BMO presents

The Walrus Talks Community Reborn

In partnership with Imagine Canada

How can we reinvent community in a time of increasing social isolation?

THIS WEEK: Thursday, October 8
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

For generations, people across Canada have come together to support each other through volunteering, donating, joining, and leading. So why do 51% of Canadians say they’re feeling lonely? As traditional social spaces begin to fade, the fundamental systems and supports that keep communities connected and resilient are facing a quiet yet critical inflection point.

At The Walrus Talks Community Reborn, leading thinkers and civic leaders will explore how nonprofits are the invisible glue holding our society together. From building civic participation to studying Indigenous community models, our speakers will reveal how we can save the services that improve and enrich our lives.

As a historic intergenerational transfer of wealth approaches and donor habits shift, join us live in Toronto or online for an important conversation about combating loneliness, bridging divides, and building a future where every Canadian feels they belong.

FEATURING

Sabreena Delhon, CEO, Samara Centre for Democracy

Peter Dinsdale, President and CEO, YMCA Canada

Scott Evans, Interim CEO, Edelman Canada

Shelly Kaushik, Senior Economist, BMO Capital Markets

Ryan Lo, Co-executive Director, Urban Minds — The Youth Engagement People

Bruce MacDonald, President and CEO, Imagine Canada

Sarah Midanik, President and CEO, Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund

The Walrus and DXC+ present

Democracy Live

Stories Shaping Change: In a country of many stories, how do we build the civic muscle to stay united?

Monday, November 9 - Daytime Conference
Sessions from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST

In person in Winnipeg and livestreamed event

Democracy is a verb, not a noun. Its health relies on civic fitness: our ability to navigate conflict, listen deeply, and act together. Like physical fitness, it isn't built in a single election, but through repeated practice.

Hosted by The Walrus and DXC+ by DemocracyXChange, Democracy Live is an inaugural, one-day gathering to celebrate civic participation and build civic fitness. The summit brings together residents, artists, organizers, and community leaders to address one central question:

In a country of many stories, how do we strengthen democratic participation and unity through action in Manitoba and across Canada?

Grounded in local realities, the summit connects Winnipeg and Manitoba to the national democratic conversation. Through inspiring speakers and participatory workshops, we will tackle timely topics such as economic sovereignty, diversity, housing security, and more, with a focus on how we can work together to drive democratic action.

Join us in Winnipeg or online this November to share your story, build civic fitness, and help shape the future of our democracy.

Part of the 2026 McGill Max Bell Lectures

The Walrus Talks at Home: Canada After America

A strategy for prosperity in a changed world

Thursday, November 12
5 p.m. PT | 5 p.m. MST | 6 p.m. CST | 7 p.m. EST | 8 p.m. AST | 8:30 p.m. NST

Virtual event

For generations, Canada built its prosperity on economic integration with the United States, only to find itself hostage to its nearest neighbour.

Join us for the second of three 2026 McGill Max Bell Lectures with authors Ricardo Hausmann and Eric Protzer. They’ll argue that instead of retreating from globalization, Canada should take its place as a real competitor on the world stage, not only by bringing its natural resources to global markets, but also by building up industries like aerospace and the life sciences to overcome the “tyranny of distance”.

The rupture with the U.S. is a serious crisis—but also a historic opportunity to build a more innovative, resilient, and globally respected Canada.

FEATURING

Dr. Ricardo Hausmann, Director, Harvard’s Growth Lab; Rafik Hariri Professor of the Practice of International Political Economy, Harvard Kennedy School

Eric Protzer, Senior Research Fellow, Harvard’s Growth Lab

Hosted and moderated by Carmine Starnino, Editor-in-Chief, The Walrus

Upcoming Events

WATCH: The Walrus Talks The Billionaire Problem

The super rich are getting richer—and their influence is growing. What does that mean for the rest of us? Watch The Walrus Talks The Billionaire Problem for perspectives on concentrated wealth, political power, affordability, and the future of Canada.