Project Ploughshares

🚨New leadership and a renewed path forward for peace research in Canada!

The Canadian Council of Churches and Conrad Grebel University College have announced a two-year partnership to support Project Ploughshares, with Paul Heidebrecht appointed as the organization’s new Director.

The initiative aims to strengthen Ploughshares’ governance, funding, and long-term sustainability while expanding collaboration with churches, researchers, and civil society. As a peace research institute, Ploughshares works to advance policies that prevent war, reduce armed violence, and promote peaceful solutions to political conflict.

With global tensions rising, the organization is positioning itself to deepen research, partnerships, and policy engagement in support of sustainable peace.

Spending more in space doesn’t automatically mean greater security.

Space systems power everything from Arctic surveillance and military communications to emergency response and the global economy. But they operate in a crowded and fragile environment where disruptions can affect both military and civilian systems.

In Dr. Jessica West’s recent essay for Strategic Outlook 2026 (Conference of Defence Associations Institute), she argues that Canada’s real challenge isn’t dominating space — it’s sustaining access and managing risk in a contested and ambiguous domain.

That means prioritizing resilience, stronger coordination with allies and commercial partners, and protecting critical systems without escalating conflict.

🔗 Read the full essay using the link in our bio: “Space Defence in an Age of Ambiguity”

Peace means different things to different people. 

For some, it’s safety. 
For others, it’s justice. 
For many, it’s the absence of fear. 

What does peace mean to you? Tell us below.

Research alone isn’t the goal — impact is. 

Our work moves from: 
Research → Advocacy → Policy influence → Real-world change 

Support our work and turn research into impact by donating via the link in our bio🔗

🚀 Space Law & Policy Seminar Series | Session 5 (2025/26) 

Join us on Tuesday 17 February 2026 (15:00–17:00 UK time) for Regulating Outer Space: A Security Perspective — a discussion on the military use of space and how such activities are regulated. 

Hear from expert panellists across policy, academia, and practice, including Dr Jessica West (Project Ploughshares).
 
📍 Online via Microsoft Teams, visit the link in our bio to register!

How does research become real-world change? 🌍  

At Project Ploughshares, policy ideas don’t stay on paper - they help shape a safer world. 

Support our work by visiting the link in our bio🔗

Independent peace research doesn’t fund itself. 

Your support allows us to question dangerous assumptions, challenge government policy, and offer real alternatives to militarization. 

If you believe facts should guide security decisions: 
Donate via the link in our bio🔗

🎙️ New Episode Alert: Below the Radar B-Sides!

In this episode, host Am Johal sits down with Kelsey Gallagher, Senior Researcher at Project Ploughshares, to break down Bill C-233: the No More Loopholes Act — a private member’s bill aimed at tightening Canada’s arms export controls and bringing the country into full compliance with the Arms Trade Treaty it signed in 2019. 🇨🇦💬

👉 Listen using the link in bio

Event Alert🚨

Emerging dual-use technologies in an era of strategic competition!

Gain key insights from expert panelists including Project Ploughshares Senior Researcher, Jessica West, PhD.

📍CIGI campus and online
📅 February 24, 5:30–7 PM EST
🎟️ Free, public hybrid event
🔗 Link in bio to register

Let us reintroduce ourselves⭐️

Project Ploughshares is a peace research institute with a focus on diarmament efforts and international security, specifically relating to the arms trade, emerging military technology, nuclear weapons, and outer space. We work at the intersections of disarmament, diplomacy, and engagement.  

We primarily work in five focus areas: Emerging Technology/AI, Space Security, Arms Trade, Cimate & Security, and Nuclear Weapons.  

Get involved with Project Ploughshares today, visit the link in our bio to learn more🔗

In an age of rising militarization, reasonable voices matter. 
 
Project Ploughshares stands for balanced, fact-based advocacy, where national defence and global responsibility meet.