Pearson Podcast

The Pearson Centre recently hosted a panel with Terry Fox Humanitarian Awards, featuring CEO of Terry Fox Awards, Paulina Chow and two award recipients, Bronwyn Bridges and Kobe Li. Together, we spoke about Terry Fox’s enduring legacy, the importance of his work, and the impact it continues to have on young Canadians. The conversation also highlighted the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award scholarship program and the amazing work of Canada's young entrepreneurs.

A virtual panel with Nishin Nathwani, Alex Hernández and Pepe Onziema on the decline of LGBTQ+ rights and Canada’s role in the situation.

Catalyst for Change Honouree James Scongack was honoured with the the award for his tremendous contributions to cancer care, particularly for children, medical isotopes and energy security.

Special thank you to Big Red Oak for the James Scongack tribute video and to Vito Amati for the event photos.

Fireside chat led by Minister of Health, Marjorie Michel with the Honourable Jean Augustine, the first Black woman to be elected into the House of Commons of Canada.

With separatist sentiment reaching 30% in Alberta and a potential referendum set for October 2026, the future of Canadian unity is at a crossroads.The Pearson Centre recently met with Stéphane Dion, former federal Liberal leader and architect of the Clarity Act, and Corey Hogan, Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation. Together, they examine the legal, political, and constitutional risks of modern separatist movements in Alberta and Quebec.In this candid discussion, Dion and Hogan address the "deafening silence" from federal leaders and the dangerous precedent of treating secession as a routine political tool. They explore the implications of Alberta's proposed multi-question ballot, the risk of foreign interference in Canadian referendums, and why honest engagement—rather than silence—is the only way to protect the country's future.Key Discussion Points:The Clarity Act vs. October 2026: Can a province legally secede via a bundled ballot?The "Brexit" Warning: Why ignoring separatist sentiment often leads to its success.Foreign Interference: The risk of Russian and U.S. influence on Canadian unity.Indigenous Sovereignty: Protecting treaty rights in the event of territorial change.#CanadianUnity #StephaneDion #CoreyHogan #AlbertaSeparatism #CdnPoli #ClarityAct

The Pearson Centre’s Pam Damoff was pleased to speak with Jeff Copenace, Chief of the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation in northwestern Ontario. Copenace brings a deeply personal and politically seasoned perspective to the challenges facing First Nations communities in Canada today. Copenace’s path to leadership was not linear. At just 13 years old, he served as one of the first First Nations Legislative Pages in Ontario, working under Premier Bob Rae. Though initially disillusioned by the adversarial nature of politics, the experience exposed him to the inner workings of government and introduced him to key Indigenous leaders, including Elijah Harper during the era of the Meech Lake Accord debates.

Recently The Pearson Centre was honoured to host a conversation with Rita Ruduša, Regional Director for Eastern Europe of the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM). Ruduša and The Pearson Centre’s CEO Pam Damoff explored the importance of independent media as a tool to protect democracy, especially in the face of intense Russian disinformation campaigns.

IFPIM is a unique multilateral organization that exists solely to support independent media in low- and middle-income countries in the Global South and Eastern Europe. Ruduša, who is based in Latvia, emphasized the essential role of independent media at a time when election interference and disinformation are omnipresent. Newsrooms receive unrestricted core funding from IFPIM, allowing them to be strategic, test new platforms, and plan ahead.

The Pearson Centre hosted an inspiring and sobering discussion on the ways survivors of sexual violence are treated in Canada’s criminal justice system. Our brilliant panelists – Ben Roebuck, Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime; Alexa Barkley and Tanya Couch, Co-Founders of Survivor Safety Matters; and Silvia Samsa, Executive Director of Sexual Assault and Violence Interventions Services (SAVIS) – highlighted serious systemic problems facing victims of abuse, while also bringing solutions to the table. Led by Pam Damoff, The Pearson Centre’s CEO, and Kevin Bosch, our Board Chair, the conversation was centered around a recently released report, “Rethinking Justice for Survivors of Sexual Violence: A Systemic Investigation,” and a related piece of legislation, Bill C-16, which is currently pending before Parliament.

“Rethinking Justice for Survivors of Sexual Violence: A Systemic Investigation” was released in late 2025 by the Office of the Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime. It is based on an 18-month investigation during which the Ombudsperson’s team spoke with nearly 3,000 people across Canada, conducted research and surveys, and interviewed more than 100 survivors of sexual violence. Ben noted that it’s deeply concerning that many survivors who are in contact with the criminal justice system find that experience even more traumatic than the actual sexual assault, and the report offers 43 recommendations for remedying this problematic reality.

Rethinking Justice for Survivors of Sexual Violence: A Systemic Investigation - Canada.ca

We were delighted that Mark Critch, the wonderful Canadian actor, comedian, and author, joined us for a conversation about his new book, Sorry, Not Sorry: An Unapologetic Look at What Makes Canada Worth Fighting For. Kevin Bosch, our Chair, and Pam Damoff, our CEO interviewed Mark to hear his insights on Canadian identity, culture, and unity.

The Pearson Centre recently had the honour of hosting former Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty for a conversation about his new book, Be a Good One. A compact collection of 357 quotes which have stood the test of time, McGuinty’s book offers advice on leadership and growing a career while, most importantly, remaining a “good one.”