The Walrus

On the left: a photo of a brunette woman smiling with her hands in the air while surrounded by people clapping. On the right: text that reads “Quebec’s governing party is running out of time to save itself. In the leadership race, Christine Fréchette leads Bernard Drainville as the CAQ faces political collapse.”

The Coalition Avenir Québec has governed Quebec for eight years. Now, trailing in the polls, it risks losing nearly all of its National Assembly members. In the race to replace leader François Legault, one question looms: Who can stop the bleeding? https://ow.ly/Fpbt50YpZoE

On the left: a photo of a man on a stage in front of an audience while wearing a Hudson’s Bay point coat. On the right: text that reads Is it offensive to wear the Hudson's Bay point coat? The vintage garment commands big prices. But it’s tied to an ugly history.”

“What we wear is a representation of who we are, but that can get muddled by the competing contexts that come embedded in the clothes that we put on,” writes Rollie Pemberton. “When I wear my Carhartt J165 jacket in Hamilton, is it industrial cosplay?” https://ow.ly/4AVs50YpWsQ

Max Bell Foundation presents The Walrus Talks #Wildfires will be live at Remai Modern, Saskatoon, and streamed online, on April 1. Don't miss the chance to be part of this important conversation. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-walrus-talks-wildfires-tickets-1982686099496?aff=Social

On the left: a black and white image of nuclear warheads pointing at a cloudy sky. On the right: text that reads “As trust in the US fades, Canada may become a nuclear player. Europe is debating a deterrent force less reliant on Washington. Should Ottawa take part?”

Canada once had nuclear weapons on its soil. As NATO’s future grows increasingly uncertain and Europe debates a new nuclear deterrent, they may return yet. Writer and University of Ottawa professor Peter Jones explores: https://thewalrus.ca/canada-may-become-a-nuclear-player/

On the left: an image of fighter jets flying over Canada's Parliament Hill building against an orange background. On the right: text that reads “Canada is already at war with the US—we just don’t know it yet. Conflicts don’t always start with an invasion.”

“Our national unity is paramount to our survival. We are at war with the US.”

In his latest story for The Walrus, former RCMP intelligence manager Patrick Lennox warns Canada must prepare for a radically different relationship with its closest ally. https://ow.ly/1eoQ50YpWl7

On the left: a photo of men in carts being pulled by horses. The image is awash in a dusty, warm-coloured lighting. On the right: text that reads “The most accurately predicted genocide in history. There was satellite imagery, survivor testimony, and mass graves. Still, the world looked away from Sudan”

“Reporting on the war in Sudan is logistically difficult, which is why the satellite images and testimonies from survivors have been so critical,” writes Michelle Shephard “Most Sudanese journalists have been killed, have fled, or are in hiding.” https://thewalrus.ca/sudan-genocide/

Careers & Fellowships | The Walrus Jobs, fellowships, and internships at the Walrus Foundation

⚡ Design bold, creative work that sparks national conversations: submit your application for The Walrus’s TD BIPOC Art & Design Fellowship by March 11, 2026. Find out more: https://thewalrus.ca/about/careers/

Join us at Max Bell Foundation presents The Walrus Talks #Wildfires for the opportunity to hear from leading experts on the research and solutions shaping Canada's response to the wildfire crisis. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-walrus-talks-wildfires-tickets-1982686099496?aff=Social

On the left: a photo of a man on a stage in front of an audience while wearing a Hudson’s Bay point coat. On the right: text that reads Is it offensive to wear the Hudson's Bay point coat? The vintage garment commands big prices. But it’s tied to an ugly history.”

“For some, it elicits instant nostalgia and national pride. For others, it’s an enduring symbol of colonialism.”

Recognizing its complicated legacy, writer and musician Rollie Pemberton has to wonder: Is it offensive to wear the Hudson’s Bay point coat? https://ow.ly/fWhq50YpoU3

On the left: a photo of a brunette woman smiling with her hands in the air while surrounded by people clapping. On the right: text that reads “Quebec’s governing party is running out of time to save itself. In the leadership race, Christine Fréchette leads Bernard Drainville as the CAQ faces political collapse.”

When a political party chooses its new leader, it also chooses its identity. Two paths emerge: defend the past or gamble on a different future? On April 12, the Coalition Avenir Québec will face that dilemma. Poll analyst Philippe J. Fournier explores: https://ow.ly/pEuH50Ypp3c

Don't miss Belonging Forum presents The Walrus Talks Power and Belonging for fast-paced talks exploring the power to participate, be heard, and connect with others around shared purpose. https://twtpowerandbelonging.eventbrite.ca/?aff=Social

Local journalist Trent Ernst was first on the scene at the Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, high school where one of Canada’s worst mass shootings occurred. The Walrus senior editor Carine Abouseif spoke with him about covering a tragedy close to home: https://ow.ly/FgQK50YoWKx

At Addictions and Mental Health Ontario presents The Walrus Talks Opioids, experts share strategies for tackling the #OpioidCrisis, policy solutions, and more. Join us online or in Toronto. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-walrus-talks-opioids-tickets-1982207037609?aff=Social

On the left: a photo of men in carts being pulled by horses. The image is awash in a dusty, warm-coloured lighting. On the right: text that reads “The most accurately predicted genocide in history. There was satellite imagery, survivor testimony, and mass graves. Still, the world looked away from Sudan”

With the sky warmed by the setting sun, the scene at the refugee camp Michelle Shephard visits in Adré, Chad appears almost bucolic. But just five kilometres away, the war in Sudan rages on, forcing thousands into life-threatening displacement. https://thewalrus.ca/sudan-genocide/

On the left: an illustration of an outline of a brain containing a green field and blue sky on a beige background. On the right: text that reads “Meet the researchers who can engineer your dreams. The tech is called ‘targeted dream incubation’—and it changes everything we know about sleep”

New technology is enabling scientists to target different sleep stages and shape dreams. From facilitating lucid dreaming to rewriting nightmares and consolidating memories, dream engineering is here—and it’s changing everything we know about sleep. https://thewalrus.ca/dream-engineering/

At Max Bell Foundation presents The Walrus Talks #Wildfires speakers break down how fires affect public health outcomes, air quality, and the economy. Join us online or in Saskatoon. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-walrus-talks-wildfires-tickets-1982686099496?aff=Social

On the left: an image of a police barricade interacting with a crowd of protesters. On the right: text that reads “How the Freedom Convoy broke the Emergencies Act. Courts ruled Ottawa overreached in handling the capital’s siege, leaving the legal tool in limbo”

The Emergencies Act is now nearing forty years old. Its future is uncertain, its past now problematic. For The Walrus contributing writer Wesley Wark, the legislation faces two fates: modernize it to meet the moment or lock it away, key out of sight. https://ow.ly/3wWC50YomeC

On the left: a photo of a car buried underneath a pile of rubble from a destroyed building in the dark. On the right: text that reads “Why regime change by force is unlikely to work in Iran. Canada’s former ambassador to Tehran on what Trump’s strikes change on the ground—and what they don’t.”

New from The Walrus: editor-in-chief Carmine Starnino speaks to Dennis Horak, Canada’s former chargé d’affaires in Iran, about why history, insecurity, and nuclear logic matter as the US and Israel escalate military action on the regime. https://ow.ly/Ovk150Yom2g

On the left: a photo of two apartment doors labelled "14" and "15" with green and purple colour filters splitting the image in half down the middle. On the right: text that reads “Cramped condos and the rise of unfriendly neighbours. We are building denser housing but no longer remember how to look out for each other.”

A 2012 survey from the nonprofit Vancouver Foundation discovered something perplexing: as the city densified in response to the housing crisis, residents felt less connected. Journalist Jessica Barrett investigates why—and what we can do about it: https://ow.ly/NeGy50YolVA

Why do people use drugs? Find out from Addiction Psychiatrist, Jennifer Brasch, at Addictions and Mental Health Ontario presents The Walrus Talks Opioids. Join us: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-walrus-talks-opioids-tickets-1982207037609?aff=Social

On the left: a photo of Canadian prime minister Mark Carney shaking hands with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. On the left: text that reads “In first major test of his Davos logic, Carney visits India to rebuild trust. Two middle powers seek common ground after a prolonged diplomatic rupture.”

“For Ottawa, India is both a massive opportunity and a reputational risk,” writes Sushant Singh While it offers growth and access to a large market, it also raises questions at home about human rights, minorities, and democratic backsliding. https://ow.ly/WkQj50Ynk79

From democracy and civic participation to education, economic systems, and cultural identity, join us at Belonging Forum presents The Walrus Talks Power and Belonging to participate, be heard, and connect with others around shared purpose. https://twtpowerandbelonging.eventbrite.ca/?aff=Social

On the left: an illustration of an outline of a brain containing a green field and blue sky on a beige background. On the right: text that reads “Meet the researchers who can engineer your dreams. The tech is called ‘targeted dream incubation’—and it changes everything we know about sleep”

Your brain is most creative in the first few minutes of sleep. Scientists are learning how to unlock its potential. Writer Karen van Kampen asks: Are you ready to engineer your dreams? https://thewalrus.ca/dream-engineering/

On the left: an image of a police barricade interacting with a crowd of protesters. On the right: text that reads “After the Freedom Convoy, what is the Emergencies Act actually for? Courts ruled Ottawa overreached in handling the capital’s siege, leaving the law in limbo.”

Canada’s Emergencies Act was built for war and global crisis. Courts curtailed its use at home, but threats of foreign intimidation, cyberattacks, and economic coercion now loom. National security expert Wesley Wark explores: https://ow.ly/oWE850Ynk8O

On the left: a photo of a construction vehicle scooping a pile of potash with a shadowed silhouette of President Donald Trump's face in profile on the left side of the image. On the right: text that reads “Trump is spoiling for a fight over Canadian potash.”

There are only a few potash deposits in the world—and they tend to be absolutely massive. The largest of them all is located in Saskatchewan, and with CUSMA talks looming, Canada’s pot of fertilizer gold may end up becoming a vulnerability for the US. https://ow.ly/vXBX50YnjWQ

On the left: a photo of Canadian prime minister Mark Carney shaking hands with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. On the left: text that reads “In first major test of his Davos logic, Carney visits India to rebuild trust. Two middle powers seek common ground after a prolonged diplomatic rupture.”

Trade between Canada and India stood at just over $30 billion in 2024, a minuscule figure for two major economies. As the rules-based order frays, they are now prioritizing relationship building with more urgency—but can urgency overcome suspicion? https://ow.ly/CbOk50Ynk4m

On the left: an image of a silhouette of a woman's face in profile against a sunset. On the right: text that reads “When my marriage of 16 Years ended, I had to find my way back to myself. Saying I instead of we felt like learning a new language.”

After sixteen years and three kids, author Mo Duffy's marriage dissolved. Navigating the wreckage and moving forward with compassion required the unlearning of what was once a shared language and the discovery of a new syntax of self. https://ow.ly/EXhT50YnjNS

At Belonging Forum presents The Walrus Talks Power and Belonging find out how dignity, trust, and participation can be rebuilt when polarization is driving us apart. https://twtpowerandbelonging.eventbrite.ca/?aff=Social

On the left: an illustration of an outline of a brain containing a green field and blue sky on a beige background. On the right: text that reads “I tried new tech that claimed it could hack my dreams. What it felt like to surrender my subconscious to the new frontier of sleep science”

What if you could choose your dreams?

For over 5,000 years, humans have made the attempt. Now, an MIT-designed app called Dust is turning that ancient fantasy into reality. Author and journalist Karen van Kampen explores: https://thewalrus.ca/i-tried-new-tech-that-claimed-it-could-hack-my-dreams/

Join us for Max Bell Foundation presents The Walrus Talks #Wildfires where expert voices from the health, climate, policy, and technology sectors will come together to explore the impact of the wildfire crisis. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-walrus-talks-wildfires-tickets-1982686099496?aff=Social