Overcoming the pandemic: ideas and dialogue

Podcasts, webinars and summaries of Pearson Institute ideas and dialogue on the COVID-19 pandemic

Youth Climate Action in the Post-COVID Era

The COVID-19 pandemic has plummeted societies around the world into crisis, not only due to the public health aspect of the crisis, but the economic fallout that followed. In this webinar, the Pearson Centre explores how similar the fallout of the climate crisis could look to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, what lessons we can learn, and how to move forward on climate action.

Additionally, we will explore how these issues interrelate with the concerns of young people involved in the fight against climate change in Canada and around the world.

Guests:

Will Amos – MP for Pontiac; Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry (Science)
Meredith Adler – Executive Director, Student Energy
Stella Markovska – Youth Organizer, Sustainabiliteens
Micaela Tam – Co-President, University of Toronto Environmental Action; Development Research Analyst, NetHope

In conversation with… Ashwin Nair – Social Policy Researcher, The Pearson Centre

COVID 19, the Economy and Immigration with the Hon Marco Mendicino

Since 2015, Prime Minister Trudeau and the Liberal government have regularly and widely championed immigration to Canada and the welcoming of refugees. Now, as we begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we must examine how this tumultuous period has shown areas of weakness in immigration. We must also consider how immigration has been affected during the pandemic and how this has affected Canada economically, socially, and otherwise. Join the Pearson Centre and federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the Hon. Marco Mendicino, as we discuss the role of immigration in re-building the Canadian economy.

Guests:

Hon. Marco Mendicino – Federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Indira Naidoo-Harris – Former Ontario Education Minister; University of Guelph AVP Diversity and Human Rights
Denise Amyot – President and CEO, Colleges and Institutes Canada
Ameerally Kassim-Lakha – Real Estate Developer; Entrepreneur; President, Ismaili Council for Canada

In conversation with:
Andrew Cardozo – President, The Pearson Centre

Digital Engagement in the Post-COVID Era

COVID-19 has allowed for so many in our society to recognize the abilities of digital technology and what it means to gather in our society. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person meetings, roundtable, rallies and even protests have all been taken online. As we move beyond this pandemic, what is there that we can learn from these changes in approach? Has this been a turning point in our digital society? And how can we best engage on these platforms so we can share ideas, build consensus and advance movements? Join us for a discussion on the digital world as we explore what there is beyond Zoom and what it means for our post-COVID future.

Guests:

Mark Blevis – Director, Public Affairs and Marketing, Commissionaires Canada; Digital Public Affairs Strategist
Steven Staples – President of Public Response; Community Engagement Trainer

In conversation with:
Andrew Cardozo – President, The Pearson Centre

COVID 19 on the World Stage

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused global repercussions and has tested governments in a way unseen in a generation. Many governments have differed in their approaches, and so to have their results. As countries move into new stages of pandemic precaution, we invite you to join us for an opportunity to learn how COVID-19 has affected other countries. Likewise, this discussion will allow us to discuss what the global community needs to do for all of us to move beyond this pandemic.

Guests include:

High Commissioner Sibongiseni Dlamini-Mntambo, South Africa
Ambassador Juan Jose Gómez Camacho, Mexico
Ambassador Souriya Otmani, Morocco
Dana-Leigh Anderson – Chargée d’Affaires a.i., Jamaican High Commission to Canada

In conversation with:
Prof. Jonathan Calof – Member, Pearson Centre Advisory Board; Professor of International Business & Strategy, Telfer School of Management, uOttawa

Racism in Canada: COVID and Beyond

COVID-19 has highlighted the presence of systemic racism in Canada. We have learned more about the high proportion of racialized people and new immigrants who work in the health care and seniors care system who are precarious workers, and on the front lines of Covid. We have seen Asian-Canadians subjected to racial abuse and violence, and we have seen more about anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism, systemic and overt, pervading many aspects of our society. We have become more aware of the vulnerability to Covid of communities such as Indigenous people, on and off reserve. Rather than hide from our problems, this is the time to lay them bare and address them. This panel will bring together various perspectives to the discussion and the webinar will highlight some of the problems we face and focus on solutions.

The Panellists include:

Prof. Wesley Crichlow, Chair, President’s Equity Taskforce, Ontario Tech University
Rose LeMay, CEO, Indigenous Reconciliation Group
Greg Fergus, MP for Hull-Aylmer
Hon. Wanda Thomas Bernard, Senator for Nova Scotia
Avvy Go, Director, Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic (CSALC)
Sharleen Stewart, President, SEIU Healthcare