Listening Posts take place yearly in January in over 40 countries. The Canada Report is summarized along with the other country reports to produce a world view of what was going on in 2020.  In January 2021, 25 Canadians from Toronto took part in the international Listening Post event sponsored by OPUS and supported by ICI. 

Themes from this year’s discussion in Canada 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: severe isolation, economic, social and emotional upheaval, deciphering contradictory information about the pandemic and a rise in youth mental health issues. Anxiety, depression and despair were discussed in the uncertainty of the present and the future.

The inequitable impact of the virus across society and the lack of sufficient supports:   the precarity and exhaustion experienced by front line workers many of whom are racialized; those who lost their employment or loved ones, from those who could work and shelter at home during lock downs.

The exposure of social injustice through the inequitable impact of the pandemic, the unlawful killings of black and indigenous peoples as well as rising violence against women is leading to new examination and attempts at social justice efforts. 

The reliance on politicians, scientists, medical personnel and government to act with the well- being of people in mind which led to both surrendering of freedoms that might have been resisted, skepticism about the facts and narratives being circulated and a fear of rising authoritarianism. There was recognition of the medical system and supports available within Canada.

The change in social relationships with the physical and emotional impact of isolation; the fear of exposure to others in public and reliance on technology to maintain contact. Traditional ideas of family are reinforced through social constructions of safe social bubbles over non normative constructions of personal connectedness

View the full Canadian report here

View the full Global report here