As Canada and the Caribbean confront an increasingly complex web of traditional and emerging security threats, the 4th Annual Canada-Caribbean Institute Research Symposium opened with a clear call to action: the region must secure its future through deeper collaboration and evidence-based solutions.
Addressing delegates at the Centre for Language Learning at UWI St Augustine on February 19, 2026, UWI Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles traced the Canada–Caribbean partnership to its deeper geopolitical roots. He described it as one of the most significant bridges and expressions of multilateralism in the 20th century, with Canada emerging as a steadfast ally at a defining moment in regional history.
Dr Rhonda McEwen, President and Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto and Co-Chair of the Canada-Caribbean Institute, underscored the significance behind this year’s theme, “Securing Our Future: Positioning Our Region to Address Traditional and Emerging Security Challenges”.
Dr McEwen highlighted that among the themes explored were economic social security, digital governance, cultural reparation, mental health and youth futures, among others. She reminded the audience of the complexity and interconnectedness of the challenges faced and also affirmed the power of collaboration, dialogue and shared purpose.
Delivering the feature address, the former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, Mr Bob Rae, broadened the discussion to the structural realities facing small states. He underscored the necessity of deeper regional cooperation to secure meaningful global engagement and sustainable expansion. “This needs to be led by the Caribbean countries but with assistance from the outside,” said Mr Rae. “This is the moral and right thing to do as the Caribbean has been plundered for several hundred years by imperial powers that have done very well out of the situation.”
Mr Michael Ryan Callan, High Commissioner for Canada to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, suggested several ways the Caribbean and Canada can diversify their interests for sustainable growth and economic sovereignty. These included expanding the Caribbean/Canada Free Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN); an expansion of the planned T&T Chamber of Commerce trade mission to Canada to include other Caribbean partners; and a regional assessment of security to see how best Canada can further shared security interests.
Senator Dr Natalie Chaitan-Maharaj, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services noted that, “This symposium provides a valuable space for dialogue, evidence-based analysis, and the exchange of ideas that can shape practical solutions.”
Dr Chaitan-Maharaj noted, “Partnerships will be between academia, governments, civil society and are essential to position our region to respond effectively for both present and future challenges.”
UWI St Augustine Campus Principal Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine noted that Small Island Developing States continue to grapple with entrenched security concerns—including transnational crime, illegal migration, border vulnerabilities and climate change— while simultaneously navigating rising technological and cyber threats, mental health pressures, cultural erosion and identity-based insecurity. She emphasised that the Institute has evolved into a critical platform for advancing cooperative, research-driven responses between Canada and the Caribbean, strengthening the region’s collective capacity to confront today’s risks and anticipate tomorrow’s uncertainties.
Building on her call for deeper regional alignment, Professor Antoine framed the Canada–Caribbean partnership not simply as diplomatic co-operation, but as a relationship grounded in shared values and mutual trust. She stressed that confronting today’s complex security landscape requires alliances anchored in principle and purpose.
Highlighting The UWI’s leadership role, Professor Antoine said that The UWI’s academic community is actively shaping regional and global discussions in areas such as climate change, AI ethics, social justice, reparations and culture. Professor Antoine stated that the Institute enables UWI scholars to extend their influence through close collaboration with Canadian counterparts, institutions and policymakers, and vice versa. She underscored that as a developmental university, The UWI was created with a specific mandate to serve the region, and she maintained that The UWI cannot afford to be a passive observer, but must continue to act as an architect of resilience in the Caribbean.
Dr Gervan Fearon, President of George Brown Polytechnic, talked about the importance of these relationships and stated, “At a global level, it’s very important for regions, for countries, to be an exemplar of what is possible between people—to be able to build on shared history, shared relationships—to be exemplars, to inspire humanity on options as to how we solve problems.”
The Institute was founded six years ago, and this is the fourth time the symposium has been held. The event offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from influential leaders shaping diplomacy, regional security, higher education, and public policy across Canada and the Caribbean. These voices offer a premier platform for advancing evidence-based dialogue on governance, crime and justice reform, climate resilience, digital transformation, and sustainable development.
