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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.

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CIC Couchiching West Victoria | Mobilizing Canada: Power, Partnerships and Purpose in the New Global Order

April 10 @ 8:30 am - 5:30 pm PDT

Join us as Couchiching comes to Victoria!

Since its inaugural conference in 1932, the Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs (CIPA) has played a pre-eminent role in Canada’s civic discourse as a national forum on public affairs. In 2018, CIPA and the annual conference that took place every August on the shores of Lake Couchiching near Orillia, Ontario, ended. Today, thanks to the CIC, Couchiching’s legacy endures.

Our latest, upcoming conference: Mobilizing Canada: Power, Partnerships and Purpose in the New Global Order

Canada’s influence has never depended on size alone. It has depended on alignment and the ability to bring together its civic institutions, economic strengths, democratic foundations, and international credibility in pursuit of shared global goals. When those forces move in concert, Canada can collaborate effectively with other middle powers, reinforce democratic norms, advance climate and technology standards, diversify trade, and shape collective responses to geopolitical volatility.

At this moment defined by instability and shifting alliances, the question is no longer whether Canada should engage, but how it can better align its national assets to generate the coordinated momentum required to lead in a coalition-driven world.

Time to join the conversation!

Our Schedule

08:30 am – Registration desk opens

09:00 am – Welcome by Elder Terri Barnhard

09:05 am – Welcome by CIC and the University of Victoria (UVic) Centre for Global Studies (CFGS)

09:15 am – Keynote speaker: Jody Thomas, former national security and intelligence advisor to PM Trudeau and former Deputy Minister of National Defence.

10:00 am – Coffee break

10:30 am – Panel 1: Canada’s Influence Capital: Mobilizing Canada for Leadership Abroad

Canada’s ability to act as a middle power depends not only on diplomacy and military capability, but on the strength of its democratic foundations—trusted institutions, economic resilience, social cohesion, and an engaged citizenry. This panel, under the guidance of CIC’s Executive Director Melanie Walker, asks: How can Canada better mobilize its domestic strengths to sustain international power and influence, and what shared responsibilities do governments, business, academia, and civil society have in building that influence capital?

12:15 am – lunch

1 pm – Panel 2: Middle-Power Coalitions in a Fragmenting World

As global power becomes more diffuse, countries that are neither superpowers nor small states are increasingly shaping outcomes through coalition-building. Middle powers such as Canada, Germany, Poland, Mexico, Taiwan, and others possess significant economic capacity, technological expertise, and diplomatic reach – but must collaborate to influence a system dominated by larger actors. Strategic trade partnerships, supply-chain integration, and shared standards can enhance resilience and reduce vulnerability to economic coercion. At the same time, soft power, cultural diplomacy, and people-to-people ties help sustain trust and legitimacy across democratic societies. This panel, under the guidance of Dr. Chris Kilford, Fellow with the Queen’s Centre of International and Defence Policy, examines how middle powers can work together to advance shared interests while preserving autonomy. What forms of cooperation are most effective – formal alliances, regional agreements, or issue-based coalitions? Where can Canada lead, and where must it partner and on what specific issues? And what risks accompany alignment, including economic retaliation, dependency, or loss of strategic flexibility?

2:45 pm – Coffee break

3:15 pm – Keynote speaker: Former Ambassador Marc Lortie. Marc Lortie has been a diplomat, ambassador, Prime ministerial spokesman, and trusted advisor to various prime ministers on federal-provincial issues, Latin American and European affairs.

4:00 pm – Closing ceremonies/remarks

4:30 pm – Post conference reception

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As a follow-up to the conference, on 15 April, from 10am – 2 pm (including lunch), we will have a student-focused wrap-up discussion at the UVic CFGS.  Details to come.

Please check back for more details.

Date & Time

Friday April 10, 2026
8:30AM – 5:30PM | Reception begins at 4:30PM

Conference Location

Michèle Pujol Room
Student Union Building
University of Victoria
3800 Finnerty Road
Victoria, BC V8N 6K8

Tickets

General public – $75
CIC members – $60
Students – $10 (valid student ID required)

Cancellation Policy

The cutoff date for cancellations is Friday, 3 April at noon.  After this date/time refunds are not possible unless we have a waitlist.

Sponsorship

We are grateful to have the support of the:

The Konrad Adenauer Foundation

The University of Victoria, Centre for Global Studies

The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) Victoria

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Vancouver

Kurt Salchert – Beyond the Border Consulting Ltd.

Ray Brougham – Rainhouse Manufacturing Canada Ltd.

Additional sponsorship opportunities are also available:

  • Help sponsor the morning coffee
  • Help sponsor lunch
  • Help sponsor the afternoon coffee
  • Help sponsor the post-event reception
  • Help sponsor the final conference report
  • Help keep the ticket price for students as low as possible – any amount is most welcome

All sponsors will be recognized at the conference and in our published post-conference reporting.

Sponsorship donations

If you would like to be a sponsor please contact us.  Or you can donate directly, via CanadaHelps, and receive a tax donation.  Visit us here and select the Couchiching conference.

Contacts

For registration information: Jennifer Chylinski | jennifer@thecic.org | 647-875-3313
For sponsorship information: John Juricic | johnj59@gmail.com
For additional conference and sponsorship information: Chris Kilford | president.victoria@thecic.org

 

Details

Venue