Sharing Knowledge: The 2026 Canadian Reserve Force Academic Symposium

Thanks to Lieutenant-Colonel (ret’d) George Siket for passing this along to share among the RMR Family.

Westmount, Quebec – 16 September 2026: The Canadian Armed Forces will host the Reserve Force Academic Symposium 2026 on Friday–Saturday, October 16–17, 2026, delivered in a hybrid format (MS Teams + in-person at Canadian Forces College, 215 Yonge Blvd, North York). Daily sessions run 0830–1630 EDT, and the listed dress is Business Casual or No. 3B for military personnel.

The theme, A Call to Action: Reserve Force Renewal, focuses on three issues central to the future of the Reserve Force: talent management and professional development, recruiting and retention, and training. The fourth annual symposium is sponsored by the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff and hosted by the Chief of Reserves.

The reality of service in The Royal Montreal Regiment (RMR), balancing civilian careers with military commitments while recruiting, training, developing and retaining soldiers capable of meeting operational demands, sits squarely within this year’s program. Particularly relevant is the symposium’s recognition of the unique skills and experience Reservists bring to the Canadian Armed Forces through their dual civilian and military roles.

Agenda highlights

• Panel Discussion: Reserve Force Renewal featuring Australian and Canadian perspectives (Day 1).
• Reserve Force Studies, including a NATO Science and Technology Workshop and a study of Primary Reserve capabilities and readiness (Day 1).
• Talent Management, including proposals to strengthen partnerships with Canadian colleges, CEGEPs and universities to support Reserve Force growth, training and retention (Day 1).
• Professional Development, including “The Reservist Between Two Worlds”, examining the experience of moving between civilian and military professional identities (Day 1).
• Keynote: Major General Fulvio Poli, Chairman of the NATO Committee on Reserves (Day 1).
• Recruiting and Retention, including lessons from Ukraine’s Territorial Defence Forces, the United Kingdom’s Strategic Reserve and a panel focused specifically on the Canadian Reserve (Day 2).
• Training and Readiness, including Reserve Force availability, the digital battlespace, hybrid threats and the potential role of the Supplementary Reserve as a mobilization capability (Day 2).
• Closing Remarks by the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (Day 2).

The symposium is open to Canadian and international military personnel, defence stakeholders, academics, and interested members of the public.

Register via the 2026 Chief of Reserves Academic Symposium Registration page on Canada.ca.