The Conversation Piece

As the 2026 Winter Olympics continue and the Paralympics approach, a familiar narrative emerges, one of triumph through determination. But resilience isn’t forged by determination alone—it is shaped and sustained by the people around us. Three-time Paralympic gold medalist Jeff Adams reflects on a wheelchair racing event where a chorus of support gave him the strength he needed to persevere through adversity, reminding us that none of us get to our finish lines alone. Adams spoke at The Walrus Talks at Home: Resilience on May 16, 2021. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements, at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re often told that improving our digital skills will help keep us safe online. Yet managing the risks we face has less to do with our own know-how than with the way technology is designed. Philosopher and public policy analyst Dr. Daniel Munro stresses the importance of reexamining digital infrastructures and challenging tech makers to create a safer, fairer digital world by confronting harmful content and algorithmic bias. Dr. Munro spoke at The Walrus Talks Digital Skills in Toronto on June 6, 2023. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements, at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Food insecurity among Inuit in Canada has been called one of the longest-lasting public health emergencies in Canadian history. It’s a crisis rooted in colonial policy—and one that continues to shape who has access to food, income, and self-determination in Nunavut. Rachel Blais—former executive director of Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre—explains why the right to culturally appropriate and sustainably harvested food is critical to achieving true and lasting food security in the North. Blais spoke at The Walrus Talks Global Hunger Crisis in Ottawa on October 18, 2022. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements, at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canada is racing to build the infrastructure that will shape its economic and political future. But moving faster means little unless the systems guiding that development are strong enough to be trusted. Independent lawyer and consultant Jesse McCormick argues that making any meaningful progress with Canada’s major projects will require building trust with First Nations by prioritizing their consent and establishing regulatory systems that put First Nations behind the wheel. McCormick spoke at The Walrus Talks Sovereign Canada in Toronto on October 28, 2025. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements, at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The adoption of DEI, or diversity, equity, and inclusion, is often framed as progress, but for some, it functions as nothing more than corporate strategy. For journalist Pacinthe Mattar, nowhere are the limits—and failures—of DEI more stark than in relation to Palestine. She shares how the “Palestine exception” plays out in newsrooms, schools, and other areas of public life, and underscores the importance of confronting the anti-Palestinian racism DEI has failed to name. Mattar spoke at The Walrus Talks at Home: DEI on June 17, 2025. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements, at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens to poetry—and art at large—in a world shaped by algorithms? Poet Bardia Sinaee considers what it means to live in a time dominated by data and celebrates poetry’s ability to offer meaning where machines cannot. Sinaee spoke at The Walrus Talks Cultural Futures on April 30, 2024. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements, at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teachers play a significant role in the lives of youth, shaping not just what they learn, but who they become. Yet, across Canada, schools are facing unprecedented teacher turnover due to demanding workloads, complex student needs, and the lingering effects of COVID-19. Dr. Jan Hare, Dean of Education at the University of British Columbia, highlights the critical work teachers do, the pressures they face, and what it will take to ensure the sustainability of the profession. Dr. Hare spoke at The Walrus Talks at Home: Public Education and Philanthropy on March 25, 2025. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements, at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You could be forgiven, listening to the news these days, for thinking the electrification economy is dead. And yet, over the next two years, 95 percent of the world’s electricity growth demand is going to be met by renewables. Rachel Doran, executive director of Clean Energy Canada, examines shifting the energy landscape and identifies four obstacles Canada must confront in order to seize the promise of the clean energy transition. Doran spoke at The Walrus Talks Power Economy in Toronto on May 29, 2025. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements, at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Community isn’t just built through service. It’s sustained through shared purpose, trust, and care. Cyndi Gilbert is a board member and logistics coordinator at The Bike Brigade. This special episode of The Conversation Piece features content from her presentation at The Walrus Talks: Reimagining Volunteerism, supported by The Belonging Forum, an initiative of the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness. Gilbert spoke at The Walrus Talks: Reimagining Volunteerism on April 15, 2025. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well-being can no longer be an afterthought for volunteers and non-profit workers. Vinod Rajasekaran is the CEO and editor-in-chief of Future of Good. This special episode of The Conversation Piece features content from his presentation at The Walrus Talks: Reimagining Volunteerism, supported by The Belonging Forum, an initiative of the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness. Rajasekaran spoke at The Walrus Talks: Reimagining Volunteerism on April 15, 2025. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Embracing creative, reciprocal, and culturally-rooted community-building models can help marginalized communities easily navigate the often complicated system of volunteerism. Kassandra James is the director of programs at Volunteer Toronto. This special episode of The Conversation Piece features content from her presentation at The Walrus Talks: Reimagining Volunteerism, supported by The Belonging Forum, an initiative of the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness. James spoke at The Walrus Talks: Reimagining Volunteerism on April 15, 2025. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can organizations that rely on the labour of volunteers make the experience of volunteering more meaningful? Suman Roy is the founder and CEO of the grassroots organization Feed Scarborough. This special episode of The Conversation Piece features content from his presentation at The Walrus Talks: Reimagining Volunteerism, supported by The Belonging Forum, an initiative of the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness. Roy spoke at The Walrus Talks: Reimagining Volunteerism on April 15, 2025. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Volunteer work is more than just a resume booster. It’s a source of identity, pride, and purpose. Darrell Pinto is the director of employment at Jumpstart Refugee Talent. This special episode of The Conversation Piece features content from his presentation at The Walrus Talks: Reimagining Volunteerism, supported by The Belonging Forum, an initiative of the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness. Pinto spoke at The Walrus Talks: Reimagining Volunteerism on April 15, 2025. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The science behind social connection is clear: volunteerism and face-to-face contact with our community members are essential for our well-being. Susan Pinker is a psychologist and author of the book The Village Effect. This special episode of The Conversation Piece features content from her presentation at The Walrus Talks: Reimagining Volunteerism, supported by The Belonging Forum, an initiative of the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness. Pinker spoke at The Walrus Talks: Reimagining Volunteerism on April 15, 2025. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canada’s volunteer sector is in crisis. How can the culture of volunteerism be restored? Sara Lyons is the chief strategy and advancement officer at Volunteer Canada. This special episode of The Conversation Piece features content from her presentation at The Walrus Talks: Reimagining Volunteerism, supported by The Belonging Forum, an initiative of the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness. Lyons spoke at The Walrus Talks: Reimagining Volunteerism on April 15, 2025. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding belonging isn’t just about building connections with people—it’s also about nurturing our relationships with the natural world. Chief Kluane Adamek is the Yukon regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations. This special episode of The Conversation Piece features content from her presentation at The Walrus Talks at Home: Indigenous Perspectives on Belonging, supported by The Belonging Forum, an initiative of the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness. Chief Adamek spoke at The Walrus Talks at Home: Indigenous Perspectives on Belonging on November 25, 2024. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to belong in the workplace? Kelly Lendsay is the president and CEO of Indigenous Works and the chief executive transformation officer of Luminary. This special episode of The Conversation Piece features content from his presentation at The Walrus Talks at Home: Indigenous Perspectives on Belonging, supported by The Belonging Forum, an initiative of the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness. Lendsay spoke at The Walrus Talks at Home: Indigenous Perspectives on Belonging on November 25, 2024. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Colonial policies have long undermined traditional Indigenous education systems. How can communities come together to reclaim this knowledge? Dr. Becky Cook is the lands monitoring manager of Misipawistik Cree Nation. This special episode of The Conversation Piece features content from her presentation at The Walrus Talks at Home: Indigenous Perspectives on Belonging, supported by The Belonging Forum, an initiative of the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness. Dr. Cook spoke at The Walrus Talks at Home: Indigenous Perspectives on Belonging on November 25, 2024. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meaningful representation in creative spaces can help facilitate a strong sense of belonging and community. Camryn Dewar is a Métis opera and classical singer. This special episode of The Conversation Piece features content from her presentation at The Walrus Talks at Home: Indigenous Perspectives on Belonging, supported by The Belonging Forum, an initiative of the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness. Dewar spoke at The Walrus Talks at Home: Indigenous Perspectives on Belonging on November 25, 2024. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How might personalized, culturally-specific interventions shape more effective responses to social isolation? Kahir Lalji is the provincial director of government relations and community engagement at United Way British Columbia. This special episode of The Conversation Piece features content from his presentation at The Walrus Talks at Home: Rx Belonging, supported by The Belonging Forum, an initiative of the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness. Lalji spoke at The Walrus Talks at Home: Rx Belonging on September 25, 2024. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.