The big shift - understanding the new Canadian: Darrell Bricker at TEDxToronto

The fifth annual TEDxToronto conference took place on September 26, 2013 at The Royal Conservatory of Music.

For our 2013 TEDxToronto Conference, all talks, performances and demos were rooted in our selected theme, "The Choices We Make."

About the Speaker:
Darrell Bricker is CEO, Ipsos Public Affairs, the world's leading social research firm. Ipsos Public Affairs is part of Ipsos, the 2nd largest market research company in the world. Darrell has written 5 bestselling books. He also holds a Ph.D. from Carleton University, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. Prior to joining Ipsos, Dr. Bricker was Director of Research for Canada's Prime Minister. Darrell lives in Toronto with his wife Nina and daughter Emily.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[gpon]

When he started his talk with “you don’t know Canada”, I was like “attention getter 101”

[docjanos]

There is a genetic context to why Asian cuisine uses less dairy. Lactose intolerance is more prevalent among people of Asian heritage than those from elsewhere in the world.

[projectfire]

Excellent, please update this presentation for 2018

[edwardruthazer]

A valuable lesson about political prognosticating.

[cnn]

I love when these speakers invent a group and speak on behalf of them LOL not the only Ted Talk where this has happened

[grantrobinson]

He's right about what wins elections now and it's very troubling. For the most part, new immigrants are about money and jobs. I would be the exact same way in another country, so I don't blame them in the slightest. However, the path to getting this results in destruction of the environment and exploitation of our natural resources.

Living in Northern Ontario and seeing the (for now) untouched environment of this country on a daily basis, it's obvious that this is the true heart of Canada, the vast forest stretching from coast to coast. It's what makes the country the best in the world. The few immigrants where I live, mostly from India/Pakistan, embrace this idea and have a deep love for the country. I don't mean the idea of the country, I mean the land itself, the aboriginal type respect we all admire.

However, when I travel to Toronto (or any big city, it's just closest for me), I find that people just don't understand what makes Canada great. Sure there's the freedom, the health care, and whatnot, they all love that. The problem is that people that I have met have much less respect for the physical country itself and will exchange the heart of this country for a quick buck in a second. These are not bad people in any way, shape, or form, but this shift in values will destroy what separates our country from every other in the world and that is the vast and incredible untouched landscape of the North.

[Sunvee]

i really dont get whats the problem with immigrants speaking English and not French? English is widely used in canada and its neibouring country US, so why bother with French? whats the problem if mainstream canadians speak only english and not french?

[justincronkright]

They aren't controversial & they aren't obscure (the numbers I mean) because they're made up... not by him nor his partners/underlings, but just in-general. We choose a fair bit as a society so we're going to roll in relatively easy to discern patterns - again as a whole/group. Thus, of course the numbers make sense, because we already have quite a simple story to tell that happens to explain so much of the historical events and perspectives that they are most often perceived through!

[Peorhum]

Time will tell how things will be in the future once Oil industry fails as it will do. Will all those moving into Calgary leave and move to BC or Ontario?

[DanielSavageOnGooglePlus]

lol this guy's takes on the 905 post-2015 and post-2019

[justincronkright]

Due to the B.S. nature of the Indian Act probably 50% (i.e. 300k) of the so called status abouriginals are largely/almost entirely of European or non-native descent!

[jackpotbear]

Canada imported a ruling class. Well done, enjoy serfdom.

[josheydubs]

He knows that this is a good thing, right?

[robin-bqlz]

La droite est si drôle dans leurs démagogies....😂😂💩💩😂😂

[jonmce]

completely clueless, a simplistic analysis based on the short term high commodity price. The conservatives win a majority based on 40% of the vote for 4 years out of the last 25 and a minority due to a left split vote. The law and order crowd are mostly rural and in the west the dominance of the conservatives in Alberta is weakening due to immigration and urban living. The conservatives win by a rural base supported by wedge politics. Even with immigrants the conservatives played one group off against another..This has an intrinsic conflict because the conservative base is rural with xenophobic tendencies and does not partner well with immigrants. The country is changing and becoming less rural. Even without good oil prices the west at least hopefully will continue to expand. It is unlikely that the American right will successfully become a major factor in Canada with law and order, guns and religion at least in part because of social programs the its likely ultimate crash of right wing politics  in the US. Also Canada is becoming more its own country not only rejecting the US model but rejecting US criteria for success. In addition climate change is happening and despite the remaining right wingers beliefs this will become a major factor. Ontario alone could potentially increase it agricultural area by 100%. There will be a shift over all to the north which is already beginning to happen. Canada will need to increase its intake of immigrants but it has to be remembered that 2nd generations typically become less religious and more similar to the existing society. It is likely a larger portion of immigrants will be from Mexico. Potentially even American immigration will increase.

[darrinburke]

Soo true...but....why are we still Canadian? It has become so pointless. Let's ads ten news shining stars to the star and stripes banner. That is what Canadian really need. 

[universalradio]

Patronizing, trying to shift Canada to the right. Looks like an ageing PoliSci frat boy. "women's fertile years" go ta hell. Another genius and Harper-promoter.