Maclean's July 2024

In the 1980s, I attended a bustling public high school in downtown Toronto. Canada had just welcomed thousands of Vietnamese newcomers, and some of my classmates were part of that wave. I saw firsthand how quickly they found a pathway to a safe, stable, middle-class life—the Canadian dream. To me, safety and prosperity are this country’s core value propositions. Here, a kid can arrive from anywhere in the world, enter public school and attend a relatively affordable university. They can graduate as a pharmacist or computer programmer or some other desirable professional, equipped to take advantage of the many opportunities Canada has to offer. At least, that’s how it’s been for decades. How realistic is it now? The crushingly high cost of living makes everything harder. Finding an affordable place…

Given the global shift towards ESG investing, how is Canada positioning itself as a leader in leveraging technological advancements to attract sustainable investment and promote economic growth while prioritizing environmental and social responsibility? By supporting clean technology companies to develop leading edge products and services that the world needs, we are transforming the green economic future of Canada. We continue to accelerate the transition to clean growth through new tax credits outlined in our recent budget. That includes measures such as the new Electric Vehicle Supply Chain investment tax credit, which will provide a 10 per cent tax credit for the cost of buildings used in the EV supply chain for businesses that invest in Canada across three key supply chain segments: • EV assembly; • EV battery production; and,…

Did you know that buildings and construction activities account for 30 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions? The sector has a key role to play in the fight against climate change. That’s why Pomerleau joined the Government of Canada’s Net-Zero Challenge in 2023. The general contractor intends to help lead the transition to a low-carbon economy and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. To reach this goal, integrating the principles of environmental protection, social engagement, and sound governance (ESG) on worksites and in offices is key. In the last year, Pomerleau has achieved success with several of its sustainable projects. The University of Toronto’s Academic Wood Tower The University of Toronto’s Academic Wood Tower (UTAT) has begun to take shape, serving as a beacon of progress for environmental infrastructure.…

NIGARA SHAHEEN’S ROAD to this year’s Paris Olympics has been more treacherous than most. Born in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, in 1993, she was just six months old when her parents carried her across the mountainous border into Pakistan, fleeing the country’s raging civil war. In the city of Peshawar, she grew into a fighter, first as part of a rare all-girls karate team and, later, as a champion in judo, a sport she appreciated for its emphasis on intellect over aggression. Shaheen’s love of judo took her all over: back to Afghanistan, where she endured ambient gunfire and harassment to train and earn her undergraduate degree; to Russia (again, to train, albeit unsuccessfully, during COVID); and, in 2021, to the Olympics. After struggling to find a country that would host her,…

You’re a prominent voice for Inuit culture in Canadian media. How do you see your work inspiring a new generation of Inuit actors and storytellers? As a young Inuk, I was inspired by anyone around me who was working towards making our communities safer and healthier. Whether they worked in government, led community initiatives, worked in culture and language revitalization, or they spent time helping and learning from elders, working with youth, creating and sharing art. Inuit worldviews see the interconnectedness of everything — the land, the animals, our kin, ourselves, and how we treat the land, the animals, our kin, and ourselves. Being cognizant of and working towards protecting the interconnectedness of everything and seeing Inuit of all different backgrounds, with different goals and different approaches but the same…

Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF) aims to build cultural understanding and create a path towards reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Join DWF in the spirit of connection and reconciliation this Indigenous History Month to Learn Indigenous History | Celebrate Indigenous Cultures. Explore cultural celebrations happening in your community through DWF’s events calendar. Follow along with @DownieWenjack on social media for tips on respectful participation in cultural events, historical highlights, and themed days like Trivia Tuesdays. Plus, check out our exclusive new merch collaboration with Anishinaabe artist, Blake Angeconeb. Join us as we celebrate the richness, strength, and diversity of traditional and contemporary Indigenous cultures and #DoSomething to move reconciliation forward this Indigenous History Month.…