CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL
SASKATOON BRANCH
NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL BRANCH MEETING

DATE: Wednesday, July 02, 2025

PLACE: Library Room
the Saskatoon Club
417 21st Street East, Saskatoon, SK

TIME:
4:30 pm Doors open, networking
5:00 pm Annual Branch Meeting (ABM) of members
6:00 pm Presentation “The Illusion of Reform: Rethinking Security and Lessons from Latin America” by Alex Camilo Duran Montano
7:30 pm Optional Dinner with the speaker (RSVP)

To our incredibly dedicated members:

Thank you! Your support of CIC (Saskatoon’s 93-year experiment in citizen engagement) has made possible another hugely successful CIC year.

Please come together with us at our Annual Branch Meeting of members (ABM) at the Saskatoon Club, and have your voice heard.

This event is your best opportunity to get updated on the year that was. What were our victories? and where did we fall short?

This is also your opportunity to vote on the executive leadership to carry us forward into the 2024-25 CIC year. Voting is restricted to members who are in good standing – that is, their memberships are up-to-date and paid in full. If you have any questions about whether you are in good (ie. paid) standing as a CIC member, contact Dan Sutherland at dan.sutherland@canada.ca, and we will do our best to provide you with the information.

After a brief break from the ABM, join us for an outstanding presentation from Alex Camilo Duran Montano entitled The Illusion of Reform: Rethinking Security and Lessons from Latin America”.
We hope you can join us!

After the talk, we will join the speaker for dinner. If you wish to be part of the dinner, check for more details at https://thecic.org/event/Mexico/

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About “The Illusion of Reform: Rethinking Security and Lessons from Latin America”

This presentation explores the emergence of authoritarian leaders in Latin America advocating for repressive security practices and the erosion of democratic norms, often using police and military forces as a fundamental cornerstone of their political projects. Drawing on insights from a broader study of Security Sector Reform (SSR) programmes worldwide, thi presentation argues that a narrow and depoliticized understanding of security enables authoritarian consolidation under the guise of reform. By critically examining the conceptual and practical limitations of SSR as a “problem-solving” approach, this presentation invites reflection on the broader implications for countries that champion the rules-based international order (such as Canada), and underscores the importance of analyzing Latin America to understand global political discourse and events.

About our speaker:
Alex Camilo Duran Montano is an emerging scholar from Bogotá, Colombia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science from the Universidad de Los Andes and a Master of Arts in Political Studies from the University of Saskatchewan. His research focuses on security sector reform, peacebuilding, democratization, and International Relations theory, utilizing critical perspectives to explore why police, armed forces, and civilian defense institutions often resist genuine transformation. Professionally, Alex has experience in applied research with NGOs and as a policy advisor, lecturer and graduate supervisor. Outside of academia, he enjoys good meals with friends, engaging stories, and passionately supports the Argentina national football team.

Not a member? Come at 5:30 for meet and greet and the amazing presentation.
Are you a CIC member? Arrive before 5:00 PM and participate in the ABM, the networking and the presentation.