about NATO and Canada’s role in NATO,”
said Julie Lindhout, NAOC’s president. A
long-time high school teacher and having
held various senior-level positions at the
Ontario Ministry of Education, Lindhout
joined NAOC in 1992 as vice-president of
education. Ten years later, she assumed
her present role and in this capacity, she re-
cently visited Montenegro. Despite being
a small country, Montenegro has actively
contributed to NATO initiatives, such as its
participation in the Partnership for Peace
program, and Lindhout sees the many ad-
vantages of a NATO membership, includ-
ing a boost for the Montenegrin tourism
industry.
“I think it makes the country feel connect-
ed and part of the modern world. Certainly
anybody I spoke to while I was in Monte-
negro said those kinds of things,” Lindhout
said.What she noticed during her visit was
that a significant number of the population
showed a lack of interest and this interest
was reflective of geography — coastal and
urban inhabitants were generally in favour
while the interior, which is composed of
many isolated villages, showed disinter-
est.
“I think a lot of countries see a NATO
membership as a step up to EU member-
ship, which of course is also an advantage
to Montenegro,” Lindhout said. Being situ-
ated in the Eurozone, the country has al-
ready started reaping the benefits.
NAOC interns posing for a photo with President Julie Lindhout, Chair Hugh Segal and the Hon. Bill Graham.
SEPTEMBER 2016
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