Movies about spies are a dime a dozen – think James Bond. But what is working in intelligence really like?
Borealis is joined by Andrew Kirsch, author of a new book “I was never here“.
If the ins and outs of terrorism, extremism, national security and public safety are of interest to you, subscribe to receive free content by former Canadian intelligence analyst and author Phil Gurski on these issues.
Canadian Intelligence Eh
In a world of multiple voices and opinions it can be very hard to know where to turn. One choice is to look to those who actually worked in counter-terrorism in the national security world. In these half-hour podcasts, 30-year Canadian intelligence veteran Phil Gurski is joined by a fascinating array of individuals with something meaningful to say about these issues as they provide insight into what they mean and what we need to do about them.
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About my guest Andrew Kirsch
Andrew Kirsch served as an intelligence officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) for just under a decade. He held roles as a policy analyst and a field investigator, ultimately leading the special operations security team running covert warranted operations. Today, Kirsch runs a security consulting firm, assisting organizations and individuals identify threats and vulnerabilities and implement strategies to mitigate their risk. He was appointed to the Ontario Expert Panel on Cyber Security in 2020, advising the government on strengthening cyber security practices in the broader public sector. He is a public speaker and trainer on issues of national and cyber security.
His book – I Was Never Here: My True Canadian Spy Story of Coffees, Code Names and Covert Operations in the Age of Terrorism will be released March 1st, 2022 and is available for pre-order wherever you buy your books.
I Was Never Here
My True Canadian Spy Story of Coffees, Code Names, and Covert Operations in the Age of Terrorism
Kirsch, a former intelligence officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, pulls back the curtain on his career in this breezy account of his near-decade-long stint as a spy.
Buy I Was Never Here
About the host Phil Gurski
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
Listen to more episodes:
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Episode 258 – Canada needs to step up its far north game We in the Great White…
Why don’t most ‘radicals’ go on to commit terrorism?
Episode 257 – How to tell non-violent ‘radicals’ from the violent ones The field of ‘radicalisation’ studies…
The terrorists’ who’s who in Africa
Episode 256 – Why is Africa rife with jihadi groups? Last year the Global Terrorism Index for…
2 replies on “What was it like to work as a spy in Canada?”
Your conversation with Andrew was informative and interesting, thank you. Is Andrew mentoring his nephew?
In my opinion, Canada has superbly polite “silent professionals”.
Thx Tova!