Purple Compass was invited to participate in this symposium that supports Canada’s Arctic priorities in the national defense policy Strong, Secure, Engaged. Arctic states have long cooperated on economic, environmental, and safety issues through the Arctic Council. The Arctic region represents an important international crossroads where issues of climate change, international trade, and global security meet. This symposium provided an opportunity for robust discussion about the history, current drivers, assumptions and possible futures of the changing and complex Arctic security environment.