DEFSEC Atlantic 2023
PRESENTED BY
HALIFAX CONVENTION CENTRE :: HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA :: OCTOBER 3-5, 2023

Attendee Checklist

Last Revised May 15, 2023

Once you have made the decision to attend DEFSEC Atlantic in-person, please review the following checklist:

  1. Registration for all attendees this year will be completely online and on an individual basis.  The process to follow is:
     
    1. Review the information on what the attendee categories are this year and figure out which you should register under. Click here to start getting the information you need.
       
    2. Once you have started your registration, fill out the basic contact information (and other info screens depending on your category) and then decide on options being offered as part of the registration process.  It is important to note that this year that no attendee passes of any kind automatically include any meals. Hence options are:
       
      1. Lunch Options
        It is important to note that this year that no attendee passes of any kind automatically include any meals and there will be NO on-site lunches this year - this includes the "Bagged Lunch" that has been available to Exhibitors in past years. There are well over 20 restaurants just within a 3-block radius of the Halifax Convention Centre and even more just outside of that distance.
         
      2. Official DEFSEC Atlantic Receptions
        Both of our official receptions will be taking place in-person this year. Your attendance at the receptions will be determined by the type of attendee pass you have. If your pass allows for you to attend a specific reception, it will appear as a screen in your registration process and will also be available for you to add to your itinerary. If you are eligible to attend, we would ask that when coming to these screens in the registration process that you indicate (to the best of your knowledge) whether or not you are planning to attend that particular reception.
         
      3. Atlantic Canada Aerospace & Defence Association (ACADA) Gala Dinner
        A popular event that takes place the Wednesday evening each year alongside DEFSEC Atlantic that creates a platform for Atlantic Aerospace and Defence member businesses to be showcased. Attendees typically include key national and international industry members, military and government representatives and delegates.  The evening typically features a reception, high-quality meal, speakers & entertainment and presentation of the ACADA Industry Excellence Awards.  You will have the option to purchase an individual ticket for this event directly through our registration process this year.

        More details on the Dinner are available here. If you have any specific questions, you can also contact the organizer, Catherine MacDonald, either by e-mail at catherine@ac-ada.ca or via mobile at (902) 483-5664.
         
  2. Make arrangements for transportation to the venue: Depending on where you are coming from, this could be as simple as driving and parking OR as complex as flying and getting transportation to downtown Halifax upon arrival.
     
    1. If you are travelling from outside of Canada, make sure that you are aware of the requirements for entering into Canada. Click here for more details.
       
    2. If you are travelling from within Canada, but outside Nova Scotia, there are no longer any restrictions.
       
  3. Book your accommodations as early as possible to ensure availability. To find out more details about our partner hotels and to book your room, click here.
     
  4. The next steps all involve our integrated technology platforms.  It should be noted that once they have launched, ALL technology platforms EXCEPT the Matchmaking module of the B2B Meetings Platform will have their content available right up until the end of October. The technologies are:
     
    1. New for this year will be the development of a Web App which will allow for enhanced access to event information on a year-round basis.  We are starting its development and expect to launch it later in the Summer months.
       
    2. Our Online Registration Web Platform is now live and has two modules, both of which will be available upon launch.

      The Registration module is straightforward and setup to allow you to register to attend the various aspects of DEFSEC Atlantic. If there are any sub-events within DEFSEC Atlantic, you will be able to register for those as well using this system. All attendees will also have the option of purchasing tickets for the ACADA Gala Dinner.

      The Itinerary module allows you to choose from a variety of "sessions" listed in the master schedule which you can then add to create your own personalized schedule which you can continue to update and access through the system all the way through the dates of our event.
       
    3. The next technology, the B2B2GO Web Platform, will launch in the first week of September and will have three modules.

      The Messaging module will be active right from the launch date. This feature allows all registered attendees who have activated their profiles in the platform to view other active attendee profiles and message back and forth with them. This is used as part of the process of arranging and confirming meetings, but can also be used simply to communicate with those attendees. It will continue to be available after the dates of the B2B meetings (October 4 & 5, 2023) right until the end of that month.

      The Matchmaking module combines matchmaking and meeting scheduling all into one site.  The platform is used to facilitate the in-person meetings at our event.  We will have four large rooms inside the Halifax Convention Centre dedicated to B2B meetings known as the "ACADA B2B Zone". Inside them are 30 dedicated 8' x 8' divided spaces which will be setup for in-person meetings on Wednesday, October 4 and Thursday, October 5.  Where the platform is planned to launch on Tuesday, September 5, attendees will have that time to find each other, make connections and plan arranged meetings using the system on the event days. Access to this module will end at the close of business on the last day of meetings (October 5, 2023).

      As we did last year, we will be recording all of the presentations taking place in the ACADA Presentation Pavilion. The Video Presentations module will start to be available in the B2B2GO Web Platform once we post the recordings on Friday, October 6 and they can be viewed on-demand when you are logged into the platform right until the end of October.
       
  5. Correspondingly with the technologies we make available, then plan your activities taking place while on-site at our event. These can include:
     
    1. Visiting both of the exhibition halls and viewing the exhibiting company booths.
       
    2. Participating in networking opportunities and social events.
       
    3. Attending the presentations and panels in-person, and watching what you missed or would like to view again via the on-demand videos.
       
    4. Meeting with other attendees in-person to conduct and develop your business.
       
    5. Take note of several peripheral/related activities taking place during the week of DEFSEC Atlantic and participate in those that interest you.
       
    6. And enjoy the warm hospitality of the people of Halifax and Nova Scotia in general!
       
  6. If you have any specific questions about the event that this attendee checklist does not address or require further clarification, please contact the DEFSEC Atlantic Registration Desk. We will do our very best to assist you and answer your questions!

If you have any questions, please e-mail registration@defsecatlantic.ca.