Experts create 'think-tank' in Kingston

(October 16th, 2006,Ottawa) The United Nations Association in Canada(UNA-Canada) in collaboration with the Queen’s Centre for International Relations is hosting a public panel discussion on Canadian Strategies for Rapid Response to Crisis on October 19^th at St. Margaret’s United Church.

High level panelists will include Stephen Kinloch-Pichat, UN Development Programme, Haiti; Col. Michael Hanrahan, Director of Peacekeeping Policy, National Defence Headquarters; Brigadier-General Greg Mitchell (Retd), former Commander of SHIRBRIG in Sudan; Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Voith, Commanding Officer, Disaster Assistance Response Team, Canadian Forces; Peter H. Langille, University of Western Ontario and moderated by Jane Boulden, Royal Military College.

The 50th Anniversary of United Nations Peacekeeping Panel Series is one of many thought-provoking public dialogues aimed to promote a discussion on the importance of UN Peacekeeping in contemporary post-conflict contexts and the need for a sustained and strengthened Canadian contribution.

The 50^th Anniversary of UN Peacekeeping project will not only elaborate on, and celebrate Canada’s outstanding contributions, past, present and future to a more peaceful world, but will encourage Canadians to continue to support peace, development, diplomacy and global citizenship. The project will reach academics, field practitioners, government officials, the media, civil society and the Canadian public in general.

UNA-Canada is a national charitable organization celebrating its landmark 60^th anniversary. As a ‘think and do’ organization, UNA-Canada supports a network of 17 volunteer branches and local contacts, with a National office in Ottawa and a Western professional office in Vancouver. Our mandate is to engage Canadians in the work of the UN and the critical global issues which affect us all, through innovative projects, policy research, and on-going dialogues with Canadians.

For more information or media inquiries please contact:

Rebecca Cohn
Project Officer, Communications United Nations Association in Canada

(613) 232-5751 ext. 245

rebecca.cohn@unac.org