April News

April 2011 – The Winnipeg branch of the Canadian International Council had one of its best events ever on the Future of China on Wednesday April 13.

The Winnipeg branch of the Canadian International Council had one of its best events ever on the Future of China on Wednesday April 13. The branch had two speakers. Professor Joseph Wong, a Canada Research Chair and director of the Asian the Institute of Asian Studies at the Munk School of Global Affairs spoke first, giving a breakdown of the social and political make-up of present day China, outlining its advantages and challenges to set the stage for the following talk on China’s military ambitions. Christian Bedford, a senior policy analyst for the Canadian Forces based in Esquimault, British Columbia described China’s plans for its navy and gave examples of its present deployment with an analysis of China’s military goals and intended projection of power. An eclectic audience peppered both speakers in a question and answer session which proved the highlight of the evening.

This was this year’s signature event for the Winnipeg branch. It produced a unique perspective on China’s growing inequality, the aging of its population and its rapid build-up of a major naval force to project power internationally and protect its supply route. The branch highly recommends both speakers. Christian Bedford was previously a presenter at the Vancouver branch’s BRIC conference.

In March, the branch brought in Jayne Stoyles, executive director of the Canadian Centre for International Justice to talk about the forming of the International Court of Justice and Canada’s role in bringing war criminals to justice. This was also a well-attended and lively event. The two events have helped establish the Winnipeg branch as a go-to place for conversation and insight into international affairs.

The branch will hold a symposium on the events in North Africa and the Middle East led by local academics from the universities of Winnipeg and Manitoba on May 18 at the Winnipeg Free Press web café in downtown Winnipeg. This is a new venue for the newspaper and the CIC. The branch hopes that it can build a partnership with the Free Press so that it can hold regular symposia at the café in an informal and engaging setting that will appeal to its predominantly young, active membership. The Free Press is considering streaming events and the branch hopes to be able to make appropriate talks available to the national website.

The branch is also seeking ways that it might provide information and discussion to the national project on intellectual property.