Canadian International Council - Vancouver branch

Canadian International Council - Vancouver branch We are the Vancouver branch of Canada's non-partisan forum for discussion on international affairs.

The Canadian International Council (CIC) is Canada’s foreign relations council. It is an independent, member-based council established to strengthen Canada’s role in global affairs. The CIC is generously supported by a network of Canadian business leaders from all economic sectors. Our corporate sponsors recognize that the CIC’s mission to advance Canadian global engagement and to generate innovat

ive policy ideas aligns with their agendas for strategic and sustainable growth. The CIC is further supported by a large constituency of Canadians who believe that Canada’s foreign policy directly impacts the lives and prosperity of its citizens.

What if today’s U.S.-Canada drama—Trump’s “51st state” threats + tariffs—goes all the way back to Benjamin Franklin in 1...
03/02/2026

What if today’s U.S.-Canada drama—Trump’s “51st state” threats + tariffs—goes all the way back to Benjamin Franklin in 1776? 🤯🇺🇸🇨🇦
CIC Vancouver is thrilled to bring you this eye-opening talk!
He Did Not Conquer: How Benjamin Franklin Set the Stage for Donald Trump and His Talk of the 51st State
Join historian & journalist Madelaine Drohan as she dives into her new book He Did Not Conquer.
Discover Franklin’s wild plans to annex Canada (yes, he went to Montreal himself!), why they crashed, and how it all echoes today’s tensions.
Then: Fireside chat with Erin Williams from Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada! 🔥
📅 March 19, 2026
🕔 5:30–7:30 PM PST (doors 5:30)
📍 Creekside Community Centre, Multipurpose Room 4, 1 Athletes Way, Vancouver
🎟️ $15 tickets + RSVP link in bio
Agenda: CIC opening, killer presentation, chat, networking + book signing 📖✍️
Limited spots—grab yours before they’re gone! History isn’t just past… it’s NOW. Who’s coming? 👇
BookTalk Geopolitics TrumpCanada InternationalAffairs

Curious about the CIC or just looking for a casual space to chat about international affairs? 🌎 Join us this Thursday! T...
02/24/2026

Curious about the CIC or just looking for a casual space to chat about international affairs? 🌎 Join us this Thursday!

This month, we're discussing the global impact of armed conflicts, both ongoing and potential. The event will be moderated by Erin Williams (Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada) and Christian Browne (International & Multilateral Institutions at Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Canada).

* Admission is $10 and includes one basic drink of choice (e.g., house beer, wine, or pop). Guests are welcome to order food and more drinks from the menu and cover their own tab.

Register through the link in our bio!

We were delighted to welcome a full and engaged audience to Creekside Community Recreation Centre for our Conversations ...
02/20/2026

We were delighted to welcome a full and engaged audience to Creekside Community Recreation Centre for our Conversations on Leadership, Diplomacy, and Climate Action with the Honourable Catherine McKenna.

Against the beautiful False Creek backdrop, attendees joined an evening of thoughtful discussion on leadership in challenging times, the evolving global order, and the future of climate action. Catherine’s presentation was both inspiring and deeply grounded in experience, sparking a lively fireside conversation and meaningful audience engagement.

The evening continued over dinner with members and guests, where the conversation carried on in a warm and collegial atmosphere.

Thank you to for a powerful and generous contribution to our community, and to everyone who joined us for this memorable evening.

02/09/2026

CIC Vancouver President Luthfi Dhofier interviewed on a key shift in Canada’s approach to international development: the ‘trade and development nexus.’
As global trade dynamics evolve, the Minister shared how Canada is prioritizing aid that creates mutual prosperity—aligning development efforts with trade opportunities to benefit partner countries and Canadians alike.
Key highlights: • Leveraging development as ‘soft power’ to strengthen diplomacy and open new pathways • Innovative financing like blended finance and public-private models • Engaging more Canadians in our global priorities
Watch the full conversation below.

CIC Vancouver was pleased to convene a small, informal dialogue with , Secretary of State for International Development...
02/07/2026

CIC Vancouver was pleased to convene a small, informal dialogue with , Secretary of State for International Development, as part of International Development Week.

The gathering brought together members of the Southeast Asian diaspora community in Vancouver, including participants from business, academia, research, and the professional community, for an open exchange on development perspectives and Canada’s international engagement.

In his remarks, the Minister highlighted three priorities shaping Canada’s international development approach:
• strengthening the trade–development nexus, ensuring development policy and economic engagement are mutually reinforcing
• expanding the use of blended finance and public–private partnerships to mobilize greater impact and private capital
• engaging more Canadians, including diaspora communities, in international development efforts

It was encouraging to see these priorities discussed alongside practical perspectives from diaspora practitioners across business, academia, and civil society.

CIC Vancouver looks forward to continuing to provide a platform for constructive dialogue and engagement on global issues that matter to Canadians. Swipe to watch Minister Sarai’s overview of Canada’s international development priorities.

CIC Vancouver was pleased to convene a small, informal dialogue with , Secretary of State for International Development,...
02/07/2026

CIC Vancouver was pleased to convene a small, informal dialogue with , Secretary of State for International Development, as part of International Development Week.

The gathering brought together members of the Southeast Asian diaspora community in Vancouver, including participants from business, academia, research, and the professional community, for an open exchange on development perspectives and Canada’s international engagement.

In his remarks, the Minister highlighted three priorities shaping Canada’s international development approach:
• strengthening the trade–development nexus, ensuring development policy and economic engagement are mutually reinforcing
• expanding the use of blended finance and public–private partnerships to mobilize greater impact and private capital
• engaging more Canadians, including diaspora communities, in international development efforts

It was encouraging to see these priorities discussed alongside practical perspectives from diaspora practitioners across business, academia, and civil society.

CIC Vancouver looks forward to continuing to provide a platform for constructive dialogue and engagement on global issues that matter to Canadians. Swipe to see Minister Sarai’s overview on Canada’s international development priorities.

🌍 Join us for an inspiring evening with The Honourable , former Minister of Environment and Climate Change and a global ...
01/27/2026

🌍 Join us for an inspiring evening with The Honourable , former Minister of Environment and Climate Change and a global leader on climate action, leadership, and diplomacy.

This event will feature a presentation and fireside chat exploring how leadership and diplomacy can drive meaningful climate action in Canada and globally.

📚 Book signing opportunity
Tickets are available that include a copy of Catherine McKenna’s book, with the opportunity to have it signed following the event.

Expect insights on:
• Climate leadership and public service
• Canada’s role in global climate diplomacy
• Turning ambition into real, lasting impact

📅 Date: February 19, 2026
🕕 Time: 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
📍 Location: Creekside Community Recreation Centre
🎟️ Tickets available via the link in our bio

Whether you are a student, professional, or community leader, this is a unique opportunity to learn, connect, and engage. 🌱

12/02/2025

Our External Partnerships Lead, Yvonne Lau, sat down with Dr. Joel Ng of RSIS at Nanyang Technological University for a pre-event conversation on how Canada and Singapore can leverage their positions as small and middle powers to advance their interests in today's era of multilateralism.

Watch the interview below and stay tuned for more conversations with our speakers!

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Wednesday for “Multilateralism: Views from Canada and ASEAN,” CIC Vancouver’s fin...
11/28/2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Wednesday for “Multilateralism: Views from Canada and ASEAN,” CIC Vancouver’s final speakers event of 2025.

We were honored to host Dr. Joel Ng and Dr. Kai Ostwald, with Professor Paul Evans moderating a powerful conversation on shifting global power, ASEAN’s strategic choices, and Canada’s evolving role in the Indo Pacific.

Grateful to the Institute of Asian Research at SPPGA for supporting this program.

Geopolitics

Join us on Wednesday, November 26 for a panel discussion on how Canada and Southeast Asian countries, through ASEAN, are...
11/15/2025

Join us on Wednesday, November 26 for a panel discussion on how Canada and Southeast Asian countries, through ASEAN, are interpreting and advancing multilateralism. Hear from experts:

• Dr. Joel Ng, Senior Fellow and Head of the Centre for Multilateralism Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
• Dr. Kai Ostwald, HSBC Chair in Asian Research and Director of the Institute of Asian Research, UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs

The discussion will be moderated by Paul Evans, Professor Emeritus at UBC SPPGA and former Co-CEO of Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/4hNgS9P

*This is a free event, organized in partnership with the UBC Institute of Asian Research.

CIC Vancouver was honoured to host H. E. Kaspars Ozoliņš, Ambassador of Latvia to Canada, for an intimate members and in...
11/13/2025

CIC Vancouver was honoured to host H. E. Kaspars Ozoliņš, Ambassador of Latvia to Canada, for an intimate members and invited guests only dinner last night.

A focused and candid conversation on global security, the transatlantic relationship, and Canada’s role in Europe today.
A sincere thank-you to our members and guests who contributed their insights and expertise to the discussion.

Want access to members and guests–only events like this?
Join us:
🔗 https://thecic.org/become-a-member/

Curious about the CIC or just looking for a fun, casual space to chat about international affairs? 🌎 Join us for the nex...
10/26/2025

Curious about the CIC or just looking for a fun, casual space to chat about international affairs? 🌎 Join us for the next After Hours, our monthly pub night where you can connect with fellow international affairs enthusiasts and experts in Vancouver.

Register now through the link in bio!

🍻 Free admission: guests can order from the Happy Hour menu & cover own tab 
🤝 Open to everyone (no background or expertise required)

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