Our Events

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. In particular, our branch events give members an opportunity to directly engage with global issues that often intersect with local concerns. The CIC also supports events outside of Canada, often in partnership with other global think tanks, that can introduce Canadian perspectives to global audiences. CIC events take on many different forms, from academic lectures and panel discussions to town hall meetings and pub nights. Please consult our events calendar for a listing of CIC-organized and sponsored events.

If you have an idea for a CIC event, please contact us at info@thecic.org.

« All Events

  • This event has passed.

CIC Vancouver Island: Afghanistan – Unwinnable Peace; A presentation by former Ambassador Tim Martin

November 27, 2024 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm PST

Afghanastan – Unwinnable Peace

Tim Martin was a former Ambassador and the last Representative of Canada in Kandahar. Tim will speak about his time in Afghanistan (captured in his new book ‘Unwinnable Peace’). Based on interviews with twenty-one key decision-makers and participants, many of whom are speaking publicly for the first time, Tim recounts the personal and professional challenges faced by individuals deeply committed to securing and rebuilding Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.

On 15 August 2021, Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul fell to the Taliban. This was the final act of the ‘War in Afghanistan’ that began in October 2001.

The war was launched in direct response to the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. The terrorist attack of 9/11 killed almost 3,000 people, including at least 24 Canadians. Canada supported military action in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014, making this Canada’s longest war. We had an active combat role until 2011, when our focus shifted to training Afghanistan’s army and police force. The last of our service members left the country in March 2014.

Finally on 15 August 2021, the Canadian government closed its Embassy in Kabul (due to the withdrawal of U.S. forces and collapse of the Afghan government). The Embassy closure brought to an end two decades of Canadian and allied efforts to root out the Taliban, eliminate other terrorist organizations based in Afghanistan, and create conditions that would eventually lead to a new, inclusive and democratic Afghan government. The war against the Taliban pushed military, diplomatic, judicial and humanitarian organizations to their limits. But as Tim asks, was it all in vain?

Diplomats, Aid Workers, Canadian and Afghan Generals, Interpreters, men and women in the foreign service, RCMP, and prison experts are still struggling to reconcile their sacrifices with the eventual Taliban victory. The author, Tim Martin, will combine his personal experiences with those of his Afghan and Canadian colleagues to examine Canada’s mission to Afghanistan at a human level.

LOCATION: Sunrise Resort (https://www.sunriseridge.ca)

ADDRESS: 1175 Resort Drive, Parksville, B.C., V9P 2E3

DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, Nov 27th, 2024, noon – 2PM

COST: $30.00 (includes lecture & light lunch)

You can register for this event via this LINK

Details

Venue

Organizer

  • CIC Vancouver Island Branch