The CIC

What can Russia’s war against Ukraine teach us about the future of global security?🌎 From nuclear intimidation to political influence and strategic miscalculation, Russia’s war raises difficult questions about how Western democracies respond to aggression and protect the international order. Join the Canadian International Council's Toronto Branch for Why Moscow Likes the West, an in-person discussion and Q&A with Victor Rud, an international lawyer with 40 years of experience who represented Soviet-era political dissidents persecuted by the KGB. Rud has spoken on U.S.–Russia–Ukraine relations before audiences including NATO and the United Nations. The discussion will examine Russia’s strategic objectives, the West’s response to Russian aggression, and the implications for Canada’s security and future geopolitical challenges involving China. The event will feature opening remarks by Bob Onyschuk, K.C., a distinguished Canadian lawyer and business leader with extensive experience advising governments and contributing to Ukraine’s development following independence. 📅 Thursday, November 19, 2026 | 6–9 PM EST 📍 The Albany Club 🎟️ Register now: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F… #CanadianInternationalCouncil #GlobalAffairs #InternationalSecurity #Canada #Ukraine #Russia

CIC Regina is back! 🇨🇦 The Canadian International Council was pleased to welcome attendees to the reopening of the CIC Regina Branch for an engaging discussion on foreign interference, information integrity, and Canada’s cognitive sovereignty. Led by Dr. Brian McQuinn, Associate Professor of International Studies at the University of Regina and Co-Director of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Data, and Conflict, the discussion examined how foreign-linked narratives shape Canada’s information environment. Using the Alberta referendum debate as a case study, attendees explored how these narratives intersect with domestic concerns, spread across social and traditional media, and raise important questions about protecting democratic debate. The event brought together an engaged audience, including Saskatchewan’s Chief Electoral Officer and the President of the University of Regina, reflecting the importance of these issues to the province’s democratic and academic communities. As CIC Regina reopens its doors, this event marks an important step toward fostering informed dialogue on the international issues shaping Canada’s future. Thank you to Dr. McQuinn and everyone who attended and helped make this event a success. We look forward to what’s ahead for CIC Regina! #CICRegina #Regina #ForeignInterference #CanadianDemocracy #Sovereignty #GlobalAffairs

What can Russia’s war against Ukraine tell us about the future of the international order? From nuclear intimidation and political influence, to the challenges facing Western democracies, Russia’s war against Ukraine raises difficult questions about global security, strategic decision-making, and Canada’s role in an evolving geopolitical landscape. Join the Canadian International Council, Toronto Branch, for Why Moscow Likes the West, an in-person discussion and Q&A featuring Victor Rud on Thursday, November 19. An international lawyer with 40 years of experience, Rud represented political prisoners persecuted by the KGB before the fall of the Soviet Union. He has spoken on U.S.–Russia–Ukraine relations before audiences including NATO, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and the United Nations. He currently serves on the board of the Centre for Eastern European Democracy and chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Ukrainian American Bar Association. The event will open with welcome remarks by Bob Onyschuk, K.C., a distinguished Canadian lawyer, business leader, and urban policy strategist with more than 50 years of experience spanning infrastructure, real estate development, public policy, and international trade. The discussion will examine why the international order has struggled to deter Russian aggression, the role of cognitive warfare and political influence, and the implications for future challenges involving China. 📅 Thursday, November 19, 2026 🕕 6:00-9:00 PM EST 📍 The Albany Club, 91 King St. E., Toronto 🔗Register now: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F… #InternationalRelations #InternationalLaw #Russia #Ukraine #InternationalOrder #GlobalAffairs

Caught Kyle Matthews at Couchiching 2026? You can hear from him again next week. 👀 Join the Canadian International Council and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Canada in cooperation with the CIC Ottawa Branch for The Transatlantic Tilt Roundtable, bringing together three complementary perspectives on Canada’s security partnerships with Europe. Thomas Röwekamp MdB, Chair of the German Bundestag’s Defence Committee, will open the discussion with a German defence policy perspective. Kerry Buck, former Canadian Ambassador to NATO and Senior Fellow at the University of Ottawa, will follow with her experience in Canadian diplomacy and transatlantic relations alongside Kyle Matthews, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Montreal Institute for Global Security, who brings expertise in international security and emerging global challenges. 🇪🇺As global security dynamics evolve, how can Canada work with its European partners to protect its interests and navigate an increasingly uncertain world? Bring your thoughts and questions to our moderated online discussion on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. 📅 Wednesday, October 28, 2026 🕕 6:00–8:30 PM ET 💻 Online, with a moderated Q&A | In-person attendance by invitation only Register now to join the discussion: thecic.org/event/cic-nationa… __ Le mercredi 28 octobre 2026, le CIC tient une table ronde sur les partenariats du Canada en matière de sécurité avec l’Europe, en partenariat avec la Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Canada et en collaboration avec la section de la capitale nationale du CIC, dans le cadre de la série de dialogues nationaux du CIC. Thomas Röwekamp MdB, président de la commission de la Défense du Bundestag, ouvre la discussion, suivi de Kerry Buck, ancienne ambassadrice du Canada auprès de l’OTAN et aujourd’hui professionnelle en résidence à l’Université d’Ottawa, puis de Kyle Matthews, cofondateur et directeur général du Montreal Institute for Global Security. La table ronde se tient de 18 h à 20 h 30 HE au Centre mondial du pluralisme, à Ottawa, avec diffusion en direct et période de questions animée pour les participants en ligne; les précisions sur la plateforme et l’inscription suivront. #CanadianForeignPolicy #OnlineEvent #EuropeRelations #InternationalRelations #Security

Enjoyed hearing from Bob Rae at Couchiching 2026? 👀 Keep the conversation going in Hamilton. Join the Canadian International Council’s Hamilton Branch for Defending Canada’s Sovereignty in a Turbulent World, featuring Bob Rae, former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, and Ben Rowswell, former Canadian Ambassador to Venezuela. Bob will discuss Reclaiming Canada’s Sovereignty, a new book he edited featuring 20 of Canada’s leading voices, while Ben will share insights on Canada’s economic strategy and relationship with Europe. 📅 Thursday, October 22
 📍 Workers Arts and Heritage Centre, Hamilton
 🕕 6:00–8:00 PM ET
 🎟️ FREE REGISTRATION Bring your questions, continue the conversation, and hear from two experienced voices on the challenges shaping Canada’s future. Register now👉 thecic.org/event/cic-hamilto… #Hamilton #GlobalAffairs #Policy #HamiltonEvents #CanadaPolicy #Ambassadors

🇨🇦Can stronger ties with Europe help Canada shape its own future? As global tensions reshape the international order, Canada faces important questions about who it can rely on, how it protects its interests, and what role its international partnerships should play in an increasingly uncertain world. Join the Canadian International Council and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Canada for The Transatlantic Tilt Roundtable, a discussion on Canada's security partnerships with Europe and what they mean for the country's future. Taking place on Wednesday October 28, 2026, as part of the CIC National Dialogue Series, the event will open with remarks from Gunther Krichbaum, Germany's Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office. The discussion will feature Kerry Buck, former Canadian Ambassador to NATO and senior fellow at the University of Ottawa, and Kyle Matthews, co-founder and executive director of the Montreal Institute for Global Security. Together, they will explore how Canada can navigate a shifting geopolitical landscape, strengthen its security, and build partnerships that support its sovereignty and long-term interests. This hybrid event will feature both an in-person roundtable with a livestream and a moderated Q&A for online participants. _________ Présenté par le Conseil International du Canada et la Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Canada. Le mercredi 28 octobre 2026, le CIC tient une table ronde sur les partenariats du Canada en matière de sécurité avec l’Europe, en collaboration avec la section de la capitale nationale du CIC, dans le cadre de la série de dialogues nationaux du CIC. Gunther Krichbaum, député (MdB), ministre adjoint allemand chargé des Affaires européennes au ministère fédéral des Affaires étrangères, ouvre la discussion, suivi de Kerry Buck, ancienne ambassadrice du Canada auprès de l’OTAN et aujourd’hui professionnelle en résidence à l’Université d’Ottawa, puis de Kyle Matthews, cofondateur et directeur général du Montreal Institute for Global Security. La table ronde se tient de 18 h à 20 h 30 HE au Centre mondial du pluralisme, à Ottawa, avec diffusion en direct et période de questions animée pour les participants en ligne; les précisions sur la plateforme et l’inscription suivront. ____ 📆Wednesday, October 28, 2026 🕤Time: 6:00 - 8:30 PM ET 📍Global Centre for Pluralism, Ottawa Register now to hear from leading experts 👉 thecic.org/event/cic-nationa… #Canada #Sovereignty #InternationalRelations #Ottawa #OttawaEvents #Discussion

Enjoyed hearing Bob Rae at Couchiching 2026? 👀 Keep the conversation going in Hamilton. Join the Canadian International Council’s Hamilton Branch for Defending Canada’s Sovereignty in a Turbulent World, featuring Bob Rae, former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, and Ben Rowswell, former Canadian Ambassador to Venezuela. Bob will discuss Reclaiming Canada’s Sovereignty, a new book he edited featuring 20 of Canada’s leading voices, while Ben will share insights on Canada’s economic strategy and relationship with Europe. 📍 Workers Arts and Heritage Centre, Hamilton
📅 Thursday, October 22
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM ET
🎟️ FREE REGISTRATION Bring your questions, continue the conversation, and hear from two experienced voices on the challenges shaping Canada’s future. 🔗 Register now: thecic.org/event/cic-hamilto… #CIC #Couchiching2026 #HamiltonEvents #CanadianForeignPolicy

🌎CIC Couchiching 2026: A Civil Place to Disagree. What does it mean to create a space where disagreement is not only welcome, but valued? This year, the CIC Couchiching conference brought together students, academics, industry professionals, government officials, and emerging leaders to ask difficult questions about Canada and its place in a changing world. Across panels and conversations throughout the day, ideas were challenged, perspectives shifted and, at times, people disagreed. That is the beauty of a civil place to disagree. One of the highlights of this year’s conference was seeing so many young people in the room. Their questions, perspectives, and willingness to engage are an important part of the conversations shaping Canada’s future. At the CIC, we believe young Canadians should have a seat at the table, and spaces like Couchiching create opportunities for youth to learn, connect, and contribute alongside people from across generations and sectors. Beyond the panels, Couchiching was a place to meet someone new, exchange ideas between sessions, and build connections across academia, government, industry and the next generation of leaders. These conversations are just as important as those that take place on stage. We extend our sincerest thanks to our speakers and moderators for bringing their expertise and openness to the day. Thank you to our partners, KAS Canada and the Aga Khan Museum, for helping make CIC Couchiching 2026 possible, and to the CIC volunteers whose time and dedication helped bring the conference to life. Most importantly, thank you to everyone who showed up ready to listen, question, challenge and engage. The conference may be over, but the conversations should not be. 📸Follow along on our social media pages to stay updated on future CIC events and photos from CIC Couchiching 2026. #Conference #GlobalAffairs #Canada #Policy #Youth #Networking #Leadership #CivicEngagement

👏Couchiching 2026 is officially here! Today, we turn to the question of Canada’s economic future for our third panel. As Canada navigates shifting trade relationships, a changing global economy, and growing pressure to strengthen competitiveness, what will it take to build an economy that can thrive in the years ahead? Moderated by Helene Emorine, Panel 3 brings together Jason Macdonald, Dr. Tu Nguyen, and Ali Jaffery. The conversation will explore investment, competitiveness, policy, institutions, growth and the choices that will shape Canada’s economic future. We look forward to the conversations today at CIC Couchiching 2026! #Economy #Conference #Competition #Growth #Canada #Policy

🤖Panel 2 Lineup: Technology, Security, and the New Balance of Power As emerging technologies reshape how countries compete, defend themselves, and exercise sovereignty, Canada faces important questions about how to keep pace. Moderated by Benjamin Lopez-Steven, this panel brings together Jaxson Khan, Matthew Da Mota, Amal Hussein, and Nathalie DiBerardino for a conversation on how Canada can harness emerging technologies to strengthen its security, sovereignty, and global competitiveness. 📅 Tomorrow, October 7 📍 Aga Khan Museum, Toronto The future of technology, security, and power takes centre stage tomorrow at CIC Couchiching 2026! #Technology #Security #AI #Canada #Growth #Competition #Conference

⭕️Canada doesn’t need to build everything. In his latest Open Canada op-ed, Jaxson Khan argues that Canada should make strategic bets in areas where we can become critical to future global supply chains, from AI infrastructure and safety to quantum technology. The goal isn’t total self-sufficiency. It’s building the capabilities, expertise, and trusted partnerships that give Canada meaningful leverage in a rapidly changing technological landscape. Khan will explore these questions further at CIC Couchiching 2026 as a speaker on Panel 2: Technology, Security and the New Balance of Power, alongside additional leaders examining how Canada can harness emerging technologies to strengthen its security, sovereignty, and global competitiveness. 📖 Read the full article on Open Canada: opencanada.org/canada-can-be… #AI #Quantum #Technology #Power #Canada #Growth

📢Couchiching is almost here! Tomorrow, we kick things off with our first panel, New Coalitions for a New World, for a conversation about Canada’s place in a changing world. As global alliances shift and the international order faces growing uncertainty, where does Canada turn to build new partnerships and strengthen its position on the world stage? Join moderator Rodginie Dorcent, alongside Sascha Priewe, Kyle Matthews, Whitney Lackenbauer, and Sabine Sparwasser for a discussion on how Canada can work with allies, middle powers, and regional partners to address geopolitical instability. 📅 Tomorrow, October 7 📍 Aga Khan Museum, Toronto The countdown is almost over. We’ll see you tomorrow at CIC Couchiching 2026! #Conference #TorontoEvents #GlobalAffairs #Policy #InternationalRelations

⭕️What will it take for Canadian businesses to compete in an increasingly volatile global economy? In the latest Open Canada op-ed, Dr. Tu Nguyen examines what Canadian businesses must embrace to remain competitive amid a rapidly changing global economy. She argues that Canadian businesses can strengthen their competitiveness and resilience by scaling up, investing in technology, and diversifying their customers and suppliers. Read the full article here on Open Canada👇 opencanada.org/what-canadian… Dr. Nguyen will also be bringing these ideas to CIC Couchiching 2026, where she will join us as a speaker on our third Panel of the day, Competing for Canada’s Economic Future. #Economy #EconomicFuture #Canada #EconomicGrowth #Conference

📢PANEL THREE MODERATOR: HÉLÈNE EMORINE We are pleased to announce our final moderator of CIC Couchiching 2026, Hélène Emorine for our third panel of the day, Competing for Canada's Economic Future. Hélène Emorine is the Manager of Global Government Affairs and Public Policy at Sun Life where she leads Sun Life's multilateral affairs strategy, advancing engagement with international organizations, policymakers, and global stakeholders. Previously, she worked for the Government of Canada as a climate diplomat and represented Canada as the lead negotiator for loss and damage in United Nations climate change negotiations. She was also senior policy advisor at Deloitte’s Future of Canada Centre where she worked on thought leadership and advised the firm’s senior executives on public policy and geopolitics. Hélène holds a HBA in International Relations from the University of Toronto and an MSc in Global Governance & Diplomacy from the University of Oxford. Register now to hear from Hélène and other leaders at CIC Couchiching 2026👇 thecic.org/couchichingoct202… #Conference #Discussion #GlobalAffairs #Policy #InternationalRelations #Canada

🗞️September edition of The National Brief is here! Check out what the CIC was up to for the month of September in our LinkedIn newsletter. Read the latest issue and subscribe to the CIC LinkedIn newsletter to stay connected with our latest events, analysis, and perspectives. Read the newsletter here👉lnkd.in/p/g9Zd_nJu #Newsletter #GlobalAffairs #Canada #Policy #Informed

Today, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, we honour residential school Survivors, remember the children who never returned home, and recognize the lasting impacts of the residential school system on First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, families and communities. Orange Shirt Day began in Williams Lake, B.C., in 2013, inspired by Phyllis Webstad’s story of the new orange shirt her grandmother had given her being taken on her first day at residential school. The orange shirt symbolizes the loss of culture, freedom and self-esteem that many Indigenous children experienced in the residential school system, and the lasting effects of this. Reconciliation requires more than remembrance. It means learning the history of residential schools, engaging with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, and listening to Indigenous voices and perspectives. At the CIC, we believe informed public dialogue has a role to play when it is grounded in that history and guided by Indigenous voices. We invite our community to read the CIC’s Statement on Reconciliation with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples, explore resources from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, and learn about the Indigenous Nations and treaty relationships connected to where they live.

📢PANEL TWO MODERATOR: BENJAMIN LOPEZ-STEVEN Meet Benjamin Lopez-Steven, associate producer of CBC Radio’s top political show, The House, and digital writer with CBC Politics, who will moderate our second panel, Technology, Security and the New Balance of Power, at CIC Couchiching 2026. This panel will explore how Canada can harness emerging technologies to strengthen its security, sovereignty and global competitiveness, with Steven-Lopez guiding the conversation. Join our panel of experts to discuss the role technology will play in shaping Canada’s future. Register now to secure your spot at Couchiching 2026👇 thecic.org/couchichingoct202… #TorontoEvents #Security #Technology #Conference #Canada

🎙️ MEET OUR PANEL MODERATOR: RODGINIE DORCENT With all of our CIC Couchiching speakers now announced, we’re introducing the moderators who will help guide the conversations throughout the day. For panel one, New Coalitions for a New World, we’re pleased to welcome Rodginie Dorcent, a peacebuilding practitioner and Saul Rae Fellow at Massey College. Dorcent holds a Master's in Counselling Psychology and Global Mental Health from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. As a Saul Rae Fellow at Massey College, she is developing a peacebuilding initiative in Haiti focused on dialogue, community resilience, and support for survivors of gender-based violence in conflict-affected communities. Her work is informed by experience in Haiti, as well as international leadership and peacebuilding programs. She is an alumna of the inaugural Young Women Peacebuilders Programme of UN Women and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), and of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Her research interests explore how collective trauma, and perceptions of justice shape political trust, social cohesion, and the sustainability of peace in conflict and post-conflict areas. Through her community, and international work, Rodginie is studying how international cooperation can support sustainable peace and the agency of conflict-affected communities. Explore the ideas shaping Canada’s future at CIC Couchiching 2026. 🔗Register here: thecic.org/couchichingoct202…

📣 TONIGHT: Dr. Wraychel Gilmore on Renegade Politics What does it mean to challenge the traditional pathways to political power? Join Dr. Wraychel Gilmore this evening for a book talk as she explores the ideas and questions at the heart of her new book, Renegade Politics, Advocating for Youth Political Engagement. 📅 Monday September 28th | 7:00 PM 📍 North York Central Library Don’t miss the opportunity to hear directly from Dr. Gilmore and grab a signed copy of Renegade Politics for yourself! Learn more 👉 renegadeconsulting.org/