March Forum 2023

Officer Cadets and University Students

Students from participating Military Academies and Universities were invited to a special full day program of knowledge sharing and exchange. For more information about this program contact: johnmacehannan@outlook.com

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Civilians and high school students were invited on the Walk for Remembrance and Peace (WRAP)

07:00 to 08:00   
Breakfast at hotels / Dress for military personnel is combats / Field Uniform

08:00 to 11:00   

• Arrival by bus at Assembly Point in Piazza Armerina and Welcome.
• Depart from Piazza Armerina to Mirabella for a 4.5 km walk back to Piazza Armerina.
• Walk guide will be Professor Angelo Plumari.  The Walk ends at the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) monument

11:00 to 11:30   
Parade at the RCR Monument – Last Post and bagpipe tunes played.  Wreath laying done by various contingents

11:30                 
Moment of Silence

11:45 to 12:00   
Parade dismissal and return to hotels to have lunch and change into service dress uniforms for military personnel

12:00 to 13:30   
Lunch on their own, lunch bag will be provided for cadets

13:30                   
Theatre doors open for cadets only – Dress Code: service uniform (S3) (understand that UOTC Army officer cadets do not have service dress)

13:40 to 15:00   
Resilience Exercise moderated by Dr. Lobna Cherif of RMC.

15:05 to 15:20   
Sicily and the Pillars of Peace, an introduction to the Institute for Economics and Peace led by Mr. Serge Stroobants, Director for EMENA for IEP

15:20 to 16:30   

• Overview of the 8 pillars of sustainable peace
• Review of pre-Forum material and discussion of implications: character-based anti-fragility; leadership for climate security;
• Problems of disinformation moderated by Dr. Martin Nassua of the Helmut Schmidt University of Hamburg

16:30 to 16:45 
Break

16:45 to 17:45   
Hybrid student panel: Military / Diplomatic partnership for peace, stability, and prosperity, led by Mr. Jake Austin of Tufts University and Dr. David Last of RMC

17:45                   
Closing remarks – Major General Craig Aitchison, Commander Canadian Defence Academy

18:30 to 22:30   
Dinner together

06:30 to 0730   
Breakfast at hotels.  Dress code – Service Dress (S3)

07:50                   
Theatre doors open for cadets

08:00 to 09:30

• Simulation Round 1 led by Mr. Scott DeJong of Concordia University along with RMC facilitation and Mr. Richard Milburn of RMC
• Group A (up to 100 cadets) Lizards and Lies simulation game played in groups of 4
• Group B (up to 100 cadets) Climate Crisis simulation game played in groups of 4

09:30 to 10:00   
Break

10:00 to 11:30   

• Simulation Round 2 led by Mr. Scott DeJong of Concordia University along with RMC facilitation and Mr. Richard Milburn of RMC
• Group B (up to 100 cadets) Lizards and Lies simulation game played in groups of 4
• Group A (up to 100 cadets) Climate Crisis simulation game played in groups of 4

11:30 to 12:30   
Debrief of simulations in plenary

12:30 to 14:30   
Lunch on their own

14:30                   
Forum doors open for all participants at the Teatro Garibaldi and the Cinema

15:00                   
Forum Official Opening and Welcome by Mr. Steve Gregory Founder IFPSP

15:05 to 15:15   

• Welcoming remarks from the Mayor of Piazza Armerina, Avv. Antonio Cammarata
• Introduction of guest keynote speaker Elizabeth Spehar of Canada, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, The United Nations

15:15 to 15:40   
Keynote address by Elizabeth Spehar

15:40 to 16:55   
Panel 1:  Understanding the Information Environment, led by Mr. Serge Stroobants of the IEP and his panel members.

• Provide a general understanding of the contemporary information environment; better understand the disinformation, propaganda, and misinformation challenges; how to effectively counter disinformation.
• Discussion time

16:55 to 17:05   
Break

17:05 to 18:10   
Panel 2: An Historical Case: OP HUSKY, led by Mr. John Melkon II of West Point and his panel members.

• Far from it, the creation and dissemination of false and/or manipulated information is not a characteristic of our contemporary environment and was always historically exploited.  This panel will look at disinformation campaigns and strategies at work during the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943.
• Discussion time

18:10 to 18:15   
Day 2 closing remarks by Major General Maurizio Angelo Scardino, Commander of the Italian Army in Sicily

18:15 to 18:30   
Recap of Day 2 and preview of Day 3 by Mr. Steve Gregory, Founder IFPSP

18:30                   
Day 2 ends

19:00 to 21:30   
Visit by cadets and staff to Villa Romana di Casale.

This 3rd-century Roman villa features more than 40 beautiful mosaic floors, making it one of the most cherished open-air museums in the region.

21:30                   
Return and dinner on their own – meal vouchers

06:00 to 06:30   
Breakfast at hotels.  Dress code – Service Dress (S3)

06:30                   
Bus departs for battlefield tour of Valguarnera with 2 stops led by Professor Angelo Plumari

06:30 to 11:30   
Battlefield tour including coffee in Valguarnera

10:00 to 11:00   
Holy Easter Preparatory Mass for invited VIP at the Church of St. Stephen in Valguarnera – Italian military tradition

11:30 to 12:00   
Parade at Piazza Villari in Valguarnera to include cadets and VIPs

12:00 to 12:30   
Return to Piazza Armerina

12:30 to 14:30   
Light lunch on site in Piazza Armerina for academies, out-of-town guests, and organizers

12:30 to 14:30   
VIP lunch and ceremonial exchange  Buffet / stand-up reception

14:30                   
Forum doors open for all participants at the Teatro Garibaldi and the Cinema

15:00 to 15:15   
Day 2 opening and welcoming remarks by Mr. Steve Gregory, Founder IFPSP.

 Introduction of keynote speaker

15:15 to 15:40
Keynote address TBD

15:40 to 16:55
PANEL 3: Disinformation – Contemporary Case Studies, led by Professor Dario Mangano of the University of Palermo and his panel members.

• The intent of this panel is to analyse current examples of disinformation campaigns. The pandemic, democratic elections, ongoing wars, and military deployments would provide significant sources of analysis. 
• Discussion time

16:55 to 17:05
Break

17:05 to 18:10
PANEL 4: PSP Conference Contest winning students’ presentations, moderated by Colonel Carlouberto Massimo of the Italian Army

• Top three essays and top three videos will be presented by the student finalists.
• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards for each category will be awarded
• Primarily conducted via on-line presentations, depending on student locations

18:10 to 18:20   
Keynote closing address by the Honourable Renato Schifani, President of Sicily.

18:20 to 18:30   
Closing remarks and acknowledgements

18:30                   
Forum Close

18:30 to 19:30   
Musical concert by the “Aosta Brigade” Military Band of the Italian Army

19:30                   
Free night in Piazza Armerina – Dinner on their own – meal vouchers