Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025 - 9:00am to 5:00pm YST (UTC-7)
Location: Town Hall Room - Best Western Gold Rush Inn - 411 Main Street - Whitehorse, Yukon - virtual option available
Cost: No fee to attend, refreshments and lunch provided
Contact: Andrew.Smith@yukon.ca
Please note:
- In-person registration is limited. We will accommodate as many attendees as possible, but in-person registration may close early due to demand.
- Online viewing through Zoom will be available. A link will be emailed with registration confirmation.
- Complete one submission for each attendee.
- Registration is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email from the CIAS.
REGISTER HERE.
Conference Zero is the starting point for the public-facing work of the Canadian Institute for Arctic Security (CIAS). Announced in November 2024, the CIAS has been undergoing rapid development, and is ready to start delivering the types of useful connections and information that will be valuable for Northerners in the Arctic security conversation.
Conference Zero will have expert commentary and presentations on the Canadian Arctic security landscape, international Arctic ambitions, protecting democratic institutions from disinformation and foreign interference, and analysis of recent security incidents and operations. Confirmed speakers include:
- Premier of Yukon Ranj Pillai on the vision for the CIAS and why it's important to inform Arctic security policy.
- Dr. Ken Coates on the Yukon Arctic Security Advisory Council recommendations and the historic context of security and defence in the Canadian North.
- US Consul General in Vancouver James DeHart on the how attention and priorities in the American Arctic are shifting.
- Senator for the Yukon Pat Duncan on national security and foreign interference, bringing Northern views to Ottawa, and cooperation with Nordic allies.
- AFN Yukon Region on the historical legacy of defence activities, the modern context of Indigenous governments in the Yukon, and Indigenous interaction with security projects.
- Dr. Sara McPhee-Knowles on building citizen engagement and confidence in democratic institutions.
- Neil O'Rourke of the Canadian Coast Guard on the role of the CCG in the Arctic region and engagement with northern communities.
- Nick Glesby of the North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN) on the latest analysis of the 2023 response to unidentified balloons over North America.
- Detachment Yukon - Joint Task Force North reviewing training operations across the Yukon and their collaboration with Yukon First Nations and communities.
- Priyank Thatté of Digital Research Alliance of Canada on Canada's digital research infrastructure and data sovereignty.
- (More speakers and sessions will be announced)
Through the working-level conference, attendees will be exposed to many areas of the security conversation and be able to find their place and interests in this broad and timely topic. Attendees will be able to make local, national, and international connections. CIAS will use the conference to learn what topics are important to the public and use that feedback to inform future programming.
The Canadian Institute for Arctic Security is funded by the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) and the Government of Yukon.