2027 Women in Defence and Security (WiDS) Breakfast

Built to Be Unstoppable | Strength to Lead. Resilience to Rise.

February 25, 2027, Rogers Centre, Ottawa

Join us for the 2027 Women in Defence and Security (WiDS) Breakfast, a morning of connection, recognition, and celebration. This event brings together women working across Canada's defence and security sector and the allies who champion their success.

Through shared experience and meaningful guidance, we build the confidence, resilience, and leadership skills necessary to take on new challenges and shape what comes next. As Canada's defence and security sector enters a new era of investment, growth, and opportunity, we recognize the women whose perseverance, adaptability, and leadership have helped shape our industry.

Together, we'll celebrate the women who paved the way, those leading today, and the next generation who will carry us forward.

We are unstoppable. Not because the path has been easy, but because we have persevered.

Our Community Ignited

WiDS began with a spark, an idea to bring together women and men from across Canada’s defence and security community to recognize, elevate, and celebrate women’s contributions to our shared mission of national service. On February 25, 2027, we will honour that spark and the extraordinary community it ignited.

Awards

This year’s event will feature the celebration of the 2027 Remarkable Leader cohort as well as the presentation of the WiDS Mentor of the Year Award, an Allyship Award, a new Culture Change Award, the WiDS & Canadian Global Affairs Institute Fellowship, and two (2) $10,000 WiDS Scholarships supporting the next generation of leaders in defence and security.

Winners will be announced and awards will be presented at the WiDS Breakfast on February 25th, 2027. 

If you have any questions about the awards please recah out to [email protected]

Remarkable Leader Awards

In order to make a submission for someone to be recognized as a Remarkable Leader your team or organization must buy a table or 10 virtual tickets to the WiDS Breakfast. 

WiDS Scholarship and WiDS + CGAI Fellowship

The WiDS Scholarship recognizes exceptional academic achievement, leadership potential, and a demonstrated commitment to contributing to Canada’s defence and security sectors.  WiDS also partners with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute (CGAI) to offer the annual WiDS & CGAI Fellowship. Recipients receive mentorship, work and research/analysis
opportunities with CGAI, as well as access to CGAI publications and resources.

• Applications open: October 14, 2026
• Submission deadline: December 31, 2026
• Recipient notified: Late January 2027

WiDS Mentor of the Year

Honours a mentor who opened doors, shared knowledge, and supported a mentee's growth.
 

WiDS Allyship Award

Celebrates an ally of any gender identity who champions women in Canadian defence and security. Recognizes lasting impact over time, not just the past year. Self-nominations welcome.
 

*** NEW Culture Change Award

In its inaugural year in 2027, this award honours an individual, team, or organization that has taken bold, deliberate action to transform workplace culture so women in defence and security can thrive. Recognizing real actions, broad engagement, and lasting impact.