Pearson Podcast

About Pearson Podcast

Pearson Centre webinars and events in podcast form

Publisher

The Pearson Centre

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Jun 2025

Latest episode

9 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Sept 2026

   Terry Fox Humanitarian Awards: Canada’s Inspiring Young Leaders

   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.

2. 

   24 Aug 2026

   Endangered Rights, Endangered Democracy: A Conversation with Dignity Network Canada

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

3. 

   26 Jun 2026

   James Scongack Fireside Chat

   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.

4. 

   15 Jun 2026

   Marjorie Michel & Jean Augustine Fireside Chat

   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.

5. 

   14 Apr 2026

   Canadian Unity & the Clarity Act: A Conversation with Stéphane Dion and Corey Hogan

   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

6. 

   8 Apr 2026

   A Conversation with Jeff Copenace, Chief of the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation

   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.

7. 

   17 Mar 2026

   The Importance of Independent Media in Fighting Disinformation

   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.

8. 

   20 Jan 2026

   Rethinking Justice for Survivors of Sexual Violence

   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 (https://www.canada.ca/en/office-federal-ombudsperson-victims-crime/sissa-essas.html)

9. 

   2 Jan 2026

   Interview with Author/Actor Mark Critch

   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.

10. 

    2 Dec 2025

    Indira Naidoo Harris Interviews Dalton McGuinty

    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.”

11. 

    14 Nov 2025

    Interviewing Sergio Marchi, former MP and cabinet minister

    The Pearson Centre was pleased to welcome the Hon Sergio Marchi for a conversation on his new book, Pursuing a Public Life: How to Succeed in the Political Arena. Sergio is a former community activist, city councillor, a Member of Parliament, and Minister for International Trade, Environment, and Citizenship and Immigration. After voluntarily leaving the political arena, he was appointed Canadian Ambassador to the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Agencies in Geneva. Moderating our discussion was Sofia Robinson, The Pearson Centre's Research Assistant currently studying at UBC, and Neva Moffat, a recent UOttawa grad currently working at the House of Commons. While the most recent election saw the most young people elected, there is still a need for more. Barely 3% of parliamentarians are under 30, which is not reflective of Canada. Sergio offered advice for these young, newly elected officials, having been only 28 when he was first elected to office. When asked about work/life balance, he felt that today’s young people are better at this than his generation. He stressed the importance of being mindful of your own health, and mental health, and to remember that once a political career is over, your family and friends will still be there. He also offered advice on community involvement before entering politics, and the value in municipal government. On social media, he stressed that it will never replace face-to-face contact. Extreme language results in extreme behaviour, and politicians need to be mindful of their words. He also recognized that the path for women and young people in politics is more arduous than for men, as often they are not given winnable ridings in which to run. Political parties need to do better. Finally, he said “don’t lose hope. Canada has a strong democracy, the rule of law, multiculturalism, and so much more”

12. 

    9 Oct 2025

    Honouring the Hon. David Peterson

    When David Peterson became Premier in June 1985 he ended 42 years of Ontario Progressive Conservative dominance. His government ushered in bold reforms—freedom‑of‑information laws, environmental protection, rent controls, and fully funded Catholic schools—and transformed Ontario’s political landscape into a competitive, multi‑party arena.

13. 

    5 Aug 2025

    Unequal Justice: Women and the Criminal Justice System in Canada

    The Pearson Centre recently had the great privilege of hosting a discussion about the all-too-common failure of the criminal justice system to secure justice for  women, especially survivors of sexual violence. Our three expert panelists, Karen Vecchio, former MP and Chair of the Status of Women Committee, Megan Walker, VP of the National Council of Women of Canada and Alexa Barkley, co-founder of Survivor Safety Matters, are all longtime women’s rights activists and brought a range of insights to this important conversation.

14. 

    14 Jul 2025

    A chat with the amazing Julie Savard-Shaw

    A chat with the amazing Julie Savard-Shaw, Executive Director of The Prosperity Project (TPP). Born out of concern for the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on women, TPP is tackling barriers for women of all backgrounds in the Canadian workplace.

15. 

    19 Jun 2025

    The Pearson Centre's Inaugural Laureate Dinner with Hon Irwin Cotler

    The Pearson Centre's Inaugural Laureate Dinner celebrating a lifetime of service by the Honourable Irwin Cotler

16. 

    2 Jun 2025

    Between the Lines - Speech from the throne

    The Pearson Centre's Between the Lines webinar featuring former MPs Peter Julian, Hon. Ya'ara Saks and Karen Vecchio. The discussion delved in to issues from the Throne Speech not being discussed in the media – women, people with disabilities, social programs like pharmacare and dental care, fiscal responsibility and more.

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