Borealis 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 (Canadian Se...
Apr 08, 2022•12 min
France 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, threat moni...
Apr 06, 2022•21 min•Season 5Ep. 134
When 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 Peace. ...
Mar 31, 2022•24 min•Season 5Ep. 133
There 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 extremism. U-T...
Mar 23, 2022•23 min•Season 5Ep. 132
Canada'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 leading...
Mar 16, 2022•26 min•Season 5Ep. 131
Some 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 court in Ma...
Mar 09, 2022•28 min•Season 5Ep. 130
While 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 instit...
Mar 02, 2022•31 min•Season 5Ep. 129
Borealis 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 her res...
Mar 02, 2022•7 min
The 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 Security, Econo...
Feb 23, 2022•25 min•Season 5Ep. 128
The 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 Phil Gu...
Feb 20, 2022•12 min
Movies 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 con...
Feb 16, 2022•35 min•Season 5Ep. 127
Many 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 violence an...
Feb 09, 2022•28 min•Season 5Ep. 126
Three 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 embassy in ...
Feb 02, 2022•30 min•Season 5Ep. 125
When 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 police chief...
Feb 01, 2022•27 min•Season 5Ep. 124
An 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) hub...
Jan 27, 2022•10 min
When 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 Canadia...
Jan 26, 2022•25 min•Season 5Ep. 123
For 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 Extrem...
Jan 19, 2022•37 min•Season 5Ep. 122
For 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 Departmen...
Jan 12, 2022•35 min•Season 5Ep. 121
When 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 Iraqi Spec...
Jan 05, 2022•35 min•Season 5Ep. 120
A 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 Security,...
Jan 02, 2022•10 min
A 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 global...
Dec 29, 2021•33 min•Season 5Ep. 119
Shark 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 Directo...
Dec 27, 2021•9 min
Terrorism 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 inclu...
Dec 22, 2021•29 min•Season 5Ep. 118
In 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. Stanton had a...
Dec 15, 2021•31 min•Season 5Ep. 117
15 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 Div...
Dec 13, 2021•10 min
We 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 2017, the c...
Dec 08, 2021•37 min•Season 5Ep. 116
In 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 suspect are ...
Dec 07, 2021•11 min
Quick 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 (SET) hub...
Dec 02, 2021•12 min
Canada 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 history ...
Dec 01, 2021•32 min•Season 5Ep. 115
Quick 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. and Pro...
Nov 24, 2021•11 min
