On April 16, Peace Brigades International-Canada joined with Quakers Roots and the Canadian Friends Service Committee (CFSC) for an educational webinar on the DSEI arms show in London and the CANSEC arms show in Ottawa.
The video of that webinar is here.
The CFSC promotion for the webinar highlighted that Pete Doubtfire from Quaker Roots in Britain would “discuss successes and lessons learned during their activism against DSEI – Britain’s biggest arms fair” and that “Mel Burns from CFSC will discuss our plans for Friendly actions during CANSEC”.
Sandra Wiens, the CFSC’s Government Relations Representative who was the moderator of this webinar, recently wrote in Quaker Concern (Spring 2026 issue): “CFSC is planning to be present at CANSEC this year, May 27-28 in Ottawa. CANSEC is the largest weapons fair in North America. We believe this is a moment where being present matters. We’re planning a silent vigil/Meeting for Worship on the afternoon of the first day of CANSEC to be a physical presence of unity and nonviolence—showing that strength comes through peace. We invite you to join us that day and show your opposition to the burgeoning war industry—directly and in a Friendly way.”
Accompaniment
Peace Brigades International-Canada is amplifying the clear pattern of human rights violations against human rights defenders that can be linked to the weapons exports promoted at these trade shows. Our analysis can be read at PBI-Canada highlights the dangers faced by human rights defenders from arms exports promoted at the CANSEC arms show in Ottawa (April 15, 2026).
More information about plans for May 27 will be posted soon. Updates about the mass protest planned for May 28 can be found here.
