Defence and Security Studies Programme
The Defence and Security Studies Programme is a critical component supporting the educational mission of the RCMI. To achieve that goal, the Programme delivers an expert-speaker series, hosts a multi-presenter annual conference on a designed theme of significance, and publishes the RCMI’s in-house professional journal, SITREP. These initiatives are overseen by the Defence and Security Studies Programme Committee which includes former and serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces, senior executives in business and government, as well as multi-disciplinary academics. Brief biographies for Committee members may be accessed by clicking on the names shown on this page.
The Programme is based on an expansive view of defence and security issues, with a focus on current and future trends and topics that are important and relevant to Canada both domestically and internationally. A quick review of our past conferences listed below demonstrates the multifaceted range of subjects that have been addressed and studied.
The vast majority of the Programme’s speaker series and conference content is recorded and available on YouTube's
RCMI Toronto channel. In addition, current and past editions of SITREP may be found on the ‘Collections’ tab of this RCMI website. Suggestions for speakers, conference subjects and SITREP articles are always welcome.
2025: Defence and Security Studies Conference
Past Conferences:
2024: Managing Security and Defence in the 2020's and Beyond
Conference recordings:
Keynotes
2023: A Resilient Canada - A Resilient NATO - A Resilient Ukraine
Conference recordings:
Speaker 1,
Speaker 2,
Speaker 3,
Speaker 4,
Speaker 5
2022: Cold War(s) II?
Conference recordings:
Part 1,
Part 2,
Part 3
2021: Climate Change: Impacts on Canadian National Security and Beyond
Conference recordings:
Part 1,
Part 2,
Part 3
2019: Global Challenges to Canadian Sovereignty in the Arctic and Beyond
Conference recordings:
Opening address by Hon. Bob Rae,
Closing address by Dr. Whitney Lackenbauer
Session 1,
Session 2,
Session 3
2018: Canadian Responses to Contemporary Challenges
Conference recordings:
Keynote Discussion Dr Barbara Falk & RAdm Jennifer Bennett
Session 1,
Session 2,
Session 3
2017: Crisis Response - Canada & the World
NATO Association of Canada & RCMI
2016: "Are we Prepared?" Emergency Preparedness in the 21st Century
Conference recordings:
Session 1,
Session 2,
Session 3