The man charged in an alleged hate-motivated attack that killed four family members in London laughed as police arrested him in a mall parking lot, a traumatized taxi driver who witnessed the arrest told his boss. Nathaniel Veltman, 20, of London is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the largest mass killing in city history, one police allege was motivated by anti-Muslim hate. When something happens of a catastrophic nature, like a murder, everyone wants to know why. We cannot fa...
Jun 09, 2021•12 min
Most white nationalists hate Muslims (among other immigrants and races). Jihadis hate everything. So what can these two groups of extremists have in common? Phil Gurski talks with Dr Sara Kamali, author of the new book, Homegrown Hate Why White Nationalists and Militant Islamists Are Waging War against the United States About my guest Dr Sara Kamali Dr Sara Kamali is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right in the UK and an expert with the Canadian Network for Research on ...
Jun 09, 2021•38 min•Season 4Ep. 97
Phil Gurski is President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting and a former CSIS analyst. He tells CityNews' Rob Snow not enough information is available yet to say with certainty the allegedly hate-motivated London vehicle attack was an act of terrorism. About 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 (...
Jun 08, 2021•11 min
Phil Gurski joins CBC's Ginella Massa to discuss the latest news about the Muslim family killed in targeted hit and run in London, Ontario . 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 Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, spec...
Jun 08, 2021•7 min
Quick Hits #167 - 4 people from the same family are dead and a fifth - a 9-year old boy - is wounded after a 20-yr old man in London (ON) ran them over on Sunday evening. Local police say it was deliberate, that the man targeted his victims because they were Muslim, and suggest terrorism charges may follow. Borealis unpacks murder, hate crime and terrorism under Canadian law as he discusses this cowardly act of violence. ► Watch video version on YouTube ► See also Muslims in London, Ont., expres...
Jun 08, 2021•13 min
Quick Hits 166 - The terms we elect to use to describe things have their purposes. When it comes to terrorism there is a movement to use generic words to refer to specific types of violent extremism. Borealis protests this simplification of language, calling it what it is (i.e. political correctness). ► Watch video version on YouTube . ► See also Coronavirus variants get Greek names — but will scientists use them? About the host Phil Gurski: Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and R...
Jun 05, 2021•11 min
Canada is not normally seen as an intelligence powerhouse and is not blessed with the same intelligence 'culture' as some of its key allies (US and UK primarily). Who does intelligence analysis and how good is it? About my guest Greg Fyffe: Greg Fyffe was executive director of the Intelligence Assessment Secretariat in the Privy Council Office from 2000 to 2008. He is currently president of the Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies. About the host Phil Gurski: Phil is the Pr...
Jun 02, 2021•30 min•Season 1Ep. 96
Quick Hits 165 - Intelligence agencies are usually associated with issues like terrorism and espionage . They can tell us the 'inside story' on a whole host of things, when their information goes public. What about their ability to tell us about the origins of COVID ? Borealis weighs in on US President Biden's call upon US intel agencies to get to the bottom of this. Watch video version on YouTube See also Covid: Biden orders investigation into virus origin as lab leak theory debated About the h...
Jun 02, 2021•12 min
At a time where the only news about police offices and law enforcement agencies seems to be negative it is time for a more balanced approach. Borealis talks to 30-year RCMP veteran Ben Maure about Canada's international policing missions. Check out Ben's book Leading at the Edge: True Tales from Canadian Police in Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping Missions Around the World Paperback About my guest Ben Maure: Ben Maure is a serving Peace Officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He has over 30...
May 26, 2021•36 min•Season 4Ep. 95
An ongoing court case in the US threatens to expose counter terrorism secrets with Saudi Arabia. In order to send a message to Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, known as MBS or 'Mister Bone Saw', these secrets may have to be disclosed. Borealis asks whether we in the West should deal with a royal who sends assassins abroad. See also: Video: Is Saudi Arabia sending hit squads to Canada? | Al Tredennick Article: MBS’s lawsuit against a Saudi spy threatens to spill secrets. The U.S. is considering ...
May 24, 2021•11 min
Ever since 9/11 many are obsessed with terrorism and have disproportionate fear of more events of this nature. Is this a healthy attitude? Borealis talks to Canadian sociologist Frank Furedi on these and other matters. About my guest, sociologist Frank Furedi: Frank Furedi is a Hungarian-Canadian academic and emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent. He is well known for his work on sociology of fear, education, therapy culture, paranoid parenting and sociology of knowledge. Cli...
May 19, 2021•32 min•Season 4Ep. 94
Everyone seems to have an opinion these days on terrorism these days. Who should you listen to, especially when it comes to the current 'moral panic' over right wing terrorism? Borealis weighs in on this, advising us all to just chill a bit. Watch video version on Youtube. 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 Devel...
May 19, 2021•13 min
I am often asked by younger listeners how to get a career as a spy. In this episode, I am chatting with Matthew Zegar, computer science student at Simon Fraser University about how to get a career aiding the Canadian government against terrorist threats. ► Click here to find out more about my guest Matthew Zegar ►Listen to Matthew Zegar's Career Path Podcast About the host Phil Gurski: Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Securi...
May 12, 2021•57 min•Season 4Ep. 93
We all know that tens of thousands of people from over 100 countries went to join ISIS in 2014. The feeder nations are all over the map (literally!) but the #1 per capita was…Trinidad. Trinidad? Phil Gurski talks with UK scholar Simon Cottee who just published a book on this fascinating finding. Click here to find out more about my guest Simon Cottee! Black Flags of the Caribbean, How Trinidad Became an ISIS Hotspot Simon Cottee investigates how ISIS came to gain such an unlikely, yet significan...
May 05, 2021•33 min•Season 4Ep. 92
Terrorism is violent for sure. But why are some terrorists, i.e. Islamist ones, so utterly cruel and inhuman? Former CSIS intelligence veteran Phil Gurski weighs in on this while discussing a recent interview with Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan Watch video version on Youtube. 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 Professi...
Apr 29, 2021•10 min
Politics is a nasty business and not for the faint of heart. Still there are rules and some practices should be off base. African governments say that opposition leaders are terrorists to prevent them from running for office. Borealis weighs in on this in today’s Quick Hits. Watch video version on Youtube. 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 Univers...
Apr 28, 2021•11 min
Why is China harassing Canadian Uyghurs and why is the government not doing anything to stop it? The Canadian Parliament recently voted to denounce China for its genocide in East Turkestan (what China calls Xinjiang) against the Uyghurs. And yet China is still harassing Uyghur Canadians and pressuring them to shut up. Why is more not being done to stop this? Borealis President Phil Gurski talks to Kayum Masimov , Project Manager at Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project . Click here to find out more abo...
Apr 28, 2021•39 min•Season 4Ep. 91
It is safe to say that most people would avoid being anywhere near a terrorist attack. Some, however, seem to have a fascination with these events to the point where they distort their own experiences. Borealis weighs in on this curious phenomenon. Watch video version on Youtube. New York Time article : Port Authority Bomber Is Sentenced to Life in Prison. About the host Phil Gurski: Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security...
Apr 23, 2021•11 min
Belgium is not normally a nation one associates with terrorism. And yet, a number of large-scale attacks unfolded in the 2010s in which dozens were killed. How does someone who does not work in counter terrorism view these events? Borealis has a fascinating talk with Louisa Rogers on these issues. Click here to find out more about my guest Louisa Rogers! About the host Phil Gurski: Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, ...
Apr 21, 2021•35 min•Season 4Ep. 90
Watch video version on Youtube. Afghanistan has often been called the ‘graveyard of empires’. Over the past 20 years it has also been at the forefront of the ill-named ‘war on terrorism’ . What can we do – if anything – to get out of that nation and consider ourselves ‘safer’? 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 D...
Apr 20, 2021•24 min
In Iron Man 3 we were introduced to a not so convincing 'terrorist' called the Mandarin: I gave that part of the film a two thumbs down . Now Marvel is coming out with another attempt in Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Do the producers do any better this time? Have a listen as former CSIS intelligence analyst Phil Gurski gives his review! About the host Phil Gurski: Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Econo...
Apr 20, 2021•6 min
Watch video version on YouTube Iron Man 3 is all about terrorism, odd for a Marvel film. Oddly, however, the writers chose to portray a Chinese-looking leader as the spokesperson for what looks for all intents and purposes like a bunch of jihadis. Borealis weighs in on what this film gets right and what it gets wrong when it comes to terrorism. 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 ...
Apr 20, 2021•11 min
Terrorism has been around for a long time but we have been especially captivated by it since 9/11. At first, EVERYTHING was terrorism, more so if it could be tied to Islam. Now, the far right seems to be the flavour of the month. What's up? 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...
Apr 16, 2021•12 min
In the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s the predominant form of terrorism was Irish in nature. Those who wanted a unitary Irish state fought those who wanted to remain part of the UK, often with tragic results. With the Good Friday Accords of 1998 that is all over - or is it? Phil Gurski talks with Irish analyst Lorcan Owens on the potential for future violence on the Emerald Isle. ► Find out more about my guest Lorcan Owens ►Listen to Lorcan's podcast Nazra: Politics, Society and Extremism About the hos...
Apr 14, 2021•38 min•Season 4Ep. 89
The 2018 Marvel film Black Panther is a truly spectacular movie that features black actors and culture. And yet one of the main characters resorts to terrorism to right historical wrongs. Why would the producers do this? Borealis President Phil Gurski reviews Black Panther from a practitioner’s perspective. See also: Intelligence Veteran Reviews - Iron Man (2008) Intelligence Veteran Reviews - Captain Marvel (2019) Intelligence Veteran Reviews - Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) Intelli...
Apr 13, 2021•11 min
For those who missed the live-stream on March 16, here is a replay of my latest discussion with Youtube personality Destiny (Steven Bonnell). ►Follow Destiny on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC554eY5jNUfDq3yDOJYirOQ When it comes to talking about terrorism it is not enough to limit the discussion to specific terrorist groups or terrorist acts. Things are much more complicated than that. Terrorism does not occur in a vacuum: it exists in a context (or better: multiple contexts). Terror...
Apr 11, 2021•52 min•Season 4Ep. 88
ASIO to avoid ‘left’, ‘right’ and ‘Islamic’ in an overhaul of its descriptions of extremism. There is a movement afoot to change the way we talk about terrorism. Instead of 'Islamist extremism' we get 'ideologically-motivated extremism' or 'religiously-motivated extremism'. Necessary coinage or political correctness? 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 ...
Apr 09, 2021•9 min
Bond films are exciting, fast-paced and fun to watch. But how accurate are they and does it matter that they are not? Former CSIS intelligence analyst Phil Gurski gives his own review of this latest offering. The new James Bond film No Time to Die - is this what spies really do? Watch video version on Youtube 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 Univ...
Apr 08, 2021•6 min
Relations with a country like Saudi Arabia will always be complicated in light of what the Kingdom stands for, what it produces, and where it is located. So, if the Saudis send a hit squad to Canada to take out a 'dissident' what should our response be? Borealis talks with colleague and friend Al Treddenick on this touchy subject About my guest Al Treddenick: Alan Treddenick is a former senior Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) officer who was stationed at the Canadian embassy in Riya...
Apr 07, 2021•42 min•Season 4Ep. 87
It is becoming clearer that, at least in some ways, Africa is supplanting the traditional Asia (including the Middle East) as the locus of jihadi terrorism. What should we do about it? 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 Securit...
Apr 06, 2021•5 min
