HBC, which was hit hard by COVID-19 lockdowns, is a company in transition. “We’re not a department store chain,” Richard Baker, HBC’s current governor and chairman, said in a 2020 interview with the Globe and Mail. “We’re a holding company that owns many billions of dollars of real estate.” Millions of Canadians grew up with the Hudson’s Bay Company as a place to buy towels and clothes, but land has always been at the heart of HBC. Canada’s oldest company began as a land deal (at least from the European perspective) during an outbreak of the bubonic plague and may end as a real estate deal in another plague.
Save the date for the party you don’t want to miss!
The Walrus Gala 2023: Celebrating 20 years of Canada’s conversation, and countless more to go. Join us to celebrate two decades of independent, fact-based journalism at The Walrus.
Wednesday, May 3, 2023, Ricarda’s Atrium, 134 Peter Street, Toronto
6.30pm - midnight
For more information on tickets and sponsorships please email laura@thewalrus.ca
Oxfam’s annual report on the state of global wealth disparity is turning its eyes to the why and how of who is winning and who is losing in today’s economy. Why is it that the wealthy continue to amass disproportionate amounts of wealth while many others plunge toward, or deeper into, poverty? When a majority of people see no way out, who profits off ensuring their continued pain?
On January 17, 2023, join us online at The Walrus Talks at Home: Inequality to learn about the many variables answering these questions and to understand what an equal economic future looks like for the planet and all its people.
Featuring five-minute talks and Q&A with:
Lynne Groulx, Chief Executive Officer, Native Women’s Association of Canada
Alexandra Haas, Executive Director, Oxfam Mexico
Sohaib Shahid, Director, Conference Board of Canada
Joel Solomon, Author and Co-founding Partner, Renewal Funds
THE WALRUS THANKS ALL OUR ADVERTISERS. BECOME ONE.
New Year, New Stories
Hello and Happy 2023! As we start this new year, we need you now more than ever. In these uncertain times, it is crucial that reliable media remains available to everyone. That is why we depend on your support to keep our journalism accessible and independent. From the economy to political polarization, the challenges our society is facing this year are too important for half truths.
At The Walrus, the future of journalism is funded by engaged citizens like you. Together, we can preserve the integrity of Canadian media and ensure that our democracy thrives. Will you join us?
This week’s newsletter was produced by CIBC fellow Yasmin Duale and copy-edited by Siddhesh Inamdar. Send us an email at letters@thewalrus.ca and your letter may be included in a future issue of The Walrus.
