Canadian International Council

Mark your calendar and join us at the Victoria Forum! CIC Victoria will be at the Victoria Forum in late August with a panel focused on mobilizing Canada for leadership abroad. As global power disperses and the familiar architecture of the world gives way to a new, uncharted era, a powerful truth is emerging: the future will not be written by superpowers alone. It will be shaped by the imagination and ambition of nations that dare to see beyond their size - and Canada is poised to be one of them.

10 am PST / 1 pm EST In Fulfilling the Promise of Canada, a distinguished group of military, intelligence, academic, and policy thinkers examines the hard realities of an increasingly unstable world and asks what Canada must do to meet them.

CIC Ottawa's Mentorship Program presents... 2026 CIC NCB MENTORSHIP PROGRAM SUMMER MIXER EVENT June 23, 5:30 PM EST | Heart & Crown Byward, 67 Clarence St, Ottawa EVENT DESCRIPTION We invite all mentors and mentees to join the CIC mentorship team to celebrate a successful 2025/26 Mentorship Program! Food and drinks will be available.

What do we actually mean when we talk about freedom, and what happens when we can no longer explain why it matters? In his new book, The Crisis of Liberalism, Michael R.J. Bonner argues that liberal democracy is not being undone by external threats, but by a deeper internal problem: a loss of confidence in the ideas that once sustained it. Concepts like individual liberty, equality, and moral responsibility may rest on foundations modern societies no longer fully understand or believe.

« All Events CIC National Capital Branch’s Africa Study Group presents… Tête-à-tête avec M. Ben Marc Diendéré, Observateur permanent du Canada auprès de l’Union africaine (UA) et Envoyé spécial du Canada pour l’Afrique June 3, 2026 | 2:30 PM REGISTRATION To register for this event, please click the link here.

The Conveners: A new series profiling the volunteer leaders who make CIC’s national community what it is Since taking over as branch president in January 2026, Mustafa Aryan has run a Toronto calendar that draws institutions as well as audiences.

Meet Our Guest Mentors Hear from professionals across cybersecurity, international development, trade, and consulting. Our speakers bring experience from organizations such as government agencies, global firms, and international institutions. Valerie Keyes is a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience across the Canadian Armed Forces and the Federal Public Service, specializing in policy, security, and intelligence.

Please note that registration details will be sent directly to CIC Victoria members by email. — Union Club lunch: Why Supporting Taiwan Matters for Global Democracy When: Wednesday, 17 June 2026 Where: The Union Club, 805 Gordon Street Time: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm (registration desk opens at 11:25 am) Speaker: George S. Takach Taiwan stands as a significant example of democracy and technological advancement, inspiring global support for its resilience and values.

« All Events Before Donald Trump in 2025, before James Madison in 1812,Benjamin Franklin had designs on Canada. Madelaine Drohan will talk about how he rationalized that desire, what he did about it, why he failed, and why the events of 250 years ago remain relevant today. Throughout his long and illustrious career, Benjamin Franklin nursed a not-so-secret desire to annex Canada and make it American.

Events The mission of the CIC is to promote an understanding of international affairs and Canada’s role in a changing world by providing Canadians with a non-partisan, nationwide forum for informed discussion, analysis and debate. Accordingly, the cornerstone of the CIC’s work is our events program. The CIC national office and our branches hold more than 150 events per year in cities across the country.