When: Tuesday, 11 June 
Where: The Sticky Wicket Pub, Maple Room, the Strathcona Hotel, 919 Douglas Street
Time: 5 – 7:00 pm (doors open at 5 pm)

Our Speaker: Dr. Chris Kilford

Note: the links below take you to CIC’s ‘Open Canada’ Turkiye focused articles – some of the most popular on our national foreign policy magazine website.

From devastating earthquakes in 2023 to this year’s municipal elections that marked the most severe electoral setback for the ruling Justice and Development Party since coming to power over two decades ago, much is currently afoot in Turkiye.  But what comes next? Will Turkiye be able dig itself out of the economic mess it is currently in or will the Turkish economy collapse like it did in 2001?  What fate is also in store for the millions of Syrian refugees who are no longer wanted in Turkiye? And what about the Turkish-Kurdish insurgency that has been ongoing since 1984?  Moreover, when it comes to the war in Ukraine, and choosing sides, what lies behind Ankara’s overall strategy? Finally, where do Canada-Turkiye relations sit and what were the reasons behind the recent lifting of Canada’s arms embargo on Ankara?

To help answer these questions we are delighted to have our own branch president join us. And Chris has just returned from a week-long visit to Ankara where he had a chance to sit down with Canada’s Ambassador to Turkiye, Kevin Hamilton, and his political team, to discuss events in the region.

Our speaker

Chris is a member of the national board of the CIC and president of the CIC Victoria branch.  He holds a PhD in history (2009) from Queen’s University with a focus on civil-military relations in the developing world. In addition, he is a Fellow with the Queen’s Centre for International and Defence Policy, and a sessional professor with the Canadian Forces College and the Royal Military College of Canada, teaching courses focused on Canadian foreign and defence policy.

Chris enjoyed a 36-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces. From July 2009 until July 2010, he deployed to Canada’s Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan as the Deputy Military Attaché. On his return to Canada, he commenced Turkish language training before heading to Canada’s Embassy in Ankara, Turkiye as the Canadian Defence Attaché with cross accreditation to Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkmenistan. He remained in this post from July 2011 until July 2014.

Chris retired from the CAF in September 2014. Since retiring from the military, he has become a recognized expert on Canadian and Turkish political issues. His book chapters, articles and opinion pieces on Canadian defence and foreign policy, as well as on Turkish and Middle Eastern matters, have appeared in numerous Canadian and international publications. He has also conducted numerous television, podcast and radio interviews covering similar subjects.

To attend this event please email Roger Love at cicvicpip@gmail.com

The event is open to CIC members only. The cost to attend is $22.50, which will cover a first drink and a round of appetizers. Attendance is limited so please don’t wait to register.

Confirmation of your registration along with payment instructions will be provided. If you are not able to attend after registering, and there is a waiting list, your registration fee will be reimbursed. If we have no waiting list, unfortunately refunds cannot be given.