US Secretary of State Pompeo’s description of Canada’s exercise of sovereignty in our Arctic as ‘illegitimate’ touched a nerve in Canada. Wendell Sanford, former Director of Oceans and Environmental Law at Global Affairs is an expert in the field. He will demonstrate that Canada’s exercise of Arctic sovereignty is clear and perfectly legitimate, and show that the US or others who might challenge us in this regard could create major complications for themselves if the issue were to be referred to the International Court of Justice.

Please RSVP HERE.

Email courtney.g.heisler@gmail.com with questions.

Speaker’s Biography
Wendell Sanford was born, raised and educated in Halifax. He holds a BA in political science and a BEd both from Saint Mary’s and an LLB focused on international law of the sea from Dalhousie Law School. In addition he holds a MA in Public Policy from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. During his 35 year diplomatic career in the Canadian Foreign Service he served for 10 years in the department’s legal bureau on various law of the sea issues including serving as the Director of the Ocean and Environmental Law Division. Outside Canada he served for 10 years at diplomatic missions in the United States (Boston and Los Angeles). Mr Sanford also had a 21 year career as a naval reserve officer including a two year assignment as Staff officer Naval Control of Shipping at Maritime Command Headquarters in Halifax.