Canadian Intelligence Eh
800 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 4 ratingsEverywhere you look these days terrorism and violent extremism dominate the headlines. Whether you follow what is happening in Afghanistan or Iraq, or in the West writ large, we are inundated with news of attacks by groups and individuals fighting for a 'cause'.In a world of multiple voices and opinions it can be very hard to know where to turn. One choice is to look to those who actually worked in counterterrorism in the national security world. In these half-hour podcasts 30-year Canadian intelligence veteran Phil Gurski is joined by a fascinating array of individuals with something meaningful to say about these issues as they provide insight into what they mean and what we need to do about them.
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Episodes
Quick Hits | So long and thanks for all the fish
April 08, 2022 14:00 - 12 minutes - 8.48 MBBorealis has had a good run since 2015 - podcasts, blogs, media interviews, etc. not to mention six books on terrorism. It is time, however, to move on. This is the last podcast... for now. About the host Phil Gurski: Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Cana...
Episode #134 - What keeps French security forces up at night?
April 06, 2022 10:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MBFrance could be seen as the 'birthplace' of terrorism - think the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution of the 1790s. The country has seen some catastrophic attacks such as the Stade de France/Bataclan jihadi one of November 2015. A new report discusses the state of terrorism in France and Borealis talks to its author Alexandre Rodde from the Gendarmerie Nationale Alexandre is a security consultant specialised in terrorism and mass shootings. His work includes risk assessment, thr...
Episode #133 - What can ordinary citizens do to stop radicalisation to violence?
March 31, 2022 04:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBWhen an arrest is made in a terrorism case or, worst case scenario, we are doing a post-analysis of an attack, we often read about a person's 'radicalisation process'. The assumption is that terrorists are made, not born, and that there are signs to look for before it is too late. Borealis talks to Executive Director Myrieme Churchill of Parents4peace, an organisation that aims to help families identify and deal with these cases Myrieme Churchill is the Executive Director of Parents for P...
Episode #132 - Anders Breivik: What to do with terrorist mass murderers behind bars?
March 23, 2022 10:00 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MBThere are two types of terrorists: those who die/are killed in their attacks and those who are not. The latter usually end up in prison for long periods of time. Then what? Borealis talks once again with Norwegian CT analyst Atle Mesoy on the infamous Anders Breivik case from 2011. ►Listen to my previous podcast with Atle Mesoy: Episode #126 - Is it time to revisit the mental illness/terrorism nexus? Atle Mesoy is the founder of U-Turn, an Oslo-based NGO working to prevent violent extr...
Episode 132 - Anders Breivik: What to do with terrorist mass murderers behind bars?
March 23, 2022 10:00 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MBThere are two types of terrorists: those who die/are killed in their attacks and those who are not. The latter usually end up in prison for long periods of time. Then what? Borealis talks once again with Norwegian CT analyst Atle Mesoy on the infamous Anders Breivik case from 2011. ►Listen to my previous podcast with Atle Mesoy: Episode #126 - Is it time to revisit the mental illness/terrorism nexus? Atle Mesoy is the founder of U-Turn, an Oslo-based NGO working to prevent violent extr...
Episode #131 - The challenge of running a large domestic security intelligence operation
March 16, 2022 10:00 - 25 minutes - 17.9 MBCanada's intelligence agency CSIS has a national presence across the country. That it where the investigations happen and the intel is collected. What it is like to run such a shop? Borealis talks to former senior CSIS IO Dan Faughnan. Dan Faughnan served for over 30 years with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Canadian Armed Forces, retiring as a senior director general. During his long career Dan served in multiple domestic offices and overseas missions, developing and...
Episode #130 - Should Canada bring back ISIS fighters for prosecution here?
March 09, 2022 11:00 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MBSome 40,000 ISIS terrorists joined the group in the mid-2010s from over 100 nations, including Canada. Many are still alive, some languishing in prisons or camps, including women and children. There are those lobbying for their return to their homelands: is this wise? Borealis has a conversation with Dr. Alexandra Bain, a religious studies prof at St Thomas University in New Brunswick. CORRECTION: Dr Bain noted that a returned female ISIS terrorist has been charged and will appear in cou...
Episode #129 - Why 'follow the money' applies to terrorism too
March 02, 2022 11:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBWhile acts of terrorism are not all expensive ventures, some terrorist groups do manage large financial empires (ISIS is a good example). Just how important is this and how do we detect/stop these money flows? Borealis talks with one of Canada's leading money laundering/terrorist financing gurus Kim Manchester Kim R. Manchester is the Managing Director of ManchesterCF Financial Intelligence, a firm based in Toronto that supplies online financial intelligence training programs to financial...
Quick Hits | Who wants to work in national security?
March 02, 2022 01:00 - 7 minutes - 5.26 MBBorealis has a conversation with Jennifer Benmenashe in Montreal on why she wants to gain a position on national security with the Canadian government. About the guest Jennifer Benmenashe: After completing her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Toronto in History, Political Science and Religion, Jennifer Lauren continued her studies at King’s College London, UK, where she has just completed her Master’s degree in Intelligence and International Security. She has continued to engage in he...
Episode #128 - Are incels really a threat to national security?
February 23, 2022 11:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBThe most recent Canadian national threat assessment names incels as one of the most serious menaces to public safety. Are they really? Borealis chats once again with the world's premiere authority on these people, the Incel Project founder Naama Kates. Naama Kates is an investigative journalist and host of the podcast "Incel" which dives deep inside the incel community. Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Securi...
Quick Hits | Terrorism: Canadian Style Eh!
February 20, 2022 19:00 - 11 minutes - 8.27 MBThe events in Canada over the last few weeks have made international headlines and even spawned similar actions abroad (France, NZ, the Netherlands). What is it all about? Borealis weighs in on language, intelligence and a little discussed troubling event in Western Canada that could be actual terrorism. Mentionned articles: ►Gurski: The ‘truck convoy’ is many things but it is not terrorism ►CBC bias on full display in coverage of Freedom Convoy, Coastal GasLink protests About the host P...
Episode #127 - What was it like to work as a spy in Canada?
February 16, 2022 11:00 - 34 minutes - 24 MBMovies about spies are a dime a dozen - think James Bond. But what is working in intelligence really like? Borealis is joined by Andrew Kirsch, author of a new book "I was never here" Andrew Kirsch served as an intelligence officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) for just under a decade. He held roles as a policy analyst and a field investigator, ultimately leading the special operations security team running covert warranted operations. Today, Kirsch runs a security...
Episode #126 - Is it time to revisit the mental illness/terrorism nexus?
February 09, 2022 11:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBMany people probably believe that anyone who plans a terrorist attack in which their own death is assured (i.e. a suicide bomb) is mentally suspect. And yet research has shown that most terrorists are as 'normal' as you or me. But are they? Borealis is joined by Norwegian practitioner Atle Mesoy to discuss these matters. Atle Mesoy is the founder of U-Turn, an Oslo-based NGO working to prevent violent extremism. U-Turn is based on research and fieldwork within terrorism and political vio...
Episode #125 - What should Canada do with Saudi Arabia?
February 02, 2022 11:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBThree years ago a Saudi 'Tiger Team' tried to assassinate a high-ranking former intel official now living in Canada, Dr Saad Al Jabri. When that failed, the Saudis sued the official, alleging massive fraud. A similar case in the US has just been dismissed as groundless: what should Canada do now? Borealis is rejoined by former CSIS agent Al Treddenick to discuss. Alan Treddenick is a former senior Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) officer who was stationed at the Canadian emb...
Episode #124 - Policing a capital city during a major demonstration
February 01, 2022 22:00 - 26 minutes - 18.4 MBWhen you are the chief of police of a major city or, more narrowly a national capital, things get complicated. Not only are there everyday issues (traffic, petty crime, etc.) but also national security ones and there are often multiple police jurisdictions at play. As Ottawa is still dealing with an anti-vaccine mandate trucking convoy, Borealis talks to former Ottawa Chief of Police Charles Bordeleau. Born and raised in Ottawa, Bordeleau began his policing career in 1984 and became polic...
Quick Hits | Now there's a person on a mission
January 27, 2022 21:00 - 9 minutes - 6.6 MBAn interview with Christine Veer, entrepreneur & investigator. She shares a little on her background and why she’s passionate about making a difference in the world of national security, especially counter-terrorism. You can also learn more about her through her Linkedin profile at www.linkedin.com/in/christine-veer/ About the host Phil Gurski: Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hu...
Episode #123 - Canada-China relations in the post 'two Michaels' era
January 26, 2022 10:00 - 24 minutes - 17.3 MBWhen China seized the 'two Michaels' (Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig) in December 2018 it was clearly a retaliation for Canada's arrest, at the behest of the US, of the CFO of Huawei. Canadians were incensed at this violation of law and blamed China for it. A new book on this affair, entitled appropriately 'The Two Michaels', is out and Borealis has a chat with one of the authors, Canadian Press journalist Mike Blanchfield. Mike Blanchfield is the international affairs writer for The ...
Episode #122 - Just how bad are terrorist inmates?
January 19, 2022 11:00 - 36 minutes - 25.5 MBFor many citizens the macabre fascination with terrorism ends when trials are held and the bad guys are sent to jail. But is that the end of the threat? Borealis talks with former UK prison governor Ian Acheson on what happens after the barred doors are closed. Ian Acheson spent a quarter century in prison security and counter-terrorism. He also ran the UK government’s counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST, in Southwest England. He currently works as a senior adviser to the US-based Counter ...
Episode #121 - A life as a US Special Agent
January 12, 2022 11:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBFor some of us a career in intelligence/law enforcement came about almost randomly (or completely randomly in my case!). For others it was a chance to follow in the footsteps of someone admired. Borealis talks to Eric Caron, a 25-year veteran US Special Agent about his career fighting bad guys. Eric Caron is a retired U.S. Diplomat, U.S. Special Agent, HSBC Middle East Bank Executive and author of SWITCHED ON – The Heart and Mind of a Special Agent. He held senior positions within the Dep...
Episode #120 - Killing to prevent terrorism from occurring
January 05, 2022 11:00 - 35 minutes - 24.5 MBWhen we talk about counter terrorism we mean all kinds of things, ranging from 'preventing' people from going down the road to potential violence to those who actually want to kill. What is at stake when we have to kill to prevent an act from occurring. Borealis has a chat with ex-Australian soldier Shane Healey on these issues and others. Shane Healey enlisted in the Australian Army in 1995. Between 2004 and 2008 he was a private military contractor in Iraq where he initially trained Ira...
Quick Hits | ISIS terrorists should be tried and punished over there, not over here
January 02, 2022 20:00 - 10 minutes - 7.27 MBA curious phenomenon has arisen of late: Westerners advocating that Canada and other nations bring back ISIS terrorists. Such an act would necessitate expensive trials, the difficult gathering of evidence and the almost impossible procurement of witnesses. Borealis looks at why these people are almost the equivalent of the 'useful idiots' of the Cold War. About the host Phil Gurski: Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Secu...
Episode #119 - Could plastic recycling fund terrorism?
December 29, 2021 11:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBA lot of us feel good when we put the recycling bin out on garbage day, confident we are helping the environment. But did you know that organised crime is a big part of this industry? Could terrorist groups get involved too? Borealis talks with Virginia Comolli, author of a new paper "Plastic for Profit: tracing illicit plastic waste flows, supply chains and actors". Virginia Comolli is the research manager for the GI-TOC programme ‘Anticipating and disrupting environmental crime in the ...
Quick Hits | Now I've seen it all: Sharks as 'terrorists'!
December 27, 2021 01:00 - 9 minutes - 6.63 MBShark attacks are terrifying; on that I think we all agree. So are sharks therefore 'terrorists'? If a Michigan state attorney can charge a 15-year old school shooter who 'terrified' his classmates with terrorism where does this all end? Borealis looks at the worrisome recent tendency to attach the 'terrorism' label to lots of events which have nothing to do with terrorism. About the host Phil Gurski: Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme ...
Episode #118 - A fictional Canadian terrorism plot by a leading Canadian writer
December 22, 2021 11:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBTerrorism is no laughing matter but on the other hand it has been said it helps to laugh at what frightens you. There are lots of spy and intrigue novels, but what is it like to make them look and sound real if the author has no background in national security? Borealis talks to Terry Fallis, award-winning Canadian writer and author of the bestselling Operation Angus. A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis is the author of eight national bestselling novels...
Episode #117: Veteran CSIS investigator Dan Stanton
December 15, 2021 11:00 - 30 minutes - 21.4 MBIn the aftermath of 9/11 all the attention seemed to migrate to counter terrorism. That was a big change in the intelligence world where countering foreign spies had been the #1 task for decades. How has this shift affected the way intelligence services operate? Borealis has a discussion with veteran CSIS investigator Dan Stanton Dan Stanton served for thirty-two years with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, including twelve years as an Executive Manager in operations. Mr. Stanto...
Quick Hits | How reliable is Saudi Arabia as a counter terrorism partner?
December 13, 2021 11:00 - 9 minutes - 6.86 MB15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers were Saudi. A Saudi Air Force pilot who had joined AQ killed 3 US servicemen in Florida in December 2019. The Saudi Crown Prince orders the assassination of those he does not like. Borealis asks the question: is Saudi Arabia a desirable partner for the West when it comes to CT? Mentioned articles: ►Survivors of the Pensacola terror attack speak out ►Bin Salman has blood on his hands that refuses to be washed away ►The Saudi Connection: Inside the 9/11 Case That D...
Episode #116: Mayor Brad West on the role of municipalities in national security
December 08, 2021 11:00 - 37 minutes - 25.9 MBWe see public safety and national security as largely federal or national responsibilities. And yet most of us are more connected with local officials - mayors and councilors. What role do they play in this? Borealis talks with Port Coquitlam (BC) Mayor Brad West about Chinese interference and influence peddling in Canada and other issues. ► Read: 'I wanted to see that room empty': Mayor slams attendees of Chinese-funded reception Brad lives in Port Coquitlam with his wife Blaire. In 20...
Quick Hits | Way too many things are being called terrorism today
December 07, 2021 11:00 - 11 minutes - 7.8 MBIn the wake of another mass school shooting in the US - this time in a city near Detroit - a 15-year old teen has been charged, among other things, with 'terrorism'. The rationale? He 'terrorised' the student population. Is this a good move? Borealis looks at the ever-expanding use of terrorism in very unnecessary ways. Mentioned articles: ►Gurski: Why 'terrorism' shouldn't be in Canada's Criminal Code ►The hypocrisy of America’s terror debate ►Parents of Michigan school shooting suspec...
Quick Hits | Those that can become practitioners, those that don't...
December 02, 2021 11:00 - 11 minutes - 8.32 MBQuick Hits #180 - Why is that some academics dislike practitioners? There are some who think practitioners have nothing to offer and should actually be ignored? Borealis looks at the problem from the perspective of a (former) intelligence practitioner. ► Read Carleton criminology department cuts ties with police, prisons About the host Phil Gurski: Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology ...
Episode #115: Former NSA Mark Ericson - The importance of alliances in intelligence sharing
December 01, 2021 11:00 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MBCanada is part of what is called the '5 eyes' intelligence sharing club (Australia, New Zealand, UK and US are other four members). How important is this? How is Canada viewed in this arrangement? Borealis talks with NSA veteran linguist Mark Ericson on these matters. Mark Ericson was a Japanese language analyst and foreign affairs officer with the National Security Agency who retired in 2017 after 37 years with NSA. Raised by missionary parents in Japan, he obtained his PhD in Japanese ...
Quick Hits | It turns out Canada cannot prosecute returning foreign fighters...
November 24, 2021 17:00 - 11 minutes - 7.85 MBQuick Hits #179 - Joining a listed terrorist entity is illegal. And yet hundreds of Canadians have done so and some are now home... but have not been charged. What should we do with these cases? See also: ►Canadian woman freed from ISIS detention camp reunites with daughter in Canada ►Second Chance: Jailed Kazakh Islamic State Widow 'Optimistic' About Future ►Listed Terrorist Entities About the host Phil Gurski: Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd....
Episode #114: Former FBI Brig Barker - Counterterrorism at the coalface
November 24, 2021 11:00 - 41 minutes - 28.9 MBWith so much written about terrorism these days it is easy to forget that there is actual counter terrorism work to be done. Identifying terrorists, following them, interviewing them, stopping them - this is real CT work. Borealis talks with veteran FBI agent Brig Barker about his years helping to prevent terrorist attacks. Brig Barker is a proven counterterrorism agent/supervisor/senior level manager, with numerous extended deployments to the Middle East and Africa. 26 years of U.S. gove...
Episode #113: Mike King - What is CVE and what does it actually do?
November 17, 2021 11:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBWhat is the world of CVE (Countering Violent Extremism) all about? Many acronyms, many mandates, many claims. What is the reality of all this? Borealis is joined by Mike King. Mike King, a social psychologist working on violent extremism, radicalization, & CVE. Director of Research at Edmonton's Organization for the Prevention of Violence and an Adjunct Professor at University of Toronto . Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme D...
Episode 112: Ahmed Patel - Why are many Muslims in denial over Islamist terrorism?
November 10, 2021 11:00 - 26 minutes - 18.1 MBThe facts are that most terrorist attacks in the world are carried out by Muslims and most victims are Muslim. Why, then, are many in the Islamic world in denial about these facts? Borealis is joined by UK activist and Sufi Muslim Ahmed Patel to talk about these issues. Ahmed Patel, the brother-in-law of the London 7/7 bomber Mohammed Siddique, is an excellent example of a British Muslim who stood up against religious radicalization. From an outside observer’s perspective, it would appea...
Episode #112: Ahmed Patel - Why are many Muslims in denial over Islamist terrorism?
November 10, 2021 11:00 - 26 minutes - 18.1 MBThe facts are that most terrorist attacks in the world are carried out by Muslims and most victims are Muslim. Why, then, are many in the Islamic world in denial about these facts? Borealis is joined by UK activist and Sufi Muslim Ahmed Patel to talk about these issues. Ahmed Patel, the brother-in-law of the London 7/7 bomber Mohammed Siddique, is an excellent example of a British Muslim who stood up against religious radicalization. From an outside observer’s perspective, it would appea...
Repeat after me: Satan-worshiping pedophile cannibals are NOT ruling the world!
November 08, 2021 11:00 - 10 minutes - 7.38 MBQuick Hits #178 - Conspiracy theories are as old as time and most are utterly ridiculous. Those who suscribe to them are for the most part harmless. On rare occasions, a person will decide to act on them in a violent way. How serious is this threat? Borealis looks at the infamous 'Q' of QAnon to delve into this issue. See also: ►Are end-of-Earthers and conspiracy theorists that dangerous? ►America’s QAnon problem is infecting Canada. What should we do about it? ►Years After Being Debu...
Quick Hits | Repeat after me: Satan-worshiping pedophile cannibals are NOT ruling the world!
November 08, 2021 11:00 - 10 minutes - 7.38 MBQuick Hits #178 - Conspiracy theories are as old as time and most are utterly ridiculous. Those who suscribe to them are for the most part harmless. On rare occasions, a person will decide to act on them in a violent way. How serious is this threat? Borealis looks at the infamous 'Q' of QAnon to delve into this issue. See also: ►Are end-of-Earthers and conspiracy theorists that dangerous? ►America’s QAnon problem is infecting Canada. What should we do about it? ►Years After Being Debu...
Episode #111: James Dorsey - An award-winning journalist's take on the Middle East, Asia and terrorism
November 03, 2021 10:00 - 34 minutes - 23.6 MBThere are so many voices out there when it comes to terrorism and what it all means. This makes it hard to know whom to talk and listen to. Borealis has a great talk with James Dorsey, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University. James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, a syndicated columnist and the author of the blog, The ...
Quick Hits | 2017 Manchester Arena bombing: What is working on counter-terrorism really like?
November 01, 2021 08:00 - 11 minutes - 7.81 MBQuick Hits #177 - An ongoing UK inquiry into the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack in which 22 died and hundreds were injured is raising serious questions about what UK intelligence knew and when regarding this ISIS-inspired plot. Is the ensuing criticism fair? Borealis provides a former insider's perspective on how counter terrorism actually works. About the host Phil Gurski: Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the ...
Quick Hits | What is working on counter-terrorism really like?
November 01, 2021 08:00 - 11 minutes - 7.81 MBAn ongoing UK inquiry into the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack in which 22 died and hundreds were injured is raising serious questions about what UK intelligence knew and when regarding this ISIS-inspired plot. Is the ensuing criticism fair? Borealis provides a former insider's perspective on how counter terrorism actually works. About the host Phil Gurski: Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economic...
Quick Hits | 2017 Manchester Arena bombing: What is working on counter-terrorism really like?
November 01, 2021 08:00 - 11 minutes - 7.81 MBQuick Hits #177 - An ongoing UK inquiry into the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack in which 22 died and hundreds were injured is raising serious questions about what UK intelligence knew and when regarding this ISIS-inspired plot. Is the ensuing criticism fair? Borealis provides a former insider's perspective on how counter terrorism actually works. About the host Phil Gurski: Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the ...
Episode #110: Archie Alafriz - What we do about about terrorist financing and money laundering
October 27, 2021 10:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBThe movement of money around the world is dizzying. Not surprisingly, bad actors use these platforms to finance their operations. So what is being done about it? Borealis has an in-depth conversation with former RCMP officer and money laundering/terrorist financing specialist Archie Alafriz. Archie Alafriz is a retired member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who served most of his career in the National Security Program. He is a threat finance (AML/CFT) specialist and a published aut...
Episode #109: Borealis joins Counterpoints for a wide-ranging discussion on terrorism and national security
October 13, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 46.3 MBHow is the 'war on terrorism' going? What are we doing well? Not well? What are our moral obligations to those suffering under terrorist rule? Borealis President Phil Gurski talks with Conor to talk about this and more - have a listen! ►Watch Conor on Youtube Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). ...
Quick Hits | Top 10 Dumbest Terrorists of all Time
October 12, 2021 07:00 - 11 minutes - 8.27 MBQuick Hits #176 - Terrorists like to portray themselves as masterminds of violence. Some are pretty dumb. See also: ►Top 10 Worst Terrorist Group Names ►Top 10 Worst Right-Wing Extremism Group Names About the host Phil Gurski: Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CS...
Episode #108: Vern White on how well does intelligence coordination work in Canada?
October 06, 2021 10:00 - 25 minutes - 17.9 MBCanada is a big county and when it comes to security there are multiple levels of jurisdiction: municipal, provincial, first nations and federal. How do all the players get along in the national security sandbox? Borealis has a fascinating discussion with Canadian Senator Vern White, former RCMP and Chief of Police in Durham and Ottawa Senator White has worked with the RCMP, moving through the ranks from Constable to Assistant Commissioner. He has served in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova...
Quick Hits | Is Neo a terrorist? Can we reclaim The Matrix from the alt-right?
October 05, 2021 10:00 - 11 minutes - 7.84 MBQuick Hits #175 - The Matrix franchise has been around since 1999 and is a trilogy of very cool films. They are full of simulated violence in which humans are battling the machines which are using them to drain their lifeforce. Matrix Resurrections is coming out in December: what do the films tell us about terrorism and what happens when reality emulate art? ►Read mentioned article: Red-pilled: Can The Matrix Resurrections reclaim Neo from the alt-right? ►Watch video version on Youtube Abo...
Why what we call "terrorism" matters!
October 02, 2021 20:00 - 11 minutes - 7.87 MBQuick Hits 174 - There are those out there who want authorities to stop calling Islamist terrorism by that name. Alternatives include "faith-based terrorism" and "terrorists abusing religious motivations". In this Quick Hits podcast, Borealis argues why this is wrong-headed and counterproductive. ►Read mentioned article: Police may drop ‘Islamist’ term when describing terror attacks ►Watch video version: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/why-what-we-call-terrorism-matters/ About Phil Gurs...
Quick Hits | Why what we call "terrorism" matters!
October 02, 2021 20:00 - 11 minutes - 7.85 MBQuick Hits #174 - There are those out there who want authorities to stop calling Islamist terrorism by that name. Alternatives include "faith-based terrorism" and "terrorists abusing religious motivations". In this Quick Hits podcast, Borealis argues why this is wrong-headed and counterproductive. ►Read mentioned article: Police may drop ‘Islamist’ term when describing terror attacks ►Watch video version: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/why-what-we-call-terrorism-matters/ About Phil Gur...
CIE 107 - Gavin Horner - Intelligence vs evidence from a law enforcement officer's perspective
September 29, 2021 10:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBWhen it comes to stopping terrorism all information should be used, right? It is not as simple as that. In order to charge a potential wrongdoer the data must be in the form of evidence, not intelligence. Borealis talks about these issues with 30-year Toronto police veteran Gavin Horner. Gavin Horner is a licenced Private Investigator for the province of Ontario. He works primarily in the Greater Toronto Area. He retired after 32½ years with the Toronto Police Service. He retired as a D...
Episode #107: Gavin Horner on intelligence vs evidence from a law enforcement officer's perspective
September 29, 2021 10:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBWhen it comes to stopping terrorism all information should be used, right? It is not as simple as that. In order to charge a potential wrongdoer the data must be in the form of evidence, not intelligence. Borealis talks about these issues with 30-year Toronto police veteran Gavin Horner. Gavin Horner is a licenced Private Investigator for the province of Ontario. He works primarily in the Greater Toronto Area. He retired after 32½ years with the Toronto Police Service. He retired as a D...