Society | The Walrus

Photograph of a public men's restroom with sinks and mirrors against a wall. Urinals can be seen in the reflection of the mirrors.

COVID-19 / Health

Why Are Canada’s Public Bathrooms So Inadequate?

July 8, 2020July 8, 2020 - by Lezlie Lowe

Access to clean, safe facilities is crucial for public health—especially during a pandemic

Illustration of a woman walking across a tightrope against a royal blue background. Swirling in the air around her are various objects showing the collision of work and parenting life––paperwork, children's alphabetical building blocks, a cup of coffee, a bottle, and envelopes.

Society

My Son Peed Onscreen in a Zoom Call, and Other Tales of a Working Parent

July 7, 2020July 10, 2020 - by Mihira Lakshman

In a pandemic, our economy is sending a clear message: you can either work or parent

A man in a checkered shirt stands inside a large, barn-shaped building surrounded by chickens. He is holding a chicken in his hands and leaning towards it.

Health

A Warning from the Chickens of the World

July 6, 2020July 8, 2020 - by David Waltner-Toews

How our reliance on mass-produced food increases the risk of pandemics

A layered photo of the artist and her mother as a child, against a translucent background.

July/August 2020 / Society

Remembering the Air India Bombing

June 23, 2020June 23, 2020 - by Jordan Michael Smith

Thirty-five years later, few Canadians seem to acknowledge the largest terrorist attack in their country’s history

A black and white photo of Trevi Fountain, in Rome, stylized with stripes of yellow, orange, red and green surrounding it.

Society / World

Travelling the World, One Webcam at a Time

June 17, 2020June 17, 2020 - by Sarah Musgrave

It’s been three months and counting without tourists. Could this be the best thing to happen to cities around the world?

An animated illustration of a stick figure sitting at a table on a laptop. As the person types frantically, the laptop moves across the table. To continue working, the person's arms extend, and they eventually flip over the table––kicking the light fixture on the way over––in order to continue working.

Society

Are We Ever Offline Anymore?

June 15, 2020June 15, 2020 - by Blair Elliott

Thanks to the convenience of technology, work is taking over our lives—yet we keep logging on

A Muslim woman in a headscarf and hijab kneels in a mosque. Her hands are held up in front of her body prayer.

COVID-19 / Society

Locked Out of Your Place of Worship

June 2, 2020June 2, 2020 - by Steven Zhou

Some members of spiritual communities felt isolated from their faiths long before quarantine

An illustration of the head and shoulders of a human silhouette. In the background are several small houses, spread far apart, with a high density of trees in between. The colour scheme is dark periwinkle blue and the houses have yellow lights.

First Person / Society

How Northern Landscapes Helped Shape My Queer Identity

June 1, 2020June 1, 2020 - by Lori Fox

In the boreal, locked between the tundra, the coastal rainforests, and the prairies, I learned to relate to my body beyond my gender

A pair of hands points at a black and white photo containing a woman and seven young children.

COVID-19 / Health

The North Knows What It’s Like to Fight a Pandemic

May 26, 2020May 27, 2020 - by Elaine Anselmi

The region isn’t equipped to fight infectious diseases. That doesn’t mean it’s not prepared

Illustration of a woman on a couch playing guitar. In front of her is an open laptop on a coffee table; behind her is an easel with a painting of a sun. Scattered books and vases are around and beneath the table.

COVID-19 / First Person / July/August 2020

If a Book Is Published in a Pandemic, Will Anyone Read It?

May 21, 2020May 21, 2020 - by Katrina Onstad

We already undervalue our artists. COVID-19 has only made it worse