Did I simply make CDSN a verb? Why not. We had a improbable week at our second private summer season institute (see final yr’s abstract right here). I’m nonetheless jazzed after per week of informative shows from our numerous presenters, of schematics from our contributors within the simulation, of sharp insights from contributors who got here from throughout the Canadian protection and safety group, and of nice work behind the scenes by our CDSN workforce .
Group image after DND briefings |
It begins with the contributors. The unique concept that animated the grant within the first place was to deliver collectively folks from the army, from the opposite elements of presidency and from academia (would additionally like journalists) to take part in a week-long seminar/workshop/institute/no matter you want to be taught from consultants, however as/extra importantly, be taught from one another by seeing the identical issues from totally different views through the totally different lenses of individuals locally. As well as, we needed to facilitate networks that construct bridges between the assorted divides. And sure, it was actually candy to see that come to fruition this week. Final yr’s cohort was fantastic, however was not almost as consultant of the protection and safety group. We nonetheless have work to do to incorporate folks from public security, world affairs and different departments.
Our presenters included CDSN co-directors and different Canadian lecturers, folks from the political group, CAF officers, US lecturers, journalists and a pollster. They introduced plenty of expertise and perception to our discussions, which provoked many questions alongside the way in which. Many of the week was in Carleton, however we ventured downtown one morning to fulfill with people at Nationwide Protection Headquarters. There we meet with folks from Protection Intelligence, the Deputy Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy and among the high officers on the civilian facet of the Division of Nationwide Defence. With the Chatham Home Rule in impact, I am unable to say what people stated, however I can say that the general public we met alongside the way in which had been fairly open.
The valence simulation led to tears and {dollars}? The state of affairs had disinformation and arctic sovereignty in play with three groups taking part in the USA, Canada and Meta. Meta made big earnings because it continued to unfold disinformation, whereas US-Canadian relations had been torn aside as they failed to achieve an settlement. Daveed Garenstein-Ross, the pinnacle of Valens, needed to get up early and rewrite the ultimate presentation in mild of sudden conflicts. This sim served a number of functions – to make use of among the expertise throughout the week, to get a style of the strengths and limitations of simulations, to supply a extra interactive expertise and to create small cross-sector groups.
I’m very grateful to the HQ workforce of Melissa, Sherry, Racheal, Carelove and Ayshia for doing all of the arduous work. All I did was make cookies and introduce folks and ask some annoying questions alongside the way in which. Colonel Cathy Blue, who was our Visiting Protection Scholar for the final yr, was so essential. Her first week with us final yr was throughout the earlier summer season institute, so she gave us nice suggestions on what labored greatest and what did not, after which helped plan this yr’s SI. Extra importantly, she is a superb recruiter, so she helped us obtain our aim of a very good mixture of political, army and tutorial folks. She was unable to attend this yr’s as she now has an essential job main the cadets on the Royal Navy School.
If you’re within the Summer time Institute, we shall be posting adverts and accepting purposes in early 2024, and you may test extra information on our web site: https://www.cdsn-rcds.com/summerinstitute
Under are numerous pictures from the week. Once more, Carelove took higher, however I am fast to add mine 😉
Again within the boardroom |
Our political course of panel with Kristine Ennis-Heise of DND, retired man of many roles Vincent Rigby, and CDSN Co-Director Alan Okros |
Valens introduces the simulation of the week with Libby at their headquarters and Daveed Garenstein-Ross in Ottawa |
Murray Brewster, Amanda Connolly (on zoom), and Captain (N) Kelly Williamson on the media and Canadian Protection |
My first slide for the panel on Canadian civil-military relations with Andrea Lane, Risa Brooks, and myself |
Co-Director Will Greaves, Michel Roy of CSE, and Saira Bano of Thompson Rivers discusses numerous threats to Canada |
Stephanie Carvin zooms from Oshawa talking intel with… |
Battle Rhythm co-hosted by Artur Wilczynski |
A number of enjoyable at our midweek Networking Reception |
Charlotte and Andrea get pleasure from taking footage |
Our accomplice for this occasion was Ladies in Worldwide Safety-Canada. WIIS-C is a founding member of CDSN, and I actually loved hanging out with their new workforce |
You recognize it is a good reception when an enormous one phase of the group stays after the occasion within the resort bar. |
Grace Scoppio of the Royal Navy School, co-director Andrea Charron, and Security ideas host Sarah Myriam Martin-Brûlé talk about analysis collaboration |
Co-Director JC Boucher, Capt (N) Kelly Williamson and Nik Nanos of the Nanos Analysis agency talk about Canadian public opinion on defence |
Co-director Phil Lagassé seems to be in some ache as he discusses protection procurement |
It was actually nice to have ADM (Mat) Troy Crosby and the all the time good Kim Nossal to debate protection procurement |
Brandon Behlendorf introduced red-teaming to us |
Alliance dynamics with Carleton poli sci prof Aaron Ettinger, DND NATO Officer Ashley McCauley and co-director Stéphane Roussel |
The tip of the simulation with the US and Canada breaks up and Meta earnings enormously. |