About
Founded in 1982 under the leadership of Dr. John English, the Waterloo Region Branch of the then Canadian Institute of International Affairs (CIIA) attracted high-level speakers to the community. As “CIC Waterloo”, our branch has traditionally maintained relation-ships with the Centre for International Governance (CIGI), the Balsillie School of International Affairs, the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Guelph and Conestoga College. Located in Canada’s tech-triangle and geographically positioned as the gateway to South Western Ontario.
With the aid of an active program of public lectures, discussions and conferences, our branch is committed to engaging the Waterloo Region and the neighbouring communities in a dialogue on world issues, Canada’s global role and our multicultural identity.
Upcoming topics will deal with an array of international affairs issues, including trade and protectionism, technology and globalization, global migration, refugee integration and protection, and indigenous rights.
Laszlo Sarkany, PhD
John Tennant
Melissa Knox
Vacant
Bashir Habib, MS
Dana Fox , Daniel Safayeni
Annalisa Lochan
Jamie Martin
Neala Hayratiyan
Bob Publicover
Ray Simonson
Ex-Officio Members of Executive Committee
Member, Program Committee – Tom Deligiannis
Member, Student Committee – Neala Hayratiyan
Member, Young Professional Committee – Annalisa Lochlan
Previous Events
November 29, 2018 – Global Migration Film Festival, “The Merger”, followed by Panel Discussion with Waterloo Region Immigration and Refugee Organizations
February 26, 2019 – “Canada and World Oil – Pipelines and Politics”, John Foster, Author of “Oil and World Politics: The real story of today’s conflict zones – Iraq, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ukraine and more”
March 26, 2019 – “Protecting Canada from the Threat of Populism”, Ben Rowswell, President of the Canadian International Council and former Canadian Ambassador to Venezuela
June 21, 2019 – “War and Peace in Cyberspace: The Prospects for Cyber-peacekeeping and Cyber-sanctions”, Dr. Walter Dorn, Professor at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, and Dr. Danielle Stodilka, Canadian International Council Fellow
October 2, 2019 – “Is Modern Diplomacy Dead? Navigating Global Challenges in Turbulent Times”, Senator Peter Boehm, former Personal Representative (Sherpa) of Canadian Prime Ministers to G7 and G8 Summits from 2013 to 2018, and former Canadian Ambassador to Germany and to the Organization of American States
October 9, 2019 – “Let’s Talk Foreign Policy”
January 20, 2020 – Dinner with Canada’s Ambassador to Brazil, Jennifer May
May 7, 2020 – Virtual Program – CIC Members Only – Canada’s Ambassador to China, Dominic Barton
June 10, 2020 – Two Virtual Programs: Global Health Governance and the Science of COVID-19 and Bottom-Up Public Health Approaches to Dealing with Disease and Pandemics (with CIC Saskatoon and Calgary Branches)
June 22, 2020 – Propelled by the Pandemic – Explosive Digital Growth, 5G Adoption and Beyond
September 22, 2020 – International Education at a Cross Roads in Canada
October 29, 2020 – Commanding Hope: The Power We Have to Renew a World in Peril featuring Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon
December 9, 2020 – Rewind: Canada’s Decision Not to Support the 2003 US Invasion of Iraq
Upcoming Events
For information about CIC Waterloo events please see the national events calendar