OTTAWA HISTORY TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Three Evenings with Cold War Experts — Free and Virtual from Ottawa’s Diefenbunker
Diefenbunker’s Cold War Speaker Series offers three free, virtual talks this fall that pair expert presentations with live Q&A — this guide explains what to expect and how to take part.
Three Evenings with Cold War Experts — Free and Virtual from Ottawa’s Diefenbunker.
This fall the Diefenbunker’s Cold War Speaker Series convenes a slate of scholars for tightly focused virtual presentations that probe labour, military research, and Canada’s Cold War engagements in Africa. Each session pairs a prepared talk with audience Q&A, offering a compact, informed deep dive into the era from the comfort of home.
Highlights
Why Attend
Concise virtual events with live Q&A
Each session is a free virtual event delivered over Zoom and concludes with a live question-and-answer period, making it a direct way to hear specialists and pose your own questions.
Scholars unpack underexamined Cold War themes
Speakers address diverse subjects — labour and community dynamics in a nuclear state, newly declassified military research in Canada, and Canada’s role in Cold War-era Africa — bringing fresh documentary and interpretive perspectives.
Free, fall evenings — register in advance
The series consists of free events held on specified fall evenings; advance registration is required and attendees register separately for each talk to receive the webinar links and reminders.
What the day feels like
How the series plays out
Each session begins with a focused presentation by a specialist and finishes with a moderated Q&A; the cadence is designed to present new research and then open it up to audience engagement in a compact evening format.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this series suits — and who should think twice.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Each session is scheduled for an evening in the fall and delivered virtually over Zoom; expect a presentation followed by Q&A, with a total running time of approximately one hour and 15 minutes.
Events are free but require advance registration. Register separately for each talk to receive the appropriate reminder emails and the Zoom webinar link.
There is no attendance fee; the events are free to attend.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Are the Cold War Speaker Series events free?
Yes — the events in this series are free to attend.
How are the talks delivered?
Sessions take place virtually over Zoom; attendees receive webinar links after registering in advance.
How long does each event last?
Each event includes a presentation followed by a Q&A, with a total running time of approximately one hour and 15 minutes.
Do I need to register for multiple sessions if I want to attend more than one?
Yes — if you are interested in attending multiple events, please register for each one separately to receive the appropriate reminder emails and webinar links.
Who is presenting in the series?
Speakers include Dr. Isabel Campbell (September 18), Dr. Matthew Wiseman (October 16), and Dr. Kevin Spooner (November 20), each focusing on different Cold War topics.