The Conversation Piece

Some doctors consider nature time to be “the fourth pillar of health.” It can have a positive effect on mood, physical ability, and even mental wellness. Dr. Melissa Lem is the director of PaRx (Parks Prescriptions), an initiative of the BC Parks Foundation, and a family physician. She spoke at The Walrus Talks Nature on March 19, 2024.   This episode of The Conversation Piece features conten...

How we interact with nature changes over time. Canada has a long and rocky history with pipelines. The opposition has taken different forms. Understanding the nuances can tell us a lot about environmental concerns over long periods of time. Sean Kheraj is Associate Professor in the Department of History, Vice-Provost, Academic, at Toronto Metropolitan University. Sean spoke at The Walrus Talks Nat...

There is a diversity in trails and their uses. They are a meeting place for communities. They promote an appreciation for the environment. They promote physical and mental health while also serving as a catalyst for ecological health, community renewal, and economic vitality. Marlaine Koehler is the Executive Director of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust. Marlaine spoke at The Walrus Talks Nature...

Four million people living in Canada are food insecure. Nick Saul—food and social justice activist and president and CEO of Community Food Centres Canada—explores the importance of pushing for systemic change through political engagement and grassroots initiatives on the journey to improving food security. Nick Saul spoke at The Walrus Talks Living Better in Toronto, Ontario, on October 29, 2019....

A commitment to innovation is important in every field, but perhaps none more so than health care. Jessica Ching—co-founder and CEO of Eve Medical—highlights the importance of advocating for patient involvement and cultural shifts in the advancement of health care technologies. Jessica Ching spoke at The Walrus Talks Health in Ottawa, Ontario, on November 28, 2017.  To register for upcoming e...

There is a gap between our anti-violence values and our competence and confidence to play an anti-violence role in real life, but Paulette Senior is determined to close it. Paulette is the CEO and President of the Canadian Women’s Foundation. She explains how confronting biases around gender-based violence is critical for supporting survivors and outlines what tools are available to those in crisi...

Many 2SLGBTQI+ people face abuse and harassment, often at a young age, but JP Kane and Kaleb Robertson imagine a safer, less prejudiced world for all. JP Kane (Fay Slift) and Kaleb Robertson (Fluffy Soufflé) are storytellers and the stars of The Fabulous Show with Fay and Fluffy . They explore the violence faced by the 2SLGBTQI+ community and highlight the importance of building safe spaces that e...

Despite making up only 4% of the female population in Canada, Indigenous women are murdered or missing at much higher rates than any other population. Angela Sterritt is the national bestselling Author of Unbroken. She examines how stereotypes dehumanize Indigenous people and how changing the narrative empowers change. Angela spoke at The Walrus Talks Gender-Based Violence on November 16, 2023. To...

There has been a marked increase in the abuse and harassment of journalists, especially journalists who are women of colour. Shree Paradkar is a Columnist and Internal Ombud at the Toronto Star . She examines the myriad impacts of this abuse, not only on journalists, but on the media landscape and society at large. Shree spoke at The Walrus Talks Gender-Based Violence on November 16, 2023. To regi...

There is a gap in our emergency planning when it comes to intimate partner violence. Anuradha Dugal wants to change that. Anuradha is the Vice President of Community Initiatives at the Canadian Women’s Foundation. She examines the consequences of not shockproofing our emergency planning against intimate partner violence. Anuradha spoke at The Walrus Talks Gender-Based Violence on November 16, 2023...

Patriarchal structures are bad for women and gender-diverse people, but are they also damaging to men? Jake Stika is the Executive Director and Co-founder of Next Gen Men. He examines the negative consequences of a patriarchal society on men and explores how men who feel less pain will do less harm. Jake spoke at The Walrus Talks Gender-Based Violence in Toronto on November 16, 2023. To register f...

Canadian criminal law is changing in response to intimate partner violence, but is it changing for the better? Pamela Cross is the Advocacy Director at Luke’s Place. She examines the consequences of criminalizing intimate partner violence and emphasizes the importance of policy that prioritizes victims rather than their abusers. Pamela spoke at The Walrus Talks Gender-Based Violence in Toronto on...

What is intelligence? Does it require ethical research, group think, or just a well-programmed code? Today, intelligence has an added layer of data and computing power, and AI, a still-emerging technology, poses both opportunities and risks. Toronto Star tech journalist, Navneet Alang, talks about AI’s narrative of progress, its limits, and the need for humans—not just technology—to change. Navnee...

Gentrification has reframed the way we think about ghettos. They’re no longer just in inner cities. As real estate booms, entire communities are being pushed out of city cores and into the margins, says Kamal Al-Solaylee, director and professor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Journalism, Writing, and Media. Kamal Al-Solaylee spoke at The Walrus Talks Cities of Migration in Surrey...

Oil and gas extraction in Canada has been disruptive for Indigenous communities historically. Sharleen Gale, Chief of the Fort Nelson First Nation and Chair of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, highlights the cultural importance and economic impact of Indigenous-led energy initiatives. Chief Sharleen Gale spoke at The Walrus Talks Economic Reconciliation in Ottawa on March 28, 2023. To r...

Max Brault, Vice President of People & Change at BDO Canada, describes the five Olympic rings when living with disabilities: housing, transportation, services, community, and employment. Max Brault spoke at The Walrus Talks Advancing Work in Toronto, Ontario, on November, 2022. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus...

Systemic problems require systemic solutions. Sharon Nyangweso, QuakeLab Inc. founder and CEO, explains why the capacity to build, design, and implement with equity and justice is one of the most critical skills required in the job market today. Sharon Nyangweso spoke at The Walrus Talks It's Happening Now in Ottawa, Ontario, on May 11, 2023. To register for upcoming events happening online or in...

Cheyenne Sundance, a farmer and the founder of Sundance Harvest, shares her journey of self-taught urban farming and its potential to connect city youth with careers in rural agriculture. She also takes a look at the ongoing challenges Canadian farmers are facing. Cheyenne Sundance spoke at The Walrus Talks A New City in Toronto, Ontario, on April 26, 2023. To register for upcoming events happenin...

Tabitha Bull, President and CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Businesses, emphasizes the indispensable role vibrant Indigenous economies play in the quest for true reconciliation. Tabitha Bull spoke at The Walrus Talks Economic Reconciliation in Ottawa, Ontario, on March 28, 2023. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The...

The eldest daughter in an immigrant household, Cadar Mohamud, the founder and CEO of The Digital Sisterhood, shares how she discovered her sense of belonging when she was struggling with her Blackness, Muslim identity, and womanhood. Cadar Mohamud spoke at The Walrus Talks at Home: Digital Citizenship, on October 26, 2022. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and...

Lynne Groulx, CEO of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, emphasizes the pressing requirement for economic reconciliation in order to effectively tackle violence against Indigenous women. She highlights the NWAC’s meaningful initiatives and calls for transformative change. Lynne Groulx spoke at The Walrus Talks at Home: Inequality, on January 27, 2022. To register for upcoming events happenin...

What does a future look like where trans people live long enough to become elders, where Black liberation is assured, where there is landback and Indigenous resurgence, and where people with disabilities have everything they need in order to thrive in society? Dr. Syrus Marcus Ware shares what it means to work toward a future that is bigger than we dreamed. Dr. Syrus Marcus Ware spoke at The Walru...

For young Black professionals, the employment line remains a long and bumpy road—to get only half as far. Agapi Gessesse, Executive Director of the Centre for Young Black Professionals, breaks down how she is ensuring success for young Black Canadians—today and beyond. Agapi Gessesse spoke at The Walrus Talks Advancing Work in Toronto, Ontario, on November 29, 2022. To register for upcoming events...

When women—especially teenage girls—are depicted under the male gaze in art and media, their agency is minimized, and their creativity and passion nearly always go unnoticed. For International Women’s Day, we’re featuring a 2017 talk by Heather O’Neil, which she gave at The Walrus Talks Belonging. Heather O’Neill spoke at The Walrus Talks Belonging, in London, Ontario, on October 17, 2017. To regi...

Stephen Trumper passed away on January 4, 2023, and left behind a legacy of disability advocacy that will never be forgotten. He had been an instructor at Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism since 1995. Trumper was also an editor at Toronto Life , Harrowsmith , and Financial Post Magazine , a vice-president of the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors, a board member of the Natio...