Who we are
The Bastion Institute / Institut Bastion is a Canada–U.S. policy institute focused on Arctic security and safety and on the wider security of North America. The Institute was established in 2026 and is based in Ottawa, with a focus on policy in Ottawa and Washington, D.C.
Our mission
Our mission is to advance North American security by helping decision-makers in Canada and the United States protect people, communities, critical infrastructure and sovereignty, beginning in the Arctic and the North.
What we do
- Research and analysis on Arctic security and safety, continental defence, critical infrastructure, emergency management, homeland security, technology governance and supply-chain resilience.
- Convening: we plan to bring together practitioners, researchers and officials from both countries for briefings and roundtables.
- Practical options written for the people who plan, fund and deliver security and public-safety programs.
Our approach
Many security and safety problems sit in the gaps between disciplines, organizations and levels of government. We aim to be measured and evidence-based: clear about what is known, careful about what is not, and focused on options that can be put into practice.
Our name and seal
A bastion is the strong point of a fortification. The Institute’s seal reads “The Official Seal of the Bastion Institute, Est. 2026,” and our motto, Ad Praesidium et Unitatem, means “for protection and unity.” Our emblem pairs the flags of the United States and Canada as the two wings of a single eagle.
Our founder
Founder
Srinivasan “Sri” Manivannan
Sri Manivannan is a social entrepreneur based in Ottawa who founded the Bastion Institute in 2026. He brings experience across Canada, the United States, Germany and India in technology, consulting, hospitality and public service.
The Bastion Institute is not a government agency and does not represent any government.