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Royal Ottawa Golf Club, Gatineau, Quebec
AmbCanada convenes regular lunch-time events for our members in the National Capital Region with invited speakers, which are normally held at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Chelsea. These events are also webcast live to our members across country. In addition, we convene throughout the year virtual events for our members.
Please find below a listing of our recent events. AmbCanada members can view recordings of past events under the Webinars tab accessible through the Members Only portal on this page.
AmbCanada events are usually conducted under “The Chatham House Rule” which permits participants to communicate to others information and ideas discussed by the speaker or by other participants, provided it is done without attribution. On occasion, with the speakers permission, we relax this rule to permit reporting on the event via regular or social media.
AmbCanada members are encouraged to invite guests to our in-person events, provided that they take responsibility for their guests observing the Chatham House Rule. However, members should not share the links for our virtual events with non-members without first seeking permission from the moderator or host of the event.
Periodically, we jointly host events with partner organizations such as the Canadian Foreign Service Alumni Forum, PAFSO or Young Diplomats of Canada.
Members need to register in advance for all our events by contacting [email protected]. Email notices for all events are sent out several weeks in advance to our members to encourage them to register. AmbCanada will also collect in advance payment for in person luncheon events.
RECENT EVENTS
Tuesday, April 15 – luncheon at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club
“Current Events”
Guest Speaker: Stefanie Beck, Deputy Minister of National Defence
Moderator: Sarah Fountain Smith, former Ambassador to Chile and Deputy High Commissioner to the UK
Wednesday, March 19 – coffee morning at 280 Beechwood Ave
“The Rise of Populism in Quebec, Canada and beyond”
Guest Speaker: Philippe Bernier Arcand, essayist, part-time professor at Saint-Paul University, and columnist for L’Acadie Nouvelle.
Moderator: Olivier Nicoloff, former Ambassador to Belgium
Tuesday, February 11 – luncheon at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club
A fireside Chat with Marc Garneau about his new autobiography, “A Most Extraordinary Ride: Space, Politics and the Pursuit of a Canadian Dream”
Guest Speaker: Marc Garneau, former Navy engineer, astronaut, politician and Foreign Minister
Moderator: John Holmes, former Ambassador to the Philippines, Türkiye and Indonesia
Friday, January 24 – luncheon at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club
“Canadian foreign policy capacity changes in a chaotic world”
Guest Speaker: Paul Wells, a leading political journalist and host of “The Paul Wells Show”, a weekly podcast about Canadian politics
Moderator: Michael Small, President of AmbCanada, former Ambassador to Cuba and High Commissioner to Australia
2024
Wednesday, December 4
AmbCanada Holiday Reception
Pearson Building, 9 th floor
Wednesday, November 13
Annual Writers’ Luncheon at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club
Six authors from our membership talk about their recent work.
Moderator: Ian Ferguson
Alan Bowker, A Church at War: MacKay Presbyterian Church, New Edinburgh and the First World War
Phil Calvert (co-editor) with Helen Lansdowne and Nick Etheridge, Supervising A Peace that Never Was: Recollections of Canadian Diplomatic Personnel in Indochina, 1954-1973
Nicholas Coghlan, Sailing to the Heart of Japan
Rhonda Gossen, The Twelfth of February: Canadian Aid for Gender Equality During the Rise of Violent Extremism in Pakistan
Bodil Jelhof Jensen, Denmark’s Forgotten Holocaust: My Family History in Letters
Tim Martin, Unwinnable Peace: Untold Stories of Canada’s Mission in Afghanistan
Thursday, September 19 – luncheon at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club
Special advance preview of “My Life in Politics”, the latest book by Lloyd Axworthy
Guest Speaker: Lloyd Axworthy, former Foreign Minister
Moderator: Rob McRae, former Ambassador to NATO
Monday, June 17
AGM 2024 and Summer Reception, Royal Ottawa Golf Club
Tuesday, May 14 – luncheon at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club
“A sceptic dissects the Foreign Interference Commission’s first report”
Guest Speaker: Dr. Wesley Wark, Canadian historian and Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto
Moderator: Patricia Fortier, former Ambassador to Peru, Bolivia and the Dominican Republic
Wednesday, April 24 – webinar
“Ranking Prime Ministers of Canada in Their Foreign Policy: The Really Good, the Good, and the Ordinary”
Speaker: Professor Patrice Dutil, Department of Politics and Public Administration, Toronto Metropolitan University
Moderator: Pierre Guimond, diplomat in residence and lecturer at the École supérieure d’études internationales (ESEI), Université Laval.
Wednesday, March 20 – Webinar
Presentation by Catalyste+:
Speakers:
Wendy Harris, President and Chief Executive Officer, Catalyste+;
Suzanne Laporte, former Ambassador to Brazil and past Catalyste+ Board Member
Darren Schemmer, former High Commissioner to Ghana and Past Board Catalyste + Chair
Wednesday, March 6 – Luncheon at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club
“UNPLUGGED The Back and Future Story on the Senate Report: More Than a Vocation: Canada’s Need for a 21st Century Foreign Service”
Speaker: The Honourable Senator Peter Boehm
Moderator: Alex Bugailiskis, former Ambassador to Syria, Cuba, Poland, and Italy.
Wednesday, February 21 – Luncheon at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club
“Ukraine: Winning the Fight”
Speaker: Larisa Galadza, former Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine
Moderator: Alison LeClaire, former Ambassador to Russia
Friday, January 19 – Luncheon at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club
“Indo-Pacific strategies: from France to Canada, how allies approach the future in this region?”
Speaker: H.E. Ambassador Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer, Ambassador of France to Vanuatu
Moderator: Gabriel Lessard, former Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam and Ethiopia
2023
Wednesday, December 6
AmbCanada Holiday Reception
9th Floor, Pearson Building, 125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
Wednesday, November 22 – Luncheon at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club Annual Writers’ Luncheon
Four authors from our membership talk about their recent books.
Moderator: Ian Ferguson, former High Commissioner to Nigeria
Roxanne Dubé, Enfin comprendre
Marie Gervais-Vidricaire Silence sur Venise: Une Rencontre de Marcel Proust avec Oscar Wilde, Stefan Zweig and Mariano Fortuny
Hugh Stephens, In Defence of Copyright (virtual presentation)
Chris Thompson, The Struggle Continues: An Arduous Journey of Hope (virtual presentation)
Thursday, November 2 – Luncheon at Royal Ottawa Golf Club
“A Fireside Chat with Stephen Toope”
Speaker: Dr. Stephen Toope, CEO of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR).
Moderator: Jon Allen, former ambassador to Israel and Spain
Thursday, October 19 – Luncheon at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club
“South Africa’s Foreign Policy Choices”
Speaker: H.E. Rieaz Shaik, High Commissioner of South Africa to Canada
Moderator: Paula Caldwell St-Onge, Chair, Canada-Africa Chamber of Business
Tuesday, October 17 – Webinar
“The Causes and Outcomes of the Israeli-Hamas Conflict”
Jon Allen, former Ambassador to Israel and Spain, in conversation with
Richard Kohler, Past President of AmbCanada.
Tuesday, September 26 – Webinar
“The Future of Canada and the United Nations”
Speakers:
Denise Brown, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine
Deborah Lyons, former UN Special Representative for Afghanistan
Elizabeth Spehar, UN Assistant Secretary General for Peacebuilding Support
Moderator: Alex Bugailiskis, former Ambassador to Syria, Cuba, Poland, and Italy
Tuesday, June 13
2023 Annual General Meeting and Summer Reception
Royal Ottawa Golf Club
Tuesday, May 23 – Luncheon
“Canada and Haiti: Some Strategic Considerations”
Speaker: Sébastien Carrière, Canada’s Ambassador to Haiti.
Moderator: Patricia Fortier, former Ambassador to Peru, Bolivia and the Dominican Republic
Wednesday, May 3 – Webinar
“Sudan – how did it come to this and how do we move on?”
Speakers: Nick Coghlan, and Adrian Norfolk, both former Head of Mission to Sudan.
Moderator: Michael Small, President of AmbCanada
Wednesday, April 19 – Luncheon at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club
“Canada and the Indo-Pacific: Engaging with a Critical Region”
Speaker: Goldy Hyder, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council of Canada.
Moderator: Paula Caldwell St-Onge, Canada-Africa Chamber of Business
Wednesday, March 29 – Webinar
“Israel: Illiberalism and Occupation – A Battle for the Country’s Soul”
Speaker: Jon Allen, former Ambassador to Israel and Spain.
Moderator: Jill Stirk, former Ambassador to Norway
Thursday, February 23 – Webinar
“Ukraine: How will the War End?”
Speaker: Eric Reguly, European Bureau Chief for The Globe and Mail.
Moderator: Alex Bugailiskis, former Ambassador to Syria, Cuba, Poland and Italy
Wednesday, January 18
Annual Writer’s Luncheon
Six authors from our membership talk about their recent books.
Moderator: Ian Ferguson, former High Commissioner to Nigeria
Brian Buckley: Tim’s Story
Carol Bujeau: Triple Sex and Other Tales from an Ambassador’s Wife
Jean-Yves Dionne: Diplomates en Péril suivi de Chroniques peu diplomatiques
Gar Pardy: The Scary World of Nuclear Weapons – Agenda for Elimination
Claire Poulin: Arthabaska – À la croisée des destins
Gary J. Smith: Ice War Diplomat: Hockey Meets Cold War Politics at the 1972 Summit Series
2022
September 21
Our guest speaker will be Marta Morgan, who was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs until her retirement on August 31, 2022
Link to bio: ‘s BIO (2022)[8127]
FOR THOSE ATTENDING THE LUNCHEON: Our inaugural luncheon following a two-plus years hiatus due to COVID-19, will take place on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club on Aylmer Road at 12 (noon) for drinks. Luncheon will be served at 12:30 pm. The cost is $38.00 per person. Please confirm your attendance by email to [email protected] no later than September 16th. The deadline for cancellation is 12 noon the day before the luncheon.
FOR THOSE JOINING THE WEBINAR: Please register for the webinar and log on before 1:15 EST, using the following link:
Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89258500403?pwd=blpEcnRJS2djUjVYdFUyZStabi9vQT09
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The 8th annual AMBCANADA Writers’ Luncheon
Moderator:
TBC
Authors:
- il 17 – Senator Peter Boehm, The Challenges to International Summitry: Some Reflections –BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE – Peter Boehm
- March 20 – Roland Paris, Professor of International Affairs in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa, BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE Roland Paris
- February 20 – Guy Saint-Jacques, former Ambassador of Canada to China Biographical Note – Guy Saint-Jacques
- January 16 – Manon Cornellier, editor of Le Devoir Biographical Note – Manon Cornellier
2018 Monthly Luncheons
- November 21 –RHOMA Writers’ Luncheon.
- October 17 – Denis Coderre, former mayor of Montreal and Cabinet minister under Prime Minister Paul Martin on the increasing role of cities in the world of diplomacy.
- September 19 – Robert Giroux, President of the Ottawa Branch of the National Association of Federal Retirees on “Take a break from following the NAFTA Talks… let’s talk NAFR.”
- July 18 – Senator André Pratte on “What’s new at the Senate”.
- June 20 – Jocelyn Coulon, author of “Un selfie avec Justin Trudeau” on “Canada in the world. Is Trudeau keeping his promises?”
- May 23 – Catherine Cano, President and General Manager of CPAC (Cable Public Affairs Channel) on the role of a parliamentary channel and democracy.
- April 18- Jonathan Fried, Personal Representative of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the G20 and Coordinator for International Economic Relations at Global Affairs Canada.
- March 21 – Daniel Jean, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, about his role and the challenges facing Canada when it comes to national security during these complicated times.
- February 21 – David Ljunggren, political correspondent at Reuters Canada.
- January 17 – E., Sabine Sparwasser, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Canada, “Challenges and opportunities facing Germany and the European Union in 2018.”
2017 Monthly Luncheons
- November 22 – Foreign Service Authors and Their Books.
- October 18 – Ian Shugart, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, shared the current opportunities and challenges his department is facing .
- September 20 – Greg Donaghy, Head of the Historical Section and Ms. Mary Halloran, Historical Section of Global Affairs Canada presented “Canada’s Department of External Affairs, Volume 3: Innovation and Adaptation, 1968-1984”.
- July 19 – Guy Saint-Jacques,“2017: A delicate year for Chinese President Xi Jinping” and insights into the bilateral relations between Canada and China.
- June 21 – a Financial Panel moderated by Michael Adams Senior Vice President at Brookfield Soundvest Capital Management Ltd., focusing on various aspects of financial planning.
- May 10 – Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie on “Insights on Canada’s development policy and programs in light of today’s international context.
- April 19 – Senator Peter Harder, Leader of the Government in the Senate
- March 15– Gilles Rivard, “Lessons learned from the 2010 campaign to win a seat on the UN Security Council and how Canada must prepare for the 2020 election”. Mr. Rivard will be accompanied by Ms. Tamara Mawhinney, Executive Director, UN Security Council Campaign at Global Affairs Canada
- February 15 – His Excellency Nicolás Lloreda-Ricaurte, Colombia’s Ambassador to Canada Insights on the Peace accords between his Government and the FARC, as well as on the ongoing negotiations with the Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN)
- January 18 – Colin Robertson, Canada-US relations under new US Administration
