Join The Walrus, in person or online, for a new season of thoughtful and engaging talks

Addictions and Mental Health Ontario presents

The Walrus Talks Opioids

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

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

Kevin Brosseau, Commissioner of Canada’s Fight Against Fentanyl, Privy Council Office

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

Wildfires are no longer a once-a-year emergency in Canada. In 2025, fires burned more than 8.3 million hectares across multiple provinces (roughly the size of New Brunswick), making it the second-worst wildfire season in the country. Some experts warn this could become the new normal.

At The Walrus Talks Wildfires, expert voices from the health, climate, policy, and technology 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. 

WATCH: The Walrus Talks Philanthropy in a Changing Canada

What is the unique role of philanthropic foundations in the Canadian support system? How does philanthropy change based on the communities it supports? How can the philanthropic sector work with government and the private sector to institute long-term change? The Walrus Talks Philanthropy in a Changing Canada brought together seven speakers in Vancouver to discuss how philanthropy and charities are evolving to meet the needs of the communities they serve.