Life Sciences Week 2026: Official Kick-Off

​Join us for the official launch of Life Sciences Week 2026, bringing together Alberta’s political, policy, industry, and academic leaders to spotlight the province’s growing role in health innovation.

​We'll be joined by The Honourable Nate Glubish for Welcoming Remarks. Later on, we'll begin our Kick-Off featured panel Securing Health: The Growing Need for Canadian Medical Countermeasures and Dual Use Life Sciences Innovation, where we'll discuss the growing importance of building a more sovereign and resilient Canadian life sciences sector. Special guests include :

• ​Tim Smith, Deputy Program Manager, Strategic Medical Countermeasures Program, Department of National Defence

• ​Andrew MacIsaac, CEO of API

• ​Cheryl Holden, VP, Health Innovation, Alberta Innovates

• ​Leyla Kara, CEO & Co-founder, SpectraCann

​As we navigate an evolving global landscape, expanding our infrastructure, manufacturing capabilities, and expertise is essential to securing Canada's supply of medical countermeasures. By investing in dual-use infrastructure, Canada can strengthen its sovereign capabilities while enabling homegrown research and innovation to scale, attract global investment and drive long-term economic growth. We'll also explore how Canadian innovations and technologies can support national defence and the country's broader health security objectives.