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HFX’s 2021 Peace With Women Fellows Meet Canada’s Prime Minister and New Defence Minister
November 10, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTTAWA – International participants in the 2021 Peace With Women Fellowship were pleased to meet today with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of National Defence Anita Anand to discuss this year’s extensive leadership curriculum.

They were also joined by Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security Jacqueline O’Neill.

“Interest from democratic countries around the world to participate in our program was at an all-time high,” said Paz Magat, Director of the Peace With Women Fellowship. “In the end, we assembled our most diverse class yet with 12 military leaders from NATO and partner countries.”

The HFX Peace With Women Fellowship brings together senior, active-duty female military officers for a three-week executive tour of the political and technological capitals of the United States and Canada. Participants engage with senior government, military, corporate, and academic leaders to discuss and better understand the world’s most pressing security issues. The overall goal of the program is to advance the role of women in defense, while encouraging a dynamic network of women military leaders across the world.

“Promoting and increasing women’s participation in security leadership roles is important to building strong and thriving democracies,” said Prime Minister Trudeau. “The Peace With Women Fellowship brings together these leaders to advance the role of women in our defence communities and tackle the global security challenges of today and tomorrow. Canada is committed to this initiative, and together with our partners, we will build a fairer and more peaceful world for everyone.”

“In Canada, we are deeply committed to advancing and retaining women and members of minority groups in senior leadership roles within our military,” said Minister Anand. “The tone of any organization is set from the top, and that is why programs like this are so important. They give women the training, encouragement and the network needed to succeed.”

“On behalf of HFX, I would like to thank Prime Minister Trudeau and the Government of Canada for their ongoing support of this vital initiative,” concluded Peter Van Praagh, HFX President. “And I look forward to welcoming Minister Anand to Halifax on November 19th as she hosts the 13th annual Halifax International Security Forum.”

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For more information, please contact: Robin MacLachlan, Communications Manager, Halifax International Security Forum – (613) 294-6128

For media inquiries or to register for accreditation to the Forum please contactcommunications@halifaxtheforum.org

Please direct other inquiries to: info@halifaxtheforum.org