series

Baby Health: A View From the Experts

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From picky eating and healthy sleep patterns to baby brain chemistry and understanding the truth about colic, The Mark features six global experts discussing the most important facets of baby health.

with contribution from

Conversation Harvey Karp Pediatrician, child development specialist; assistant profess...
Conversation Alison Gopnik Professor of psychology, affiliate professor of philosophy, U...
Conversation Elizabeth Pantley Parenting educator; president, Better Beginnings, Inc.
Conversation Annabel Karmel Author; entrepreneur.
Conversation Marc Weissbluth Pediatrician; founder, Northwestern Children's Practice; Auth...
Conversation Jim Sears Pediatrician; co-host, TV show "The Doctors."

Seven Ways Canada Can Help Africa's Great Lakes Region

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Seven experts weigh in on how Canada can promote peace and fight poverty in the troubled African Great Lakes Region.

with contribution from

Conversation Gerald Caplan Senior Consultant, United Nations Commission.
Conversation Paul Dewar NDP MP, Ottawa Centre; Critic, Foreign Affairs.
Conversation Matt Eisenbrandt Legal Coordinator, Centre for International Justice.
Conversation Ian Smillie Founder, Inter Pares.
Conversation Bernard Taylor Executive Director, Partnership Africa Canada.
Conversation Desirée Zwanck Gender Advisor, HEAL Africa.
Conversation Jim Freedman Writer and Consultant.

Threats to the Human Species

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Almost as long as there has been human existence, there have been theories on how it will end. Which, if any, of these potential threats do you think is most realistic?

with contribution from

Conversation David Suzuki Scientist; broadcaster; Chair, the David Suzuki Foundation.
Conversation Keith Stewart Climate and Energy Campaigner, Greenpeace Canada
Conversation Ramin Jahanbegloo Philosopher; Professor and Research Fellow, Centre for Ethics...
Conversation Robert Mann President, Canadian Association of Physicists.
Conversation Jaymie Matthews Professor of Astrophysics, the University of British Columbia...
Conversation Kate Chappell Journalist and commentator on politics and business.
Conversation Bernard Lightman Director of the Institute for Science and Technology Studies....

What's the Issue?

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What's missing from the Canadian conversation? Politicians, commentators, and political advisors each suggest one issue that they think should dominate the debate during Parliament's new session.

with contribution from

Conversation Warren Kinsella President, Daisy Consulting Group
Conversation Robert Silver Partner, Crestview Public Affairs
Conversation Jack Layton Former Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada.
Conversation Andrew Steele Senior Consultant, StrategyCorp
Conversation Lanny Cardow Research and Communications Consultant, Navigator Ltd.; Forme...
Conversation Jaime Watt Chair and Senior Partner, Navigator Ltd.
Conversation Gerard Kennedy Liberal Candidate, Parkdale-High Park; Environment Critic

Paths to Peace

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On this International Day of Peace, The Mark's contributors suggest solutions to the deadliest, most intractable global conflicts.

with contribution from

Conversation Yasmeen Abu-Laban Professor and Associate Chair (Research) in the Department of...
Conversation Daryl Copeland Research associate, Centre for International Policy Studies, ...
Conversation Wayne Cox International Relations and Middle Eastern Politics at Queens...
Conversation Charan Rainford Doctoral candidate in the Department of Political Studies at ...
Conversation Jonathon Narvey Vancouver-based communications specialist; freelance writer.
Conversation Colin Salter Dr Salter is an Assistant Professor in the Centre for Peace S...
Conversation Ken Coates Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Waterloo
Conversation Matthew Paterson Professor of Political Science at the University of Ottawa
Conversation Bonny Ibhawoh African History Professor
Conversation Ramin Jahanbegloo Philosopher; Professor and Research Fellow, Centre for Ethics...
Conversation Wendy Fletcher Principal and Dean of Vancouver School of Theology

Canada's Biggest Influence

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Which person, organization, or idea wields more influence than any other?

with contribution from

Conversation Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant Assistant Professor, Department of Political Studies, Queen's...
Conversation Andrew Jackson Chief Economist; National Director, Canadian Labour Congress....
Conversation Mark Crawford Assistant Professor of Political Science, Athabasca Universit...
Conversation Christopher Adams Vice President of Probe Research.
Conversation Taufiq Rahim Director, Globesight; strategy adviser, political analyst, an...
Conversation Kate Chappell Journalist and commentator on politics and business.
Conversation Sarah Harrison Activist, environmentalist, artist, and educator.
Conversation Andrew Lang Candidate, Toronto-Danforth, Liberal Party of Canada
Conversation Matt Sheedy PhD candidate in the study of religion, University of Manitob...

Ten Books Everyone Should Read

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As school starts up again, we asked our contributors which one book they think should be on every university's required reading list.

with contribution from

Conversation Gisele Baxter Lecturer, University of British Columbia English Department.
Conversation Sarah Totton Fiction Writer
Conversation Amy Langstaff Toronto-based writer.
Conversation Anthony Stewart Associate Professor of English, Dalhousie .
Conversation Michael Groden Professor of English at the University of Western Ontario.
Conversation Tom Mole Associate Professor of English at McGill University.
Conversation Alissa York Author
Conversation Reva Seth Author and journalist.
Conversation Shashi Bhat Assistant Professor, English Department, Dalhousie University...
Conversation Heather Taylor Writer, performer, and educator living in England.

Eleven Films to Watch Out For At TIFF

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Canadian filmmakers and critics weigh in on the movies they're most excited to see at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival.

with contribution from

Conversation Daniel Berman Filmmaker; Principal, Metal Dog Films Inc.
Conversation Kiva Reardon Film Blogger.
Conversation Ingrid Veninger Filmmaker and Actress.
Conversation Tyler Levine Film writer/producer working in Scandinavia and Canada.
Conversation Terry Miles Vancouver-based filmmaker.
Conversation Katrin Bowen Filmmaker and Actress.
Conversation Sturla Gunnarsson Award-winning Vancouver-based filmmaker.
Conversation Barry Grant Professor of Cultural Studies at Brock University.
Conversation Deborah Chow Montreal-based filmmaker.
Conversation Scott Henderson Associate Professor of Communication, Popular Culture, and Fi...
Conversation Magali Simard Short Cuts Canada Programmer and Canadian Programming Coordin...

How Census-Gate Will Change Canada

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The Mark's contributors give 11 reasons why the controversy around the future of Canada's mandatory long-form census just won't go away.

with contribution from

Conversation Taufiq Rahim Director, Globesight; strategy adviser, political analyst, an...
Conversation Andrew Lang Candidate, Toronto-Danforth, Liberal Party of Canada
Conversation Jill Atkey Research Director, B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association.
Conversation Alan Broadbent Expert in urban issues; leader in Canadian politics and publi...
Conversation Armine Yalnizyan Senior Economist, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Conversation Roger Gibbins President and CEO, the Canada West Foundation.
Conversation Janet Gasparini Chair, Social Planning Network of Ontario.
Conversation Stephen Gordon Professor of Economics, Laval University.
Conversation Jacquetta Newman Associate Professor of Political Science, King's University C...
Conversation Kate Chappell Journalist and commentator on politics and business.
Conversation Frances Lankin President and CEO, United Way Toronto.

Nine Game-Changers of 2010 So Far

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As the summer winds down, The Mark's contributors consider the consequences of the scandals, disasters, trends, and issues that have defined 2010 up to now.

with contribution from

Conversation Taufiq Rahim Director, Globesight; strategy adviser, political analyst, an...
Conversation Alidad Mafinezam Public policy expert and author.
Conversation Kiva Reardon Film Blogger.
Conversation Ross Eaman Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Communica...
Conversation Margaret Somerville Director of the Centre for Medicine, Ethics, and Law, McGill ...
Conversation Ralph Benmergui Producer, Broadcaster, Host and Interviewer.
Conversation Kate Chappell Journalist and commentator on politics and business.
Conversation Eric Mang Writer, activist.
Conversation Errol Mendes Lawyer and author; Professor of law, University of Ottawa.

Canada's Forgotten Internment Camps

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Between 1914 and 1920, thousands of Canadians of Ukrainian and Eastern European descent were imprisoned in internment camps across Canada, simply on the basis of their origins. For decades, their stories were buried under fear and shame. The Canadian government has finally recognized the internment operations, and yet it remains an unknown chapter in our nation's history.

Four Wars on the Verge of Erupting

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The African continent and the Middle East are littered with powderkegs minutes from exploding, according to The Mark's contributors. But there is one conflict that could threaten even the core democratic values of Canadians: cyber war.

with contribution from

Conversation Alistair Edgar Research Associate, Laurier Centre for Military, Strategic, a...
Conversation Robert Barrett Postdoctoral Fellow, Centre for Military and Strategic Studie...
Conversation Charaf Ahmimed Senior Program Officer, International Development Research Ce...

Five Great Canadian Political Comebacks

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Can Michael Ignatieff and the Liberal Express reverse the momentum of Canadian politics? The Mark's contributors look to Canada's most unlikely electoral comebacks for the answer.

with contribution from

Conversation Robert Silver Partner, Crestview Public Affairs
Conversation Michael Valpy Award-winning journalist and author.
Conversation Dan Arnold Blogger; Senior Research Consultant.
Conversation Lanny Cardow Research and Communications Consultant, Navigator Ltd.; Forme...
Conversation Jeff Jedras Political Activist and Blogger.

Twelve Things That Will Be Obsolete in 10 Years

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As the times change, some things get left behind. The Mark’s contributors predict what will seem quaint and outdated in a decade’s time.

with contribution from

Conversation David Eaves Public policy expert; Fellow at the Centre for the Study of D...
Conversation Jon Arnold Prominent telecom anaylst and blogger.
Conversation Ralph Benmergui Producer, Broadcaster, Host and Interviewer.
Conversation Jayson Ambrose Product Manager, Filemobile Inc.
Conversation Ryan Nadel Digital media producer and strategist.
Conversation Mark Evans Principal, ME consulting; Tech journalist.
Conversation Robert Barnard CEO, DECODE; co-Author of <i>Chips and Pop: Decoding the Nexu...
Conversation Mark Leslie Lefebvre Writer and Editor; President of Canadian Booksellers Associat...
Conversation Jacquelyn Francis Executive Editor, FASHION Magazine.
Conversation Alan Broadbent Expert in urban issues; leader in Canadian politics and publi...
Missing Marcel Danesi Professor of semiotics and anthropology, University of Toront...
Conversation Michael Strangelove Adjunct Professor of Communication, University of Ottawa.

Talking Back to the Open Canada Report

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The Mark's contributors can't decide if the Canadian International Council's foreign policy study is too revolutionary, too conservative, or spot on its wide-ranging recommendations for how Canada should position itself on the global stage.

with contribution from

Conversation Betty Plewes Former president and CEO of the Canadian Council for Internat...
Conversation Colin Robertson Senior Strategic Adviser, McKenna, Long and Aldridge; former ...
Conversation J. David Hughes Geoscientist; team leader for Unconventional Gas on the Canad...
Conversation Paul Evans Director, Institute of Asian Research, UBC
Conversation Tom Rand Lead Cleantech Advisor, MaRS Discovery District, Toronto; ven...
Conversation Mercedes Stephenson Vice President, Breakout Educational Network; Host/Producer, ...
Conversation Rob Huebert Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of...
Conversation Daryl Copeland Research associate, Centre for International Policy Studies, ...
Conversation Olga Abizaid Director of the Research Forum on North America at the Canadi...

Six Birthday Wishes For Canada

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As Canada blows out the candles on its 143rd birthday cake, six contributors make one wish each for the year to come.

with contribution from

Conversation Alan Broadbent Expert in urban issues; leader in Canadian politics and publi...
Conversation Ralph Benmergui Producer, Broadcaster, Host and Interviewer.
Conversation Neil Boyd Associate Director, Criminology, Simon Fraser University.
Conversation Darren Thorne International lawyer, human rights expert, and development co...
Conversation Keith Beardsley Government relations strategist; former senior advisor and de...
Conversation Gilbert Reid Journalist, Author, Radio and Television Producer.

Seven Very Canadian Recipes for Canada Day

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From the exotic curried goat burger to the more traditional quiche canadienne, prominent Canadian chefs propose seven ways to make your Canada Day delicious.

with contribution from

Conversation Roger Mooking Toronto-based chef; host of the Food Network series, Everyday...
Conversation Naomi Duguid Author, Photographer, Traveler
Conversation Kristina Groeger Professional Cook, Food Writer.
Conversation Jeremy J. Parsons Mixologist and Founder of Cocktails: The Fluid Experience.
Conversation Ivy Knight CEO, Swallow Food Media; chef, radio host, food writer.

Brand Canada

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With the G8/G20 summits and Canada Day around the corner, it's high time to examine the role Canada will play in the international arena in the years to come. To that end, The Mark asked its contributors what Canada's 21st-century brand should be - because "the hockey nation" isn't going to cut it.

They came up with the nation's best, most exportable traits, from cultural translation to charter rights. The Mark wants you to pick the one that should distinguish us on the global stage. Vote for your favourite Brand Canada idea by clicking on any one of the essays below.

with contribution from

Conversation Shauna Sylvester Fellow, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue (SFU); Director, C...
Conversation Daryl Copeland Research associate, Centre for International Policy Studies, ...
Conversation John Godfrey Head of School, Toronto French School; former MP, Don Valley ...
Conversation Edward Greenspon Chairman, The GPS Project; Former Editor-in-Chief of <i>The G...
Conversation Karl Moore Professor at the Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill Univ...
Conversation Kim Campbell Former Prime Minister of Canada.
Conversation Paul Martin Former Prime Minister of Canada.
Conversation Adam Chapnick Foreign policy expert.
Conversation Thomas Axworthy President & CEO, Walter & Duncan Gordon Foundation.
Conversation Andrew Potter Columnist, Maclean's Magazine; Author.
Conversation Judith Shamian President, Victorian Order of Nurses; Professor, Faculty of N...

The Cost of the Toronto G20: A billion dollars well spent?

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In nine days, Canada's largest-ever security event will arrive in Toronto. The Mark looks at some of the social and economic costs of the G20, and asks whether they're justified.

with contribution from

Conversation Michel Juneau-Katsuya Author; Former CSIS Operative.
Conversation Tasha Kheiriddin Columnist; author; member of National Post editorial board.
Conversation David Murakami Wood Associate Professor of Surveillance Studies, Queen’s Univer...
Conversation David Lyon Professor of Sociology, specializing in surveillance studies,...
Conversation Pierre Chamberland Sergeant, Ontario Provincial Police.
Conversation Maryam Adrangi Toronto based Environmental and Climate Justice Organizer.
Conversation Ken Greenberg Principal, Greenberg Consultants.
Conversation Derek Burleton Associate Vice President and Director of Economic Analysis, T...

How to Fix Canada's Political Parties: The Liberals

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Tuesday we advised the Tories, yesterday the NDP. Today, in the third of a three-part series, six political thinkers suggest one idea each for how the Liberals can break Canada's political gridlock and reengage the electorate.

Illustration special to The Mark, by Ryan James Terry.

with contribution from

Conversation Errol Mendes Lawyer and author; Professor of law, University of Ottawa.
Conversation Shauna Sylvester Fellow, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue (SFU); Director, C...
Conversation Dan Arnold Blogger; Senior Research Consultant.
Conversation David Berlin Author; Founding editor, The Walrus.
Conversation Michael Cochrane Partner, Ricketts & Harris LLP; leading legal commentator.
Conversation Jeff Jedras Political Activist and Blogger.

How to Fix Canada's Political Parties: The NDP

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In the second of a three-part series, six left-leaning politicos suggest one idea each for how the NDP can break Canada's political gridlock and reengage the electorate. Check out yesterday's ideas for the Tories; stay tuned for the Liberals tomorrow.

Illustration special to The Mark, by Karen Justl.

with contribution from

Conversation Chris Axworthy Professor and Dean of Law, University of Manitoba.
Conversation Buzz Hargrove Former National President, Canadian Auto Workers Union.
Conversation James Lockyer Criminal lawyer; Founding director of the Association in Defe...
Conversation Alan Broadbent Expert in urban issues; leader in Canadian politics and publi...
Conversation Mike Geoghegan B.C. based government and media relations consultant.
Conversation Mark Crawford Assistant Professor of Political Science, Athabasca Universit...

How to Fix Canada's Political Parties: The Conservatives

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In the first of a three-part series, six conservative thinkers suggest one idea each for how the Conservative Party can break Canada's political gridlock and reengage the electorate. Stay tuned for a look at the NDP tomorrow and the Liberals on Thursday.

Illustration special to The Mark, by Ryan James Terry.

with contribution from

Conversation Keith Beardsley Government relations strategist; former senior advisor and de...
Conversation Ezra Levant Political Commentator, Sun News Network.
Conversation Tasha Kheiriddin Columnist; author; member of National Post editorial board.
Conversation Richard Albert Senior Research Fellow, Canadian Council for Democracy; Profe...
Conversation David Mader Attorney, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP.
Conversation Karl Moore Professor at the Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill Univ...

How to Bring the Cup Back to Canada

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Seventeen years since a Canadian team last won the Stanley Cup, seven hockey experts offer suggestions for how to bring home Canada's most coveted trophy.

with contribution from

Conversation Greg Wyshynski Editor of Puck Daddy, Yahoo! Sports Canada’s hockey blog.
Conversation Liam Maguire Author and NHL Trivia Expert.
Conversation Jim Hughson Play-By-Play Announcer, CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.
Conversation Daniel Mason Professor of Physical Education and Business, University of A...
Conversation Tim Lewis Professor of History, Vancouver Island University.
Conversation Robert Beiko Canada Research Chair, Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie...
Conversation David Mader Attorney, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP.

Canada-U.S. Relations

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For at least the past half century, Canada’s relationship with the United States has been our most important one, and there is no sign this will change any time soon. Over three quarters of our exports go to the United States, accounting for a third of our gross national product. Millions of jobs across the country depend on our trade relationship with the United States. But our relationship, as the contributors to this series note, is about far more than economics. Our two countries work closely in Afghanistan as part of NATO and the fight against al-Qaeda. Our long record of cooperation on environmental issues was renewed last month when Prime Minister Harper and President Oba...

with contribution from

Conversation Adam Chapnick Foreign policy expert.
Conversation Colin Robertson Senior Strategic Adviser, McKenna, Long and Aldridge; former ...
Conversation Tyson Dyck Senior Associate, Torys LLP.
Conversation Jeremy Kinsman Former Canadian Ambassador to Russia, Italy, and the EU.
Conversation Derek Burney Canadian Ambassador to the United States (1986-1989); Senior ...
Conversation Eugene Lang Vice President, Bluesky Strategy Group; co-founder, Canada 20...

The Future of Venture Capital in Canada

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One of my favourite Sopranos characters once told Tony Soprano that he was at the "precipice of an enormous crossroads." It's beginning to feel like that in Canadian venture capital. The Canadian Venture Capital Association recently released 2009 data indicating that deal activity was at its lowest level since the mid-1990s. This is not a uniquely Canadian phenomenon, but the drought in new venture financing has seemed longer and drier in Canada than elsewhere. In some sectors, earlier-stage investors have become more visible, but what was once concern in the industry is now escalating to alarm, as more players ask what is to become of the Cana...

with contribution from

Conversation David Crow Creative Technologist and Technical Marketer.
Conversation Mark MacLeod President, StartupCFO Enterprises.
Conversation Chris Arsenault Managing Partner, iNovia Capital inc.
Conversation Kevin Bartus Founder and President, Ideon Media Inc.
Conversation Mike Lee Vice-President, New Ventures, Rogers Communications Inc.
Conversation Paul Kedrosky Investor, Speaker, Writer, Media Guy, and Entrepreneur.
Conversation Mark Skapinker Co-founder, Brightspark Capital.
Conversation Rick Segal Co-founder, Fixmo.

Toronto Election 2010

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Housing and transit are not just the biggest infrastructure issues facing cities today, they are also the biggest social, economic, and equity issues. A healthy city must be able to house people of all income levels in a stable way, allowing them to build social capital in neighbourhoods and live close to where they work, play, and shop. The ability to move around the city easily, to work, to worship, to play, and to buy things, weaves relationships throughout the city, creating a strong civic fabric. The 2010 municipal elections will see other important issues raised. Many, like immigrant settlement, waterfront development, or anti-poverty initiatives, will relate to housing and ...

with contribution from

Conversation Franz Hartmann Executive Director, Toronto Environmental Alliance
Conversation Chris Lowry Director of Program Development, Green Enterprise Ontario.
Conversation Ken Greenberg Principal, Greenberg Consultants.
Conversation Myer Siemiatycki Politics Professor, Ryerson University.
Conversation Ken Greenberg Principal, Greenberg Consultants.
Conversation Enid Slack Director, Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance, Univ...
Conversation Steve Munro Writer, activist, and Jane Jacobs Prize winner.

Healing Health Care

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For much of the past decade, Canadians named health care the most important issue facing Canada. But recently the public spotlight has shifted to other issues, like climate change and the global economic crisis. This may be part of the reason why many say that health care policy over the past few years has lacked vision and boldness. Rather than planning for the future by supporting research, harnessing technology, and finding new sources of health care funding, governments seem fixated on containing the cost demands of the present. The articles below, written by some of Canada's top health care analysts, researchers, and policy makers, suggest ways in which governments...

with contribution from

Conversation Gregory Marchildon Canada Research Chair, University of Regina; Executive Direct...
Conversation Richard Alvarez President and CEO, Canada Health Infoway
Conversation Herbert Emery Svare Professor of Health Economics, University of Calgary
Conversation Christopher Paige Vice President of Research, University Health Network; Senior...
Conversation Mark Stabile Director of Public Policy and Professor of Economics, Rotman ...

Canadian Music Now

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Ten years ago I graduated from McGill University with a degree in comparative religions and an uncertain future. My degree was by no means an instant ticket to a job and I didn't want to go to law school or hole up in an ashram in India. At the time my brother was living in New York, and his band Stars had just released their first record, Nightsongs. I volunteered to help them promote shows, manage tours, and pretty much do anything I could to get their career going. I basically became their de facto manager. I accompanied them to CMJ, CMW, NXNE, http://www.sxsw.c...

with contribution from

Conversation Dan Mangan Vancouver-based singer, songwriter.
Conversation Todor Kobakov Classical pianist; Toronto-based music composer and producer....
Conversation Shain Shapiro UK/EU Manager, Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA)....
Conversation Alan Cross Senior Program Director, Splice Interactive; creator, The Ong...
Conversation Roland Pemberton (Cadence Weapon) Rap artist; Poet Laureate, Edmonton.

Rethinking Foreign Policy

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There's a revolution going on right now in the way we think of foreign policy – it's no longer solely about what the government does, but rather what we all do to shape our role in the world. Whether they call it foreign policy or not, groups that operate outside the purview of government – from businesses to not-for-profits to artists to technologists – are creating Canada's role in the world, acting as diplomats and cultural translators, and doing things we would traditionally think of as the responsibility and privilege of government. There's an urgent need for these new actors to collaborate with government, and in turn for civil servants and political advisors to get...

with contribution from

Conversation Carlo Dade Senior fellow, School of International Development and Global...
Conversation Kaitlyn Braybrooke Online Community Facilitator and Editor; Canada’s World.ca....
Conversation Daryl Copeland Research associate, Centre for International Policy Studies, ...
Conversation Donna Kennedy-Glans Founder, Bridges Social Development; lawyer.
Conversation John Monahan Executive Director, The Mosaic Institute.
Conversation Shauna Sylvester Fellow, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue (SFU); Director, C...
Conversation Daniel Savas Adjunct Professor, Graduate public policy, Simon Fraser Unive...
Conversation Alexander Moens Canadian foreign policy expert, focused on American-Canadian ...
Conversation Gwendolyn Blue Assistant Professor, Faculty of Communication and Culture, Un...

Canada in Afghanistan

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In Kabul, Washington, Brussels, London, Paris, and Amsterdam, the debate over NATO’s role in Afghanistan is building. President Obama is not only considering the possibility of General McChrystal’s recommended troop surge and tactical shift towards far greater civilian protection, but more importantly, he is reconsidering the broader strategic objectives of the mission. Is the goal to protect America from a resurgent al-Qaeda, to build an Afghan state that can hold the Taliban at bay, or to reconfigure both Afghanistan and Pakistan? The answer will drive his decision in the coming weeks. As the president deliberates, the U.S. media and public are increasingly engaged. In...

with contribution from

Conversation Christopher Alexander Former Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan.
Conversation Janice Gross Stein Director of the Munk Centre for International Studies, Univer...
Conversation Gordon Smith Director, Centre for Global Studies, University of Victoria.
Conversation Graham Fuller Former Vice Chairman, CIA National Intelligence Council; CIA ...
Conversation Graeme Smith Emmy-winning foreign correspondent, <i>The Globe and Mail</i>...
Conversation Robert Muggah Principal, SecDev Group; associate, International Relations I...
Conversation Lauryn Oates Human rights activist.
Conversation Mark Sedra Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation...
Conversation Michael Petrou Foreign correspondent, Maclean's.
Conversation Mirwais Nahzat Sauvé Scholar examining Canada's development policy towards ...

The Future of Cities

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The 21st century will come to be known as the urban century. For the first time in human history more than half of the 6.8 billion people on Earth live in cities. Over the next 17 years, another 1.7 billion people will join our species – what I call homo urbanis. Canada is no different. In 1867, 20 per cent of Canadians lived in cities; now over 80 per cent do. As such, getting cities right, and making them as sustainable as possible, is fundamentally important to our survival. Overconsumption of scarce natural capital (water, soil, forests, the ocean’s bounty, oil and gas, coal, minerals) causes major environmental problems – foul air, contaminated water a...

with contribution from

Conversation Sherman Kreiner Managing Director, University of Winnipeg Community Renewal C...
Conversation Colin Jackson President, Hands at Work Africa (Canada).
Conversation John Robinson Professor, Institute of Resources, Environment and Sustainabi...
Conversation William Rees Ecologist and ecological economist; Professor, University of ...
Conversation Ratna Omidvar President, Maytree Foundation.

The International Literary Festival

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Many countries – especially those from the Commonwealth – share a history, language, and colonial experience. International literary festivals feature many of these otherwise distant voices together in a public forum, giving life to the printed word and illuminating the many connections that still exist between our far-flung homes. This year, in partnership with the Scottish Government and the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the IFOA focused on contemporary Scottish writing. More than 15 of Scotland’s best writers joined us in Toronto to read and discuss their works, providing a unique opportunity for us to examine Canada’s own Scottish heritage and how that...

with contribution from

Conversation Chip Rolley Artistic Director, 2010 Sydney Writers Festival, Australia.
Conversation Roland Gulliver Programme Manager, The Edinburgh International Book Festival,...
Conversation Jill Rawnsley Artistic Director, Auckland Writers and Readers Festival, New...
Conversation Gavin Wallace Head of Literature, Scottish Arts Council.

Science Policy in Canada

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Scientific research and innovation are the foundation that underpins wealth creation in the 21st century. Canadians’ health, economic prosperity, global competitiveness, and high standard of living are intimately linked to the continued strength and productivity of the nation’s scientific research engine. In turn, the success of this research engine depends on the formulation of sound policies governing science and innovation – a process that requires the exchange of ideas among all stakeholders, including university researchers, industry, and government. In a post-modern society, the complexity and interconnectedness of science and society makes it critical for research...

with contribution from

Conversation Robert Mann President, Canadian Association of Physicists.
Conversation Kathleen Bloom President and CEO, Knowledge Impact Strategies Consulting Ltd...
Conversation Ramin Jahanbegloo Philosopher; Professor and Research Fellow, Centre for Ethics...
Conversation Kei Koizumi Assistant Director, Federal Research and Development, the Whi...
Conversation Elana Brief Research Scholar, National Core for Neuroethics, University o...
Conversation Paul Dufour Canadian science policy expert.
Conversation Marc Saner Director, Institute for Science, Society, and Policy, Faculty...
Conversation Heather Munroe-Blum Principal and Vice-Chancellor, McGill University.

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