History
The Canadian Institute of International Affairs (CIIA) was founded in 1928 with branches in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Representatives elected by the newly formed branches met as a national council in Ottawa on January 30, 1928 and, by adopting a constitution, formally organized the CIIA.
By June 30, 1928, the membership of the five original branches of the CIIA was 144. In 1929, a branch was formed in Regina. Additional branches were formed in 1931 in Edmonton and Halifax, in 1932 in Saskatoon and Calgary, in 1933 in Hamilton and Kingston, in 1934 in Fredericton and Windsor, in 1936 in Victoria and Saint John, and in 1937 in London. Branches were later added in Quebec City (1943), Sherbrooke-Lennoxville (1944), Base Borden (1947), Kitchener-Waterloo (1947), St. John’s (1949), New York (1963), Wolfville Region (1964), Sackville (1966), Saguenay (1966), West Kootenay (1966), Niagara Region (1974) and Thunder Bay (1981). Women’s branches were formed in Ottawa, Toronto, London, Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Vancouver, and eventually amalgamated with the men’s branches in those communities. In the 1970s, French-speaking branches were formed in Montreal, Sept-Iles, Quebec and Moncton.
In 1932, Escott Reid was appointed as the Institute’s first full-time National Secretary, a position he held until 1938. Reid began to build an effective central organization to encourage and coordinate branch research activities. Reid suggested the holding of annual study conferences where ideas could be exchanged. The conferences were largely round-table discussions and members of branch study groups were invited to participate. Reid also encouraged expansion of the CIIA’s membership and greater public participation in the work of the Institute.
In 1946, the first issue of International Journal was released. The journal was intended to provide a platform for informed Canadian views on international affairs.
The CIIA cooperated closely with the Department of External Affairs (now the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, or DFAIT) in promoting free and open interchanges between officials and members of the public on international issues.
In November 2007, members of the CIIA voted to become the Canadian International Council (CIC).
Read more about this topic: Canadian Institute Of International Affairs
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