Veterans Entrepreneurship and Commemoration Conference

Inaugural VBNI and uOttawa PDI Mission Entrepreneur Commemorative Veteran Entrepreneurship Award

Date: October 17-18, 2025
Location: Desmarais Building, 55 Laurier Avenue East 12th Floor

Event Overview

Canada’s military veterans have proudly served the nation, but the transition from military to civilian life often involves challenges of identity, recognition, and economic reintegration. A strong entrepreneurial ecosystem for veterans remains underdeveloped in Canada, leaving gaps in both networking and professional training.

This project—a two-day commemorative and professional development event—will bring together 80 Canadian military veterans to honour their service while empowering their future. The conference will serve as both a remembrance initiative and a forward-looking engagement, highlighting how veterans’ leadership and resilience can continue to strengthen Canadian society.

Through ceremonies of recognition, veteran storytelling, and community-building activities, participants will reflect on their shared service and contributions. The program will also highlight the importance of lifelong learning and professional development, with a dedicated introduction to the Mission Entrepreneur Program at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). This initiative is designed to equip veterans with the skills, resources, and networks needed to succeed in entrepreneurship while honouring their service and legacy.

The event will be co-organized by the Mission Entrepreneur Program (uOttawa PDI) and the Veteran Business Network Institute (VBNI), combining professional development expertise with a veteran-led grassroots network.

Audience

Canadian military veterans with an interest in entrepreneurship and leadership.
Veteran family members, veteran support organizations, and community partners.

Agenda

Day 1 – Honouring Service, Inspiring Entrepreneurship

9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.	Opening Ceremony & Welcome Welcome remarks from Caleb Walker (President, VBNI) and Garrick Apollon (Program Director, Mission Entrepreneur, uOttawa PDI) Veteran Recognition Moment: moment of silence and short testimonials honouring Canadian veterans’ service and sacrifice as an act of remembrance
9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.	Keynote Address: Veterans’ Legacy in Canada Presentation of the Commemorative Veteran Entrepreneurship Award (Mission Entrepreneur, uOttawa PDI & VBNI) Reflections on military service, resilience, and legacy Highlighting the ongoing contributions of veterans to Canadian society and business life Framing theme: From Service to Enterprise
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.	Coffee Break & Community Networking
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	Panel Discussion: Honouring Service Through Entrepreneurship Moderator: Caleb Walker – President of VBNI & Mission Entrepreneur student Panelists: Garrick Apollon – Program Director, Mission Entrepreneur, uOttawa PDI Veteran graduate and business owner (invited guests) Dr. Cheryl Netterfield – Veteran-in-Residence, Mission Entrepreneur, uOttawa PDI Community leader (invited guest) Discussion: How values of military service—discipline, duty, and leadership—carry forward into civilian life, shaping entrepreneurship and strengthening community engagement.
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.	Lunch (Networking encouraged)
1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.	Commemorative Storytelling Session: Veterans’ Journeys Veterans personal stories of service, transition, and post-service contributions Christina Connelly, CD, MBA, CRSP, Initiatives Project Manager, Veterans Affairs Canada Donna Van Leusden, Co-Founder, Survivor Perspectives Consulting Group
2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.	Coffee Break
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Community Dialogue: The Future of Veteran Entrepreneurship and Why It Matters Exploring the long-term importance of supporting veteran entrepreneurs as part of Canada’s legacy of remembrance with three successful Veteran business owners building fantastic businesses! Arjun Grewal, Principal Owner, Grey Level Consulting Devashish Paul, CEO/Founder, BluWave-ai Hugo Hodgett, Chief Executive Officer, H2 Analytics
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.	Networking as Remembrance Structured networking session emphasizing community bonds, mutual recognition, and remembrance through peer engagement
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.	Evening Reception (Off-site – Optional) Informal networking with entrepreneurs, community leaders, and veteran organizations

Day 2 – From Service to Enterprise: Industry Spotlights

9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.	Welcome & Recap of Day 1
9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.	Industry Spotlight Session I Concurrent sessions (participants select one): Defence and Security Innovation \| Hugo Hodgett, CEO H2Analytics Social Enterprise and Community Leadership \| Suzanne Grant, Director, Capital Angel Network
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.	Coffee Break
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.	Industry Spotlight Session II Concurrent sessions (participants select one): TECH – Technology and Digital Transformation \| Luke Morrison, CEO, Paddio Emergency Services \| Mischa Kaplan, CEO, Rubicon
11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	Closing Ceremony Reflection on veterans’ dual legacy of service and leadership Commitment to preserving veterans’ stories, raising public awareness, and supporting their futures

Speakers

business man in suit holding a picture frame of himself in military uniform

Colonel (Ret’d) Kevin Cameron, MSM, CD

30 year Infantry Officer, former Director Military Employment Transition (MET) Program at Canada Company, former MAC Tools Franchisee, former Director and Deputy Commander CAF Transition Group (CAF TG), founder of CAF TG Military Transition Engagement & Partnerships.

Business men wearing a blue suit and light blue button up

Caleb Walker, Veterans Business Network Institute

Caleb is a CAF Veteran and the visionary behind the Veterans Business Network Institute. His non-profit focuses on helping Veterans transition from service to entrepreneurship through education, mentorship, and community engagement. In collaboration with the University of Ottawa's Mission Entrepreneur program, he is leading the charge in organizing the first national conference that combines Veteran business development with commemoration — set to become a cornerstone event for the Canadian Veteran community.

Business woman wearing a black suit and glasses

Dr. Cheryl Netterfield, CEO, POMMe-Health

Dr. Cheryl Netterfield is a physician-entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of POMMe-Health, an Ottawa-based digital health startup that provides a customizable, patient-centric communication platform to improve collaborative healthcare and track functional outcomes. A family physician with clinical interests in sports, occupational, and disability medicine, as well as CBT psychotherapy, she previously served over 24 years as a Medical Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, including several overseas tours. Dr. Netterfield also delivers presentations on “Health in Retirement” for federal employees. She holds an Executive MBA from the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management, a Diploma in Sports Medicine, and a Fellowship in Family Medicine Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

October 17-18, 2025	Day 1: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. \| Day 2: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	Register Now!
$ 100 \| Free admission for all veterans	Desmarais Building, 55 Laurier Avenue East 12th Floor	Register Now!