The Walrus
LightNews LightNews
banner
thewalrus.ca
The Walrus
@thewalrus.ca
19K followers 26 following 2.3K posts
Canada's Conversation. Award-winning independent journalism, fact checking, and national ideas-focused events. Stay connected: http://thewalrus.ca/newsletters
Posts Replies Media Videos
thewalrus.ca
In a world of plastic surgery, facetune, and AI, these Canadian portraits put real faces to diverse national life and, for once, give permission to stare—and maybe even find humanity. https://thewalrus.ca/how-portraiture-gives-us-permission-to-stare/
On the left: painted portrait of an older woman sitting upright in a chair, wearing a pale pink button-down shirt and patterned pants, looking directly ahead. On the right: text that reads “How portraiture gives us permission to stare. The Kingston Prize makes a case for the beauty of real faces.”
February 9, 2026 at 11:00 PM
thewalrus.ca
Urban planning expert Jay Pitter traces how public space, policing, and design have shaped Black life—and why Black public joy must be treated as a civic priority, not a luxury. https://thewalrus.ca/there-must-be-room-for-black-joy-in-public-spaces/
On the left: Image of a young Black woman laughing against a dark background with blurry lights. On the right: text that reads “There must be room for Black joy in public spaces. Our survival has always hinged on navigating the world with caution. There are better ways to live.”
February 9, 2026 at 5:01 PM
thewalrus.ca
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
February 9, 2026 at 3:01 PM
thewalrus.ca
In Whitehorse, dry cabins without running water rent for up to $1,600/month. Blue jugs—once a camping accessory—are now essential vessels for a growing demographic living off-grid in one of Canada’s most expensive housing markets. https://ow.ly/GtWy50YatWU
On the left: Illustration of two blue jugs on a beige background. On the right: text that reads “ The Yukon’s most important piece of infrastructure is a plastic blue jug. Hauling water is how thousands make an increasingly unaffordable North livable.”
February 9, 2026 at 1:00 PM
thewalrus.ca
The lesson from Ukraine 2014: hesitation invites escalation. Defence analyst Peter Jones on why Canada must be ready to respond forcefully to any cross-border aggression—not as law enforcement but survival. https://thewalrus.ca/how-a-us-invasion-of-canada-would-really-unfold-and-how-we-fight-back/
On the left: Image of two federal ICE agents wearing camouflage clothes and vests. On the right: How a US invasion of Canada would really unfold—and how we fight back. American aggression is no longer theoretical.”
February 7, 2026 at 11:00 PM
thewalrus.ca
Real faces are disappearing.

Instead, AI is counterfeiting reality while plastic surgery removes all individuality under the guise of self curation. But there’s one place where faces and humanity remain real: handmade portraiture. https://ow.ly/l34V50YatMR
On the left: painted portrait of an older woman sitting upright in a chair, wearing a pale pink button-down shirt and patterned pants, looking directly ahead. On the right: text that reads “How portraiture gives us permission to stare. The Kingston Prize makes a case for the beauty of real faces.”
February 7, 2026 at 9:00 PM
thewalrus.ca
Why do animal rescue stories comfort us? Catherine Bush compares her devotion to poodle rescues to rereading Jane Austen—finding structure, hope, and resolution when the real world feels unstable. https://thewalrus.ca/how-many-poodle-rescues-have-i-followed-oodles/
On the left: an illustration of a poodle's backside with a bandage on the hip and a missing, bandaged paw on a pink background. On the right: text that reads “How many poodle rescues have I followed? Oodles. Ollie’s toe-less paw. Mozart’s long-lost father. I was hooked.”
February 7, 2026 at 5:00 PM
thewalrus.ca
ICE now has an $85B annual budget—the highest-funded US law enforcement agency. Its agents operate in five Canadian cities. Constitutional law expert Kent Roach explains what this means for Canadian sovereignty and Charter rights. https://ow.ly/in6O50Yat2z
On the left: Image of two federal ICE agents wearing camouflage clothes and vests. On the right: text that reads “What stops ICE from crossing into Canada to snatch people? Very little. The legal reality Canadians don’t want to face.”
February 7, 2026 at 3:00 PM
thewalrus.ca
As a child, author Jay Pitter was taught that dignity meant restraint in public. Decades later, she asks what it would mean to unlearn that fear—and design cities where Black people can move, dance, and gather without caution. https://thewalrus.ca/there-must-be-room-for-black-joy-in-public-spaces/
On the left: Image of a young Black woman laughing against a dark background with blurry lights. On the right: text that reads “There must be room for Black joy in public spaces. Our survival has always hinged on navigating the world with caution. There are better ways to live.”
February 7, 2026 at 1:00 PM
thewalrus.ca
“The Liberals’ share of the popular vote in 2025 increased by twice as much as in the Trudeaumania year of 1968,” writes Paul Wells. “Poilievre will try to change their minds. But, mostly, he hopes Carney will change their minds—by disappointing them.” https://ow.ly/csc050Y9KG5
On the left: Photo of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre smiling with his hands held together in front of him. On the right: text that reads “Poilievre isn’t pivoting. His party just made that very clear. Conservatives want their guy to stay exactly the same.”
February 6, 2026 at 11:00 PM
thewalrus.ca
In 1812, Thomas Jefferson propounded that taking Canada is “a mere matter of marching.” In 2026, talk of the US invading Canada seems far-fetched—but not impossible. Writer and professor Peter Jones has to wonder: How would we actually defend ourselves? https://ow.ly/ip6L50Y9KFa
On the left: Image of two federal ICE agents wearing camouflage clothes and vests. On the right: How a US invasion of Canada would really unfold—and how we fight back. American aggression is no longer theoretical.”
February 6, 2026 at 9:00 PM
thewalrus.ca
Join us for Addictions and Mental Health Ontario presents The Walrus Talks Opioids to explore how policy, care, and community can transform lives amidst a drug toxicity crisis. Get tickets now. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-walrus-talks-opioids-tickets-1982207037609?aff=Social
February 6, 2026 at 8:01 PM
thewalrus.ca
As the Winter Olympics begin today, this past episode with six-time Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse feels especially relevant. He discusses courage, leadership, and how an elite sports mindset translates into business success and venture investing. 🎧Listen: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
February 6, 2026 at 7:32 PM
thewalrus.ca
Reports of ICE activity near the New Brunswick–Maine border last month left many Canadians uneasy. In this Q&A with The Walrus editor-in-chief Carmine Starnino constitutional law expert Kent Roach breaks down what ICE's relationship to Canada looks like: https://ow.ly/xKqK50Y9KEn
On the left: Image of two federal ICE agents wearing camouflage clothes and vests. On the right: text that reads “What stops ICE from crossing into Canada to snatch people? Very little. The legal reality Canadians don’t want to face.”
February 6, 2026 at 5:01 PM
thewalrus.ca
The pandemic created a puppy crisis. Everyone wanted one—until they didn’t.

Author Catherine Bush chronicles rescue poodles’ journeys from breeding barns to forever homes and reflects on why a rescue wasn’t right for her when she was ready to adopt. https://ow.ly/Jgqk50Y9KBS
On the left: an illustration of a poodle's backside with a bandage on the hip and a missing, bandaged paw on a pink background. On the right: text that reads “How many poodle rescues have I followed? Oodles. Ollie’s toe-less paw. Mozart’s long-lost father. I was hooked.”
February 6, 2026 at 3:01 PM
thewalrus.ca
What happened to looking at each other? Not a few seconds of eye contact before shyly looking away but really looking?

Writer Connor Garel laments that the practice of looking has itself been compromised—but there may be hope yet in Canadian art. https://ow.ly/KTrO50Y9KAe
On the left: painted portrait of an older woman sitting upright in a chair, wearing a pale pink button-down shirt and patterned pants, looking directly ahead. On the right: text that reads “How portraiture gives us permission to stare. The Kingston Prize makes a case for the beauty of real faces.”
February 6, 2026 at 1:01 PM
thewalrus.ca
When a fifth grader wrote to The Walrus looking for answers, he assumed journalists still knew how to find them. In his latest editor’s letter, Carmine Starnino reflects on why that assumption matters—and what it takes to live up to it. https://thewalrus.ca/whats-a-walrus-a-beast-actually/
On the left: an illustration of a boy looking out of a window at a mail truck. On the right: text that reads “What’s a walrus? A beast, actually. Journalism may be in a state of emergency, but we’re still giving readers answers.”
February 5, 2026 at 11:00 PM
thewalrus.ca
Food Banks of Quebec reports that monthly requests for food assistance surpassed 3 million last year, a number projected to climb to nearly 4 million by 2028. “There’s no light at the end of the tunnel whatsoever,” says Moisson Montréal's Matias Duque. https://ow.ly/rQ4V50Y98zW
On the left: a photo of stocked warehouse shelves with a forklift in the foreground. On the right: text that reads “They work full-time. They have degrees. They're still going hungry. Record demand is spreading well beyond the poorest households.”
February 5, 2026 at 9:00 PM
thewalrus.ca
Sure, Quebec voted Liberal federally, but don’t mistake that for provincial loyalty. Political organizer Alex Cool-Fergus traces how this long-standing federal–provincial divide is widening:https://thewalrus.ca/the-next-separatist-crisis-isnt-in-alberta-its-in-quebec/
On the left: an image of televisions displaying the provincial flag of Quebec. On the right: text that reads “The next separatist crisis isn’t in Alberta. It’s in Quebec. The risk of a referendum hasn’t been this high in decades, and Canada is nowhere near ready”
February 5, 2026 at 5:01 PM
thewalrus.ca
“Neutral as a figure on a tomb, / he studied the new human in my lair. / Then he turned and disappeared as we, / the new we, began to move together.”

In “Ghost,” poet Molly Peacock reflects on finding love after grief: https://thewalrus.ca/two-poems/
On the left: A photo of poet Molly Peacock against a red background. On the right: text that reads “Two poems. Orange and grey representatives of his choices / haunting with their cotton voices.”
February 5, 2026 at 3:01 PM
thewalrus.ca
The Conservatives had a chance to push Pierre Poilievre out. They didn't take it. In Calgary, delegates made it clear: The Conservative Party of Canada is now, in effect, all in on Poilievre. Journalist Paul Wells considers what happens next: https://ow.ly/oPMr50Y97kr
On the left: Photo of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre smiling with his hands held together in front of him. On the right: text that reads “Poilievre isn’t pivoting. His party just made that very clear. Conservatives want their guy to stay exactly the same.”
February 5, 2026 at 1:01 PM
thewalrus.ca
A rusting radio telescope in Algonquin Park is back online and keeping an eye on the sky. What began as a search for aliens has become “spycraft for space,” tracking threats to the satellites Canada depends on every day. https://thewalrus.ca/canada-is-building-a-surveillance-network-in-space/
On the left: a photo of a red satellite pointed to a starry sky. On the right: text that reads “Canada is building a surveillance network in space. A reborn Cold War telescope is part of a broader effort to stop relying on US intelligence.”
February 4, 2026 at 11:00 PM
thewalrus.ca
In the Yukon, 120 people died from toxic substances between 2020 and 2025. 104 of those deaths involved opioids. Since opening four and a half years ago, staff at the territory's lone supervised consumption site have reversed more than 440 overdoses. https://ow.ly/G79B50Y8vPe
On the left: a photograph of the exterior of a single-story building in the snow. On the right: text that reads “Inside the North’s only line of defence against the opioid crisis. The Whitehorse facility has reversed hundreds of overdoses while navigating politics, burnout, and fragile funding.”
February 4, 2026 at 5:01 PM
thewalrus.ca
When does advocating for independence transform into treason?

As Alberta separatists deepen ties with the Donald Trump administration, former RCMP intelligence manager Patrick Lennox considers where Canada must draw the line: https://ow.ly/cGuS50Y8vHc
On the left: a close-up image of a person wearing a blue baseball cap that reads "We're done. Alberta first." On the right: text that reads “Alberta’s separatist movement is a national security threat. Meetings with Trump officials cast new scrutiny on the province’s bid for sovereignty.”
February 4, 2026 at 3:01 PM
thewalrus.ca
"People lining up outside food banks are not who you think," says Quebec National Assembly member Guillaume Cliche-Rivard. They're working people, with dual incomes and mortgages, who have been squeezed by costs rising faster than wages. https://ow.ly/qI6N50Y8vwc
On the left: a photo of stocked warehouse shelves with a forklift in the foreground. On the right: text that reads “More students, families, and seniors are turning to food banks in Quebec. Record demand is spreading well beyond the poorest households.”
February 4, 2026 at 1:01 PM