What is Canada's role in Afghanistan after 2011? After seven years as part of the NATO military mission what has been accomplished? What do the Afghan people including the Pashtun majority and several ethnic minorities want and need?
Most Canadians who watches the news likely has some viewpoint on Canada's role there.
Squamish area and surrounding residents will have an opportunity to ask questions on the issue at the Brackendale Art Gallery on May 14, when panel members Graham Fuller, Keith Reynolds and William Roberts lead a discussion during the Canada in Afghanistan dinner forum and fundraiser.
Roberts is a part of the Whistler Forum for Leadership and Dialogue, and recently returned from the Middle East where he said he had his eyes opened to the Middle Eastern world.
"It made me realize Canada's need to educate ourselves much more about our country's role in other countries," said Roberts.
He hopes to use funds raised by the forum to help build the 51st playground in Kabul. The playground he wants to fund is about $8,000, and he's raised about $5,000 so far. The proceeds from the evening will go towards raising the remained amount.
Roberts said he thinks there's a lot of ways Canada can be involved in the ongoing reconstruction in Afghanistan, namely in the areas of education and health care.
Reynolds is the head of Playground Builders, a local NGO that builds playgrounds in war-torn areas such as Afghanistan, Iraq and the Palestinian territories. They work with local businesses and non-profit organizations and have already built 50 playgrounds.
Fuller, a Squamish resident, has lived, studied and published extensively in the Middle Eastern region. Originally from the U.S., he is a former member of the CIA, author and political analyst specializing in Islamic extremism.
The evening will include a dinner with Afghan food, a multimedia presentation and a panel discussion.
"We will do an Afghan dinner that we'll serve from 6 to 7 p.m. so people will have a chance to taste that type of food," Roberts said. "Then from 7:30 onwards we'll have this panel discussion about what Keith and Graham and myself feel Canada's non-military role in Afghanistan should be."
Afterwards, the floor will be opened to questions and comments.
"We'll keep it tight and the presentations from the three of us will be about five to seven minutes and then we'll open it up to group discussion," said Roberts.
Vancouver Coastal Health worker Susan Conley will also be attending, though not as a panel member.
Tickets for the evening are $50.
