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Record attendance at Spacebound 2023 conference signals continued momentum in the Canadian space sector

October 20th, 2023 (OTTAWA) – Over 400 people participated in Space Canada’s 2nd annual conference, SpaceBound 2023.

The week of events kicked off with over 50 Canadian space innovators meeting elected and government officials of the federal government for Space Day on the Hill. Space Canada members advocated for space to be further prioritized by the Government of Canada, and for the creation of a National Space Council.

“The Canadian space sector can help create good-paying jobs and economic opportunity, as well as help us tackle climate change, address the digital divide, and ensure Canada’s sovereignty and security,” said Brian Gallant, CEO of Space Canada. “The establishment of a National Space Council, akin to what the US has created, would help the federal government prioritize and coordinate its space investments, policies, and regulations.”

Approximately 400 political, business, and thought leaders attended Space Canada’s Parliamentary Reception on Tuesday night. Attendees heard from guest speaker, Canadian Space Agency Astronaut David Saint-Jacques; renowned for his ground-breaking 204-day mission on the International Space Station, representing the longest Canadian space mission to date.

Spacebound 2023, Space Canada’s conference held this week, featured keynote speeches from the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, and President of the Canadian Space Agency, Lisa Campbell. Attendees also heard from BGen. Mike Adamson, Retired Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Marc Garneau, BGen. Chris Mckenna, and international guests such as John Neal from the US Chamber of Commerce, Nujoud Merancy from NASA, and Kevin O'Connell, a notable figure in the international space community.

“In order for Canada to seize the economic, social, and environmental opportunities presented by the space sector, collaboration is key,” continued Gallant. “We hope attendees of Spacebound 2023 benefitted from the fascinating discussions from the esteemed speakers, and the networking sessions.”

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About Space Canada

With over 75 leading Canadian space innovators as members from coast-to-coast - including startups, large global companies, academic institutions, and not-for-profit organizations – Space Canada advocates for the strengthening of the Canadian space ecosystem.

  • Canada’s space sector contributes nearly $3 billion to the Canadian economy every year, sustaining approximately 25,000 high-paying jobs, largely in STEM.
  • Jobs in the space sector pay on average 64% more than the Canadian average, and 32% more than other jobs in the aerospace sector.
  • The space sector is R&D intensive, with over $500 million of annual investment. This is 18 times higher than the R&D investment of other manufacturing sectors.

Media Contact:

For media inquiries, or to arrange an interview, please contact:

info@space-canada.ca