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At first the plume of smoke—going straight up into the sky above Beirut—looked like a giant exclamation mark hovering over the city, as if to highlight the absurdity of the past twelve months. Then the first explosion occurred – writes Nour Wahid.

June 21 marks National Indigenous Peoples Day! On this day, we recognize and celebrate the vibrant culture, diversity and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples across what we now call Canada. It is an opportunity to acknowledge and learn more of our true and shared histories. Today we can participate in and experience Indigenous knowledge and cultures that continue to revitalize and thrive, despite centuries of oppression.

Every child has the right to grow up healthy, educated and safe – regardless of race, gender or socioeconomic status. Systemic change to end racism is essential to achieving this vision.

This is a significant moment in time. It must be a catalyst for change that is long overdue and will come only with sustained commitment and action. It will require of us a willingness to look in the mirror and question our own perceptions and our practices and to speak out for equality and justice and stand up against racism and injustice. The shocking deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, among many, are a stark reminder of the daily reality that Black people face at the hands of…

Today as we celebrate World Environment Day, it is important to reflect on how the current collective global moment that we are experiencing with Covid-19 has, in a strange way, created opportunities for us to take bold climate actions. Two months ago, who would have thought that polluting factories would be closed, highways and roads would be silent, and our airspace would be free of air traffic? Who would have thought that as much as 2.6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide would not be…

We recently carried out a survey with children and families across Canada that found many children are worried about falling behind in school, two in three feel lonely and they are bored at home.

Music is empowering Indigenous children to overcome trauma, build resilience and emotional wellbeing, while amplifying their voices, stories and perspectives of life as an Indigenous young person in Cat Lake First Nation. The remote Indigenous community in northern Ontario has been dealing with a public health and housing emergency for more than a year. For many children living in Cat Lake, the crisis has had a serious impact on their physical and mental health.

I gave birth to my son four years ago, amid a background of falling bombs. Since that day, I have been praying for us to live long enough to see the other side of the war that has been tearing my country – Yemen - apart for more than five years. Today, I have a new fear: COVID-19.