook Hosts ConvergX, Bringing Pacific Northwest Thought Leaders Together on Aerospace, Defence, and Supply Chains

Cranbrook, BC – The City of Cranbrook recently hosted ConvergX, a full day event that brought together more than 30 thought leaders from across the Pacific Northwest, including representatives from Alberta, the Kootenays, and Washington State. Participants from academia, government, and industry gathered to explore cross sector industrial collaboration with a focus on aerospace, defence, and critical supply chains.

ConvergX builds on a year of international outreach and collaboration supported by a Global Affairs Canada CanExport grant. Through this work, Cranbrook has engaged directly with senior federal partners, including meetings with the Deputy Minister of National Defence and Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy Team. The initiative has also elevated Cranbrook’s profile nationally and internationally, including participation alongside senior Canadian Armed Forces leadership and invitations to engage in broader supply chain discussions through the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER).

The Kootenays also play a critical role in Canada’s resource and supply chain ecosystem. The region produces globally significant minerals and natural resources that support advanced manufacturing, energy systems, and emerging technologies, while its geography positions it on key arterial transportation and trade corridors running north-south and east-west. With direct links across all four cardinal directions, to the Prairies, the U.S. Pacific Northwest, the BC coast, and the Interior, the Kootenays sit at a strategic crossroads of continental supply chains, reinforcing the region’s importance to national resilience, security, and industrial competitiveness.

A highlight of the event was a keynote presentation by Sheldon DeCossé, President of DeCossé Aerospace, who spoke about the Global Airborne Observatory (GAO). Formerly known as the Carnegie Airborne Observatory, the GAO was developed by Greg Asner and his team and represents one of the most advanced airborne Earth mapping platforms in the civil sector. Now in its third generation, the GAO is a fully integrated airborne laboratory housed within a highly modified Dornier 228 202 aircraft, enabling advanced environmental, climate, and resource intelligence applications worldwide.

Attendees also heard from Tim Troxel of Infiniti Optics, who shared insights into next generation electro optical and video surveillance technologies currently being deployed in collaboration with governments and partners across multiple countries.

Kim Van Vliet spoke about her role as Canada’s delegate on NATO’s industrial advisory group and formally launched ConvergX Xpand during the event. The ConvergX® Xpand™ Commercialization Zone is a national program designed to accelerate cross industry innovation and technology adoption by connecting sectors including defence, aerospace, energy, mining, manufacturing, security, construction, agriculture, space, technology, and healthcare. The program is available to businesses across Canada and is intended to reduce barriers between innovators, end users, and markets.

Mark Norton of the I 90 Aerospace Corridor, representing Washington, Idaho, and Montana, spoke about emerging technology hubs south of the border and emphasized the strong momentum, despite current geopolitical tensions, for the Pacific Northwest aerospace sector to collaborate and compete collectively on the global stage.

Hosting ConvergX reflects Cranbrook’s growing role as a convenor and connector for advanced industries and cross border collaboration. The City is actively working toward the development of a “Team Kootenay” approach to investment attraction, promoting the region as a unified, competitive destination for industry, innovation, and talent.

The City of Cranbrook thanks all speakers, partners, and participants who contributed to the success of ConvergX and looks forward to building on the momentum generated through the event.