On March 30, 2026, the NATO Association of Canada (NAOC) hosted its annual Gala Reception of Honour to celebrate the seventy-seventh anniversary of the North Atlantic Alliance and recognize recipients of the St. Laurent Award. Named after Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, Canada’s signatory to NATO in 1949, the award is presented for outstanding contributions to the principles of peace and security enshrined in the Washington Treaty. The gala took place at the InterContinental Toronto Centre and brought together over three hundred attendees, including government representatives, members of the diplomatic corps, leaders from the business community, and military officials. This event was made possible through the generous support of the presenting sponsor, Bank of Montreal (BMO); the event’s platinum sponsor, OMERS; silver sponsors, Power Corporation of Canada and Bruce Power; supporting sponsors, Invest Hotels and Massey Capital; alliance sponsors, AGF Investments, The Bitove Foundation, CAE, Canada Company, The Robert Kearns Foundation, Labatt, Life Labs, McCain, McCarthy Tetrault, Ninety One, Teranet, Toronto Dominion Bank; as well as sustaining donors Kathryn E. Langley-Hope & Trisha A. Langley Estate, Ignat Kaneff Charitable Foundation, and Jackman Foundation.
The evening commenced with a general and VIP cocktail reception, offering guests the opportunity to connect ahead of the awards program. The formal portion of the event opened with the Canadian national anthem, performed by Keith O’Brien. It was followed by remarks from NAOC President & CEO Robert Baines, who began by acknowledging the awardees, members of the diplomatic corps, and the event’s sponsors. Mr. Baines highlighted that strong national security requires a whole-of-society approach with participation of the public and private sectors as well as civil society.
Echoing Mr. Baines’ remarks, NAOC Chair the Hon. David Collenette outlined the rising security challenges posed by developments of emerging defence technologies and recent fractures within the Euro-Atlantic alliance. He highlighted the importance of a coordinated, whole-of-society response to these rising threats.
Mike Bonner, Head of Canadian Personal & Business Banking at BMO and representative of the gala’s presenting sponsor, agreed with these notions, adding that peace is something that should be actively worked on, not assumed as given. Mr. Bonner emphasized that BMO recognizes the importance of such investments and remains committed to supporting Canada’s security.
The event continued with Jean Riley, granddaughter of former Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, presenting awards alongside Mr. Collenette. The honourees included Lt. General (Ret) Frances Allen, Blake C. Goldring, Blake Hutcheson, and Rose M. Patten, all of whom are strong supporters of NATO and Canada’s defence and security.
Following the award ceremony, the awardees engaged in a panel discussion, moderated by Murray Brewster, senior defence writer for CBC News. Much of the conversation centered on the shift in Canadians’ public opinion regarding the importance of investing in national security. The panelists concurred that the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 prompted Canadians to no longer think of security as guaranteed. A more inward-looking and hardline approach to NATO allies on the part of the current United States administration also contributed to public recognition that Canada is neither geographically insulated from security threats nor able to rely on the protection of its allies. In light of these challenges, Mr. Hutcheson assured that OMERS will continue providing consistent support for Canada’s defence and security. He called on Canada’s business sector to take a more active role in advancing Canada’s security, helping to bridge the gap between the military and civil society.
The conversation naturally segwayed into building Canada’s national resilience and ensuring preparedness to security threats. Ms. Patten acknowledged that in the climate of geopolitical uncertainty, Canada must avoid national isolation and continue fostering productive partnerships with allies. Ms. Allen added that Canada should develop national resilience and crisis preparedness mechanisms in advance, rather than respond after an acute crisis has already emerged. The speakers also discussed education as a key component of a national resilience strategy. They highlighted the importance of both conventional military training and education in technology and innovation, as the security environment is increasingly shaped by challenges of advanced weapons systems, cyber threats, and artificial intelligence.
Ms. Allen further emphasized the importance of clear communication between the armed forces and the general public, which can provide Canadians with a better understanding of the military’s strengths and challenges. Mr. Goldring concurred with this view, highlighting the crucial work of Canada Company and the NATO Association of Canada in educating the public about Canada’s defence and helping bridge the gap between military and civilian lives.
Mr. Hutcheson offered an alternative perspective on the current global security climate. He noted that the NATO alliance remains stronger than it may be perceived. NATO endured previous periods of historical turmoil; reflecting on them helps place current fractures in perspective, suggesting they are not existential threats. He encouraged participants to work on strengthening Canada’s national resilience while maintaining confidence in the strength of the Euro-Atlantic alliance.
Following the discussion, the gala proceeded to the final award of the evening – the Intern Alumni Trailblazer Award, presented in recognition of dedicated volunteer work for the NAOC. This year’s recipient, Ottawa General Manager Jake Rooke, reflected on how the organization gave him a sense of mission by connecting him to a community committed to strengthening Canada. He reaffirmed his commitment to serving NAOC in the future, describing the award as a continuation of his journey with the organization.
Mr. Baines delivered the closing remarks, expressing gratitude to the sponsors and highlighting national resilience as a central theme of the evening. The strength of NATO relies on this resilience, and it is especially important to foster it among youth – something NAOC advances through its Security in the Community online civics course, designed for integration into the Ontario Grade 10 curriculum. Mr. Baines also thanked Lana Kharlip, NAOC Vice President, Bogdana Torbina, NAOC Chief of Staff, and NAOC interns and volunteer staff for making the gala a success.
The event concluded with a post-panel reception featuring food and drinks. The gala reaffirmed the importance of investing in Canada’s defence and in the strength of multilateral alliances like NATO. The evening underscored the need for a whole-of-society approach to national security and encouraged participants to remain confident in Canada’s strength while actively contributing to building it.
