Compass Rose

Bilingual public affairs | We see the world differently
Firme d’affaires publiques | Nous voyons le monde autrement
#uncommoncommongood #lebiencommunautrement

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

We are proud to support Energy NL @WeAreEnergyNL in its work to advance and elevate Newfoundland and Labrador’s energy sector. Wishing all participants a productive week in St. John’s.
#EnergyNL2026

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

Last week, Compass Rose hosted its semi-annual clothing drive in support of @DFSOttawa — an incredible organization dedicated to empowering women and gender-diverse individuals to unlock their full potential and confidence.

We're proud to play a small but meaningful role in supporting people in our community and we will have another drive soon.

Thank you to everyone who contributed. Your generosity makes a difference.

#DressForSuccess #CommonGoodCommunity #Ottawa

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

Compass Rose was on the ground at #CANSEC2026 this week — and the energy in that room was hard to miss.

The Prime Minister's announcements landed with weight: a new national advisory council drawing expertise from across the country, a partnership aimed at protecting Canada's sovereign capacity in the north, and an unmistakable signal to industry that the government is actively seeking engagement.

For those who follow defence procurement cycles, the scale of what's being put on the table is striking. Analysts and industry veterans at the event used the word generational — and it wasn't hard to see why. Commitments of this magnitude don't come around often.

The fall budget is being positioned as the execution phase — where stated priorities become contracts, timelines, and real industrial capacity. The next three to five years, by most accounts in that room, will define Canada's defence industrial base for decades to come.

The queue is forming. For manufacturers, innovators, and companies with something to offer in terms of domestic capacity and jobs for Canadians, the window to engage is open now.

Whether the private sector rises to meet the moment remains to be seen.

Early days — but consequential ones.

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

#SPOTTED: What an incredible couple days at #CANSEC2026. Huge credit to the team at @CadsiCanada for bringing together leading defence and security minds, leaders, and innovators under one roof.

The conversations this year felt different — urgent, focused, and action-oriented. Canada's security landscape is evolving fast, and the Compass Rose team left energized by the momentum toward real, domestic solutions and partnerships built for delivery.

Until next year. 🇨🇦

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

The Compass Rose team is excited to be part of a historic conversation this week at #CANSEC, one of Canada’s premiere events showcasing Canadian innovation in defence and security.

As PM Carney noted this morning on the conference floor, our security landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace where tech and defence must align in Canada’s collective interests.

At Compass Rose, we agree that Canada urgently needs stronger domestic capabilities and to deepen trusted international partnerships to move us from ambition to delivery. We are proud to partner with clients across the sector that are doing just that.

Compass Rose’s Digital Government and Procurement Practice Lead @hutchonthehill was on the ground.

👇👇

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

#SPOTTED: The Compass Rose team is on the ground at #CSFN26.

Stop by our booth, pick up some swag, and say hello! We’d love to connect and chat.

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

The NACO 2026 Summit is officially underway!

Compass Rose was proud to sponsor last evening’s kick-off reception, bringing together founders, investors, policymakers, and leaders from across Canada’s innovation ecosystem here in Ottawa. Over the next few days, participants will engage in important conversations on early-stage investment, innovation policy, and the strategies needed to help Canadian companies grow and scale.

At a time when Canada is focused on strengthening its economic resilience and sovereignty, these conversations — and the ideas driving them — matter more than ever.

Thank you to @Claudio__Rojas and the entire @NACOCanada team for the important work you are doing to strengthen Canada’s innovation economy across the country.

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

Newsrooms are navigating real pressure right now, which makes independent, credible journalism all the more consequential. Compass Rose is always proud to support @CDN_WPF, to honour journalists who do the work to keep institutions accountable, here at home and globally.

A special shoutout to @meansandways_ca Editor-in-Chief, @bea_vdc, for being part of the World Press Freedom Canada team behind it.

#CdnMedia #PressFreedom

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

#SPOTTED: The Compass Rose team connecting with clients and the #cdnpoli crowd after the release of the 2026 Spring Economic Update at The Met. Always a good moment to trade notes on what it all means beyond the page.

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

The Spring Economic Update will be out today, setting the government’s near-term economic direction.

For Canadian businesses and organizations, the focus is on signals. Spending priorities, competitiveness, procurement, and investment all shape the operating environment in the months ahead.

Our team provides the strategic analysis needed to help our clients navigate implications for their sectors and position them to respond effectively to an evolving policy landscape.

#CdnPoli #CdnEcon #PublicPolicy #CdnBiz

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

#SPOTTED: The Compass Rose team was on the ground at the @CdnChamberofCom's #FutureOfBusiness summit this week, joining leaders from across sectors to take stock of where the Canadian economy is heading and what it will take to compete.

Across sessions on trade and the upcoming CUSMA review, the message was consistent: Canada has the fundamentals, but turning strategy into outcomes will require stronger coordination between government and industry, and, most importantly, execution.

#CdnEcon #CdnPoli

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

#SPOTTED at Liberal Party of Canada National Convention 2026

The Compass Rose team was on the ground in Montreal, tracking the policy conversations and political dynamics shaping the road ahead, connecting with leaders, stakeholders, and partners from across the country.

From the convention floor, Marci Surkes shared insights on the political path forward. As Prime Minister Mark Carney and the government move closer to majority territory, Marci noted the importance of strong caucus management to maintain momentum as the agenda advances.

Her perspectives were featured across
@CPAC_TV - https://t.co/305nI79De7
The @TorontoStar - https://t.co/dGjpK8sgPn
and The @globeandmail - ​​https://t.co/7hoxw6IJeJ

#CdnPoli #LPC2026 #PublicAffairs

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

This week, Samantha Thompson, Acting Lead Public Affairs Counsellor at Compass Rose Group, returned to the program where she got her start to speak with students in the Public Relations program at @AlgonquinColleg, including those pursuing the joint pathway with the @uOttawa — a program which she completed herself.

Samantha spoke about her experience since graduating, what a career in PR and government relations looks like today, and how students can start building their own career paths.

The conversation focused on the next generation of students who are getting ready to step into the workforce and help build, shape, and deliver for Canada in the years ahead.

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

New federal defence policies are reshaping Canada’s professional services landscape, with Ottawa at the centre of that shift. Recent commitments, including reinvestment in the Canadian Armed Forces and a renewed focus on domestic “Buy Canadian” procurement plan, are already driving increased activity across sectors.

As Marci Surkes told @obj_news Mia Jensen, “The bump in interest is real. It’s already happening and we are scaling accordingly, based on the requests for information we’re getting from potential clients and existing clients.”

What’s different now is the framing, with defence procurement increasingly treated as long-term industrial policy rather than episodic opportunity.

This new approach has the potential to create change, not just for defence companies but for all local sectors in Ottawa.
https://t.co/ZdkOTDexXx #CdnPoli #Defence #CdnDefence #Procurement

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

In the @nationalpost, Catherine Lévesque recently spoke to @ Marci Surkes to explore the evolving dynamic between Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre, including what one source describes as a “180-degree shift” in Poilievre’s tone compared to his approach with Justin Trudeau.

“This spirit of cooperation may not last forever, but in this moment, it meets the moment in terms of what Canadians are looking for from political leaders,” Surkes notes.

That shift is not accidental. It reflects a more deliberate approach to opposition, one that balances contrast with moments of pragmatism, particularly as both leaders navigate a more complex economic and political landscape.

And while it may be temporary, it signals something broader: Canadians may be looking to leaders who can adapt their tone to the moment, not just hold the line.

You can read more of Marci’s interview here: https://t.co/WkkU0ZPjIc

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

Great discussion this morning at TECHNATION’s Smart Procurement event at @Invest_Ottawa.

As a sponsor, Compass Rose was proud to support a conversation grounded in the release of our Smart Procurement Group report. Developed in collaboration with industry leaders, the report outlines practical, actionable ways to strengthen how procurement delivers for Canadians.

A clear takeaway from today: improving procurement is not just about policy reform. It requires stronger execution and sustained collaboration between government and industry.

Thank you to everyone contributing to this important dialogue.

Read the report here: https://t.co/SAtR9CBgVj #GCDigital #GCProcurement #CdnPoli #Procurement

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

Procurement is one of the most powerful levers governments have to drive growth, innovation, and public trust.

The Smart Procurement Group (SPG) brought together leaders from across Canada’s technology ecosystem to focus on a simple task: how do we make procurement work better in practice?

The report highlights a clear direction forward, grounded in transparency, consistency, and outcomes-based delivery.

What stood out most is the shared recognition that improving procurement is a collective effort. It requires sustained collaboration, practical solutions, and a continued focus on delivering real results.

“Effective procurement is about more than process, it’s about enabling Canada to deliver on its priorities,” added Christian Roy, Strategic Advisor at Compass Rose and SPG Secretariat lead. “A more effective system will depend on continued collaboration and a shared commitment from both public and private sector participants to uphold integrity, deliver value for money, and build trust in how procurement is conducted.”

We’re looking forward to continuing this conversation with partners across government and industry. https://t.co/fVvSPQdzop #PublicService #GCDigital #GoCProcurement

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

Compass Rose is proud to share the release of our inaugural Smart Procurement Group (SPG).

Developed in collaboration with industry leaders, the report outlines practical, actionable opportunities to strengthen how procurement delivers for Canadians.

At a time when procurement is being asked to do more, from supporting digital transformation to strengthening supply chains, the need for more transparent, outcomes-driven approaches has never been clearer.

“The procurement system is one of the most powerful levers governments have to drive economic growth and innovation,” said Kelly Hutchinson, Digital Government & Procurement Practice Lead at Compass Rose and founder of the Smart Procurement Group. “Through the SPG, we brought together leaders across the ecosystem to focus on practical, implementable solutions that can improve how the government buys, and ultimately how it delivers results for Canadians.

Progress will depend not only on policy reform, but on execution and stronger collaboration between government and industry.

This report is a starting point for that continued dialogue. https://t.co/fVvSPQd1yR #PublicService #GCDigital #GCProcurement #GoC

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

“Do they want to win, or do they want to be a voice in Parliament?” says Marci Surkes on last night’s @PTP_CPAC on CPAC, sharing her thoughts on the next challenge for the NDP.

As the party enters a leadership reset, the path forward isn’t just about rebuilding, it’s about defining what kind of party it wants to be.

You can watch the full segment here: https://t.co/VriGITWGOX #NDP #CdnPoli #Leadership

[Compass Rose @CompassRoseGr]

This week in the UK, the Compass Rose team attended a @globegov networking session with partners and peers across the Canada–UK ecosystem.

The conversations throughout the day carried into the reception, particularly around cybersecurity, AI adoption, and the future of digital public services.

Events like #Innovation2026 reinforced the importance of cross-border dialogue, not just to share ideas, but to build the partnerships needed to deliver at scale.

#DigitalGovernment #GovTech #CanadaUK #PublicSector #AI #CyberSecurity #GCDigital #GCCyber #GCSoverignty