Standing in front of a power point about new aircraft and infrastructure, Colonel Luc Vachon, commander of Canadian Forces Base Greenwood, announced, “For the first time in my career, I have more money to spend.”

Vachon was addressing attendees of the 2025 Valley Regional Enterprise Network (Valley REN) annual general meeting in Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. His expanded budget is part of Ottawa’s new Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), which is creating a multi-billion-dollar economic boom for Atlantic Canada. And indeed, the entire country. The Prime Minister’s office says, over 10 years, $180 billion will be invested in defence procurement and $290 billion in defence-related capital investment.

For CFB Greenwood, this strategy means not only new equipment in terms of aircraft, but $648 million for new infrastructure to support the 2028 arrival of a drone squadron at the base. Base spending will be on new hangers, expanded runways, fencing, parking and housing.

Emily Boucher, CEO of ValleyREN says, “We know Greenwood is anticipating 630 new personnel over three years plus an additional 100 civilian positions. They’re also set to build 200+ housing units. The growth opportunities are definitely significant for our region. We (in the Annapolis Valley) will see approxi-mately $1 billion in direct investment over the next decade. That doesn’t include economic multipliers.”

 

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