Checkmate or Stalemate: An Update on the War in Ukraine

Added: Free Special Lecture, Fall 2022 (separate registration)

Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Thursday, February 24 calling it “a special military operation.”  Putin and much of the world expected it to last 72 hours, 3 days.  It is now 40 weeks old and over 6,700 hours have passed.  We see the devastation every day and we listen carefully when world leaders talk about the war and what the future might hold.

Thornhill Lifelong Learning is proud to present a special lecture by Major-General (Retired) Denis Thompson and to hear his unique perspective on an ever-changing and dangerous conflict in Ukraine.

Major-General Thompson will present:

  • the current situation on the ground within Ukraine,

  • the geopolitical consequences including NATO’s role,

  • Europe’s energy conundrum and the effects the war has on world food security

  • the impact of sanctions in Russia and the reactions to the war within Russia itself. 

Our speaker will include some analysis of the broader military implications of the war and and discuss possible endgames to this risky contest of military and political chess.

Date: Thursday, Oct 27, 2022

Time: 2:00-3:30

Location: Online through Zoom

Cost: FREE

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER (we will cap registration at 500)

picture of General Thompson

Major-General (Retired) Denis Thompson served 39 years in the Canadian Army at home and abroad in Cyprus, Germany, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Egypt including as commander of NATO’s Task Force Kandahar (2008/09), Canada’s Special Operations Forces (2011-2014) and the Multinational Force & Observers in the Sinai (2014-2017). 

Since retirement, our guest has lectured at various Canadian universities as well as acting as a Senior Mentor and Instructor at the Canadian Forces College, Toronto.  He is a Fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute and the University of Manitoba’s Centre for Defence and Security Studies.  He is actively engaged in veterans’ issues and in 2021 was appointed in an honorary capacity as the Colonel of the Regiment for The Royal Canadian Regiment.