Transformations underway in global politics are mirrored and concentrated in the Arctic.

For circumpolar countries, the security implications of international competition in the North are profound. KCIS 2022 proposes to explore these implications and how Canada, the United States and NATO allies can and should respond.

How will emerging great-power competition affect the security environment in the circumpolar region? What foreign and defence policy implications flow from the increased geopolitical/geostrategic instability in the Arctic? How will the changes in Arctic affect future defence and security operations?

Our four partner organizations; CIDP, SSI, NDC & CADTC are pleased to host KCIS 2022 on October 11–13 at the Holiday Inn—Kingston Waterfront in Kingston, On.

The conference will be available in both English and French via live translation.

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Tuessday Oct 11, 2022:

1800 - 2130 : Conference Opening – Senior Staff Mess, Royal Military College

Welcome reception and Opening remarks
- Maj-Gen Roch Pelletier, Commander CADTC
- Stéfanie von Hlatky, Director CIDP

Wednesday Oct 12, 2022:

0700 - Registration and Breakfast

0815 - Welcome and Introductions

LTC Wendy Tokach, USAWC Visiting Defence Fellow

Welcome to Territory – Wendy Phillips, Elder in Residence - Queen’s University

0830 - Challenge to the Conference

0845 - Opening Keynote

Ms Jody Thomas - National Security and Intelligence Advisor

0930 - Panel 1 - International Security Challenges in the North

This opening panel will provide a broad scene-setting survey of the security environment of the contemporary circumpolar north. It will focus on the security threats posed by the recent shifts in great-power politics, the changes being wrought by climate change, the challenges facing indigenous communities, and the opportunities for economic development in the Arctic.

1100 - Break

1130 - Panel 2: Great Powers in the High North

This panel looks at how the re-emergence of great-power competition is affecting regional politics in all areas of the globe and highlights great-power interests in the North. It further examines the evolution of circumpolar security policies of the United States, the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, and European powers.

1300 - Lunch

1400 - Keynote Address

1500 - Panel 3 - Diplomacy and International Cooperation

This panel will focus on the potential for international cooperation in the High North. It will offer perspectives from regional and international organizations and will feature examples of multinational cooperation in the Arctic.

1800 - Conference Dinner

1000 Islands Cruises (be at the dock for 1800, boat departs at 1830)

Thursday October 13:

0700 - Breakfast

0815 - Welcome and Announcements

Col Ryan Jurkowski, CAF Visiting Defence Fellow

0830 - Keynote Address

0930 - Panel 4 - Defence Capabilities in North America and the Arctic

The purpose of this panel would be to explore the modernization and evolution of NORAD and other North American defence capabilities in the circumpolar North.

1100 - Break

1130 - Panel 5 - Joint Security Cooperation

This panel will focus on civil-military cooperation and joint force involvement to offer a comprehensive view on inter-agency contributions to Arctic security.

1300 - Lunch

1400 Panel 6 - Strategies for the Future

The concluding panel will discuss strategies and policy recommendations for Western allies in the circumpolar North in the years ahead. Speakers will present implications from the perspective of Canada, the United States, and NATO’s European allies.

1530 - Closing Keynote

General Wayne Eyre, Chief of Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces

1615 - Closing Remarks

visit the KCIS 2022 Homepage

KCIS 2022 Co-organizers