Kananaskis Prepares for World Leaders, Testing Security and Diplomacy

The world's most powerful leaders are converging in Kananaskis, a small Alberta tourist village in the Canadian Rockies, for a three-day G7 summit, presenting a significant challenge to the security services tasked with ensuring safety. Airspace restrictions will be in effect, and the Royal Canadian Air Force has been conducting low-level nighttime missions. Local efforts, such as involving children in deterring bears, also contribute to the security preparations.

Canada, as the host nation, faces pressure to increase military spending. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is leading the security effort, collaborating with the Calgary Police Service, provincial sheriffs, conservation officers, the Canadian military, and foreign governments, each bringing their own security demands. Thousands of participants are expected in Kananaskis, Banff, and Calgary. While the Prime Minister hosts global counterparts in Kananaskis Country, the world's media will be based in Banff. Organizers have designated specific locations for demonstrators, aiming to keep protests away from the leaders' summit.

Security measures extend beyond protecting delegates and demonstrators, aiming to impress international guests. The public will likely be unaware of most of the measures. Effective security is often unseen, and excellent logistics are rarely discussed.

The G7 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with the European Union also participating. The Prime Minister has invited leaders from Brazil, South Africa, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Mexico, Ukraine, and Australia, along with the presidents of the European Commission and World Bank, and the NATO secretary-general.

The summit's location in the Rocky Mountains provides natural security advantages. Remote, secure locations can foster a level of intimacy among leaders that is not always possible in urban settings. This allows for private interactions, conducive to building relationships.

Security planning has been underway for over a year. Police are in communication with groups planning to demonstrate during the G7. The nearest RCMP-approved protest site is a parking lot on the edge of Banff, approximately 80 kilometers west of Kananaskis. The RCMP considered safety, accessibility, and visibility when selecting the location. The RCMP also approved three demonstration locations in Calgary, equipped with infrastructure to broadcast demonstrators' messages to the G7 leaders. These locations aim to provide a platform for protesters to be seen and heard.