Documents on Canadian External Relations – Canadian Network on Humanitarian History

From the Archives of Global Affairs Canada

Canada and the Vietnam War, 1963-1968

Date: Monday, November 23, 2026

Time: 3-5pm

Location: The Paviliion, Lawson Centre for Sustainability (15 Devonshire Pl)

Registration: REGISTRATION: From the Archives of Global Affairs Canada: The Vietnam War, 1963-1968-Fill out form

About the Event

The Historical Section of Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has just published The Vietnam War: 1963–1968, the latest volume in the Documents on Canadian External Relations series, GAC’s flagship historical research project. Featuring newly released archival documents, the book chronicles Canada’s diplomatic response to one of the 20th century’s most consequential and controversial conflicts, during some of its most critical years. This seminar will offer new perspectives on Canadian diplomacy during the Cold War, from Canada’s often strained relations with the United States to its early engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.

Speakers:

Shawn Steil, Director General, Strategy & former Ambassador to Vietnam (Global Affairs Canada)

Brendan Kelly, Head of the Historical Section (Global Affairs Canada)

Robert Bothwell, Professor Emeritus of Canadian International History (University of Toronto)

Co-hosted by the Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History and GAC, this event is also part of Open Insights Days 2026, GAC’s annual 2-week in-house conference.

by Jill Campbell-Miller

This post originally appeared on Active History and is cross-posted here with permission.

“I just hope he’s at a cottage without a cell signal and wi-fi.”

I said that to my mother-in-law several times during a recent visit to Cape Breton. After all, I told her, the book project that Greg Donaghy was co-editing with myself and fellow historian Stacey Barker had recently been progressing ahead of schedule (Breaking Barriers, Shaping Worlds: Canadian Women and the Search for Global Order, UBC Press, 2021). Perhaps he felt no need to respond to my texts and emails quickly. But even as I said it, I knew it was not right. If Greg was anything, he was conscientious and dedicated to his work. Emails, texts, and phone calls rarely went unanswered. The thought of him lounging at a cottage while his inbox filled up was, in fact, patently un-Greg-like, but I did not let myself think about alternative explanations. I had been waiting to hear from him for some guidance before I undertook a few revisions to our introduction. On July 5, we all learned the terrible truth – a heart attack left Greg in a coma, which led to his death on Canada Day.

Tag: Documents on Canadian External Relations

Bill Graham Centre Event – Canada and the Vietnam War, 1963-1968

In Memory of Greg Donaghy (1959-2020)

by Jill Campbell-Miller

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