Sense-making drives what people think they know, how they make decisions, and how they behave. It is at the heart of challenges to communicating information in ways that reach Canadians. It also plays a key role in overall trust in government, with long-term implications for Canadians’ views on democratic institutions and science.

Policy Horizons is exploring how Canadians’ sense-making may change in the future.

Covid-19 drew attention to seniors and other high-risk populations who are affected by social isolation and loneliness. It also challenged conventional public health advice that these populations should participate more in community life by attending museums, choirs, clubs and other in-person activities.

How are our sense-making processes evolving? Here are four changes that affect the way in which we think, make decisions and behave.