The Saskatoon branch of the Canadian International Council invites you to our next event, free of charge and open to the public, on the following important international issue:

TOPIC: Paying the Price for Neglect: Canadian Sovereignty in the Arctic in the Age of Donald Trump and Mark Carney
SPEAKER: Ken Coates
DATE: Monday, March 16, 2026
PLACE: Saskatoon Club, 417 21st Street East, Saskatoon
TIME: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
~~~ This is the seventeenth event of our 2025/26 program ~~~
[Read further below about the option for joining the speaker for dinner after the talk.]

Donald Trump has, one year into his second term as President of the United States, become the most disruptive force in Canadian and international affairs in two generations. Surprisingly, President Trump turned his attention northward, complaining about Canada’s limited military presence in the Arctic and, remarkably, threatening to take over Greenland. Trump’s astonishing demand that the USA be allowed to control Greenland has drawn Denmark and the European Union into Arctic security in a major way.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, seeking to find the delicate balance between protecting Canadian sovereignty and the international order, and the Trump administration’s ongoing assault on the Canadian economy, has outlined tentative plans to assert Canada’s presence in the Far North. Canada is discovering the international consequences of under-investing in the North and relying on America’s continental protection to deter foreign interference. The rapidly changing Arctic scene presents formidable challenges for the Prime Minister and the country as it seeks to chart a course for the future on a weak and troubled foundation.

About our speaker:

Ken Coates is one of Canada’s most respected historians and a leading analyst of the opportunities and challenges shaping the country today. Raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, he brings a distinctly northern perspective to national issues, offering original and deeply informed insights into economic development, community resilience, and the realities facing northern and remote regions.
A recognized expert on the forces transforming modern society, Ken works extensively on the impact of science and technology—particularly the evolving world of work—and has written widely on the future of rural and small‑town Canada as well as the rise of powerful urban economic centres. He is also a prominent commentator on Arctic affairs and northern development.

Ken has produced substantial scholarship on Indigenous rights and economic development and has collaborated with Indigenous communities across Canada and internationally. His broader research interests include Arctic sovereignty; science, technology, and society (with a noted emphasis on Japan); comparative and world history; and post‑secondary education.

The author of numerous books and articles, Ken is a frequent contributor to national debates through television, radio, print, and social media. He is Professor Emeritus at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Saskatchewan, where he previously served as Canada Research Chair in Regional Innovation and Director of the International Centre for Northern Governance and Development. In 2015, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

Ken previously served as Dean of Arts, University of Waterloo and Dean of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan.

With his blend of historical depth, northern experience, and practical insight into economic success in remote communities, Ken Coates is uniquely positioned to illuminate some of the most pressing issues facing Canada today.

Itinerary:
5:30 p.m. Doors open
6:00 p.m. Public presentation – free and open to the public
7:30 p.m. Event concludes
8:00 p.m. Dinner with the speaker (RSVP by email to dan.sutherland@canada.ca)
9:30 p.m. Dinner concludes

DINNER WITH THE SPEAKER:
Want to find out even more about the issues, and discuss them with the speaker and other internationalists? Consider buying a dinner ticket and joining us after the talk, at 8:00 p.m., also at the Saskatoon Club.

Register for dinner before noon on Thursday, March 12 by emailing dan.sutherland@canada.ca , indicating the number of seats you wish to purchase. Pay for meals by e-transfer.

Prices for dinner with the speaker, following presentation
$20 – Students
$40 – All other CIC members
$50 – Non-members
Register for dinner with the speaker before March 12, 12:00 noon. Dinner registrants will be expected to pay even if they cannot or do not attend. Persons with dinner reservations who cannot attend are encouraged to find someone else to take their place.

We hope you can make it!

Yours in service,
Dan Sutherland, Programming Chair
Canadian International Council – Saskatoon Branch