Bob Mackin
Drones are a major concern for FIFA World Cup 26 organizers in Vancouver and Toronto.
A Feb. 4 presentation to federal assistant deputy ministers — obtained by theBreaker.news via access to information — said there were “six national scope areas of tactical planning” for senior officials of the Vancouver and Toronto police departments and city halls, their respective provincial governments and the Government of Canada.
- Airspace security
- Counter-uncrewed aircraft systems (C-UAS)
- Consequence management
- Intelligence and threat assessment
- Accreditation and credentials
- Fraudulent ticket sales mitigation
C-UAS
Sign near the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre seaplane terminal. (Mackin)
An August 2020 article in IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine defined C-UAS as a “system or device capable of lawfully and safely disabling, disrupting, or seizing control of an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system.” That could include jamming signals or physically capturing a drone.
A Department of National Defence website said risks and threats of drones include surveillance, interference with airplanes and helicopters and attacks. “Drones can carry explosives or chemical/biological agents, presenting a direct threat to safety.”
The venue for the 76th FIFA Congress on April 30 is the Vancouver Convention Centre, which is attached to the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre seaplane terminal.
Canadian soccer fans will remember that a drone spying scandal during the Paris 2024 Olympics ruined the national women’s team’s gold medal defence.
In the document, most of the risks and issues were censored, except for the top one: “Although Canada is not delivering the event itself, the visibility of the FIFA World Cup has the potential to impact Canada’s reputation, either positively or negatively.”
Eleven of the 16 host cities for the June 11-July 19 tournament are in the U.S., including the final in New Jersey. Three Mexican cities are also involved.
Who was there
The meeting involved senior officials from Public Safety Canada, RCMP, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, Global Affairs Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, Canadian Heritage, Health Canada, Women and Gender Equity Canada and Transport Canada.
A meeting summary said CBSA deemed it “too early to predict migration patterns for 2026.”
The “focus is on managing volume at the borders (with no incremental funding to do so).”
A Health Canada representative asked about FIFA plans for onsite pop-up clinics and to bring in medical products from outside Canada.
Women and Gender Equity Canada “asked about the status of the planning on elements of protests related to LBGTQ (sic) rights during FIFA 2026.”
What to watch
Will the federal budget on Nov. 4 contain any money for federal safety and security for Vancouver and Toronto, beyond the $220 million pledged in 2024?
Olympic spokesperson makes comeback for World Cup
The wife of Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympics CEO John Furlong has scored a no-bid contract from Vancouver city hall’s FIFA secretariat.
Renee Smith-Valade was named senior strategic communications advisor, partner relations, in an Oct. 22 notice posted on the city hall procurement website. The notice of intent is subject to a challenge period closing Nov. 5.
Smith-Valade will be paid $105,000 plus expenses for “approximately five months” with an option for the city to renew for another $105,000 over five months.
Smith-Valade will report to Jessie Adcock, the host committee lead.
The job duties include a marketing and communications plan “to increase public awareness and engagement,” and to be a “strategic conduit” between the host city committee and B.C. government.
Smith-Valade was most-recently the senior advisor to Vancouver-Whistler 2025 Invictus Games CEO Scott Moore, but is best-known locally as the vice-president of communications for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee.
In July, Furlong told CTV News Vancouver that World Cup organizers in Vancouver need to “double down” because they were running out of time to connect with the public.
“I went to see the mayor [Ken Sim] and I encouraged him and told him that I see this as a massive opportunity for the city, but one that is going to take everything we have to give,” Furlong said.
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