THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

The 150th anniversary of Confederation has been a cause for celebration for many Canadians and equally an opportunity to contemplate the unfinished business that remains in building a more caring, fulfilling, sustainable, and just future for all. During my travels as the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, I have been privileged to hear so many of your stories. Ontarians have shared their successes, hopes, and challenges so generously. These stories say something quite profound about what binds us together, yet all too often, they remain untold and unknown to others. Through the Lieutenant Governor’s Visionaries Prize, my office invited all Ontarians to join a deliberately forward-looking conversation about how we can creatively navigate the challenges facing our society over the next fifty years. I continue to be humbled and encouraged by the hundreds of Ontarians who submitted their visionary ideas, by the thirty-six finalists who courageously presented their visions before live audiences, and by the thousands of people across Canada who have taken an interest in this initiative. The ideas offered spoke to inclusive economic prosperity, social cohesion and environmental stewardship. They suggested new approaches to governance and reconciliation and underscored the importance of science, technology, and innovation. And in this issue of The Walrus, you will be able to sense the energy, intellect, and passion of the six winning participants. For more, visit thewalrus.ca/live. The participants and the audiences brought perspectives grounded in research but also based on real life experience and deeply felt conviction. What was most striking was that collectively they remind us that citizen voices and inclusive dialogue are the bedrock of a strong democracy. May the conversations continue. I am grateful that the Visionaries Prize was generously supported by the Government of Ontario, through its Ontario 150 program, and The Walrus.