Canada faces complex challenges, including the ongoing drug toxicity crisis, the growing threat of wildfires, and a deepening sense of disconnection in public life.

This spring, The Walrus Talks will bring together leading experts, frontline voices, and community leaders to explore new ideas and possible solutions for these pressing issues.

Addictions and Mental Health Ontario presents

The Walrus Talks Opioids

Exploring how policy, care, and community can transform lives amidst a drug toxicity crisis

NEXT WEEK: Tuesday, March 24
4 p.m. PDT | 5 p.m. MDT | 5 p.m. CST | 6 p.m. CDT | 7 p.m. EDT | 8 p.m. ADT | 8:30 p.m. NDT

In person in Toronto and livestreamed event

It’s been nearly a decade since the Ontario government released its official opioid strategy, but recent findings from the Office of the Auditor General and the Office of the Chief Coroner show the crisis continues to deepen as municipalities, including Kingston, Hamilton, Barrie, and the Niagara region, declare states of emergency.

At The Walrus Talks Opioids, medical experts, frontline workers, policymakers, and individuals with lived experience with opioid use disorder will share evidence-based strategies for tackling the crisis, highlight proven policy solutions, and outline what we can do to end the crisis.

With a specific focus on Ontario, on a topic that’s relevant across the country, The Walrus Talks Opioids offers attendees the chance to learn and interact with leading experts in the field who are engaging with the crisis with compassion and respect for human dignity.

FEATURING

Dr. Jennifer Brasch, Lead, Addiction Psychiatry, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

Chris Cull, Founder, Inspire by Example; Filmmaker; Healthcare Worker; Mental Health and Addictions Motivational Speaker

Rennie Linklater, PhD, Senior Director, Shkaabe Makwa, CAMH

Marianne Meed Ward, Mayor, City of Burlington; Chair, Ontario's Big City Mayors

Scott Menzies, Founder, Hard Hats Support; CEO, The Coating Inspector

Suzanne Obiorah, Chief Executive Officer, Somerset West Community Health Centre

And more

Max Bell Foundation presents

The Walrus Talks Wildfires

Facing up to a future with more fire

Wednesday, April 1
6 p.m. PDT | 7 p.m. MDT | 7 p.m. CST | 8 p.m. CDT | 9 p.m. EDT | 10 p.m. ADT | 10:30 p.m. NDT

In person in Saskatoon and livestreamed event

At The Walrus Talks Wildfires, expert voices from the health, climate, policy, and emergency management sectors come together to explore the impact of the wildfire crisis. Speakers will break down how fires affect public health outcomes, air quality, and the economy, as well as the challenges of rebuilding communities after catastrophic loss and why Indigenous nations are disproportionately affected. With smoke and other side-effects now crossing provincial and national borders, Canadians are asking not whether this will continue, but how we respond.

Live in Saskatoon and streamed online, this event is an opportunity to hear from leading experts, engage with the latest research and perspectives, and explore promising solutions that can shape Canada’s response. 

FEATURING

Yolanda Clatworthy, Director, Mitigating Wildfire, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Simon Fraser University

Dr. Robert Henry, Associate Professor, Department of Indigenous Studies, University of Saskatchewan; Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Justice and Wellbeing

Dr. Courtney Howard, Emergency Physician; Founder, POWER—Planetary Health Organizations for Wellbeing, Equity, and Regeneration; Chair, Global Climate and Health Alliance

Dr. Eric Lamb, Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan

Chief Ken McMullen, President, Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs

Lee-Ann Ross, Senior Director, Claims Operations, SGI CANADA

And more

Belonging Forum presents

The Walrus Talks Power and Belonging

Exploring agency, purpose, and belonging in action

Thursday, April 9
4 p.m. PDT | 5 p.m. MDT | 5 p.m. CST | 6 p.m. CDT | 7 p.m. EDT | 8 p.m. ADT | 8:30 p.m. NDT

In person in Toronto and livestreamed event

Every year, new studies show continual erosion in the public trust in institutions and society in Canada. Democracy feels fragile, and many people feel shut out of the systems that shape their lives. Now more than ever, it’s important to question and understand the intersection of power and belonging.

At The Walrus Talks Power and Belonging, speakers from civic life, research institutions, culture work, and community organizing will explore how agency and voice define whether people feel they belong. How can dignity, trust, and participation be rebuilt when polarization is driving us apart? How can communities and individuals reclaim the power to make a difference?

From democracy and civic participation to education, economic systems, and cultural identity, join us live in Toronto or online for fast-paced talks exploring the power to participate, be heard, and connect with others around shared purpose.

FEATURING

Dr. Caroline Shenaz Hossein, Canada Research Chair of Feminist Political Economy, Founder of the Diverse Solidarity Economies Collective

Amanda Munday, Executive Director, New Majority

Riley Yesno, Scholar, Writer, and Indigenous Politics Expert, University of Toronto/The Yellowhead Institute

Maiwand Rahyab, Founder and CEO, Resilient Societies

And more

WATCH: The Walrus Talks Innovation Nation

The Walrus Talks Innovation Nation celebrated the transformative research emerging from Canadian universities that’s already shaping how we live, work, and thrive. From life-saving medical breakthroughs to bold climate solutions and cutting-edge artificial intelligence, university-led research is transforming visionary ideas into tangible solutions that are fueling our economy, improving our well-being, and elevating Canada’s global leadership.