Ernie Regehr is one of Canada's most distinguished and respected voices on international development and peace. He is known for his sound judgment, balanced opinions and extraordinary integrity. Canadian and foreign governments, as well as the United Nations, regularly call on him as a disarmament expert. He is a tenacious and seasoned advocate of nuclear disarmament in particular, arms control in general, and sustainable approaches to human security and peace. As a leader and mentor in Canadian civil society, Mr. Regehr has played a key role with Canada's national churches through his long work with Project Ploughshares (as co-founder, director and emeritus), and has supported the peace and disarmament work of some 20 Ploughshares-affiliated community groups. He was also a citizen diplomat, contributing to public debate and dialogue: in this role, he was always recognized as an independent and highly respected voice by politicians, government leaders and ministry officials, even if it was not uncommon for him to defend an opposing viewpoint on an issue under discussion.

While the first years of his contribution took place during the sensitive Cold War period, when nuclear freeze proposals were considered marginal, he has been an active player and witness to the remarkable evolution of this perception. Today, nuclear-weapon states recognize the obligation to work towards the elimination of nuclear arsenals. Likewise, he has participated in the development of international norms on a wide range of interrelated issues, including outer space and global security, small arms and light weapons and an Arms Trade Treaty, as well as the concept of the responsibility to protect and interventions to protect vulnerable populations. It represents the best of Canada's international leadership in disarmament and peacebuilding.