David Suzuki to get honourary doctorate on heels of sold-out show in Winnipeg

The University of Winnipeg will hand David Suzuki an honourary Doctor of Science Friday morning.

The Canadian icon, known for his work as a CBC broadcaster and environmentalist, was in Winnipeg Thursday night to speak about the environment, activism and reflect on his lengthy career at a sold-out event.

The event, which starts at 7 p.m., will have performances from Tanya Tagaq, Fred Penner, Sierra Noble and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

Thursday afternoon, Up to Speed host Ismaila Alfa sat down with Suzuki to reflect on more than 50 years of activism, environmentalism and broadcasting.

On his love-hate relationship with academics

"Academics, they live in a dream world … When I began to do television there was a great deal of resistance from the academic community. 'Who the hell do you think you are speaking on behalf of the scientists?' And back then, in the '60s, I had hair down to my shoulders and a headband. So, 'A goddamn hippie is going on, talking about science?' … I love getting honourary degrees so my academics – 'See guys? It is a useful activity!"

On being a reluctant celebrity

"It's something I do not wear well. I'm constantly being told by my family, 'Look him in the eye and answer him!' And I'm going, 'God damn it, he just barged in! We were having a conversation!' And now everyone has got a cellphone with a camera and everybody demands a picture with them in it. One person does it and then 20 people line up and want their pictures. It's something I never sought, and I do not wear very well. I thought I was a messenger carrying a messenger. Of course it was silly not to think of this. From day to day, people watch your show, they don't remember what was on, but they remember you were on. 'Oh yeah, that funny looking Japanese guy. Oh yeah, right. I trust him.' What happens is over time they transfer their trust on me. It's not about specific issues, but in general that field, and they look to me … I'm one guy. I'm one person. You've got to be there with me. You've got to be helping me too."

On earbuds, toilets and the next generation

 "I worry a lot when I look at my grandchildren today because there's so much to distract them. You know, electronic stuff. I see kids going to school with earbuds and they're not tuned to what the hell's going on around them. I think it's a big concern … First of all, I tell them, 'Don't take all that electronic stuff. No you cannot have a cellphone when you're only four. No, you do not have a computer to watch television.' Get them outside … For a kid, growing up in a city, they ought to be asking ordinary questions like, 'Mom when I turn on the lights, where does that electricity come from?' or 'When I flush the toilet, where does that go?' … I love it in Toronto when I tell children, 'You know, when you flush your toilet, it goes straight out to Lake Ontario, and then when you turn on the tap to take a drink, that water comes in straight from Lake Ontario,' and then they begin to understand," he said. "I think it's very important kids have that connection."

On Stephen Harper

"1988 to now, we're still trying to say, 'No no no, it's really happening! We need to do something!' We've had 10 years of a government now who has been so single-minded in terms of wanting to make Canada an oil super-power that they've really suppressed as much as Harper could suppress the avenues of information. When has Mr. Harper ever said the words 'climate change'? When has he ever talked about the need to really act on this? He hasn't, and he's tried to prevent the public from being aware of what's going on,"

On the short-sightedness of politicians

"The problem of course is that politicians, when they're elected, their first, absolute priority has to be getting re-elected so that means that whatever they do has to pay off within three or four years. Well, that doesn't allow you then to look ahead 15 or 20 years, so I say every parent who's concerned about the world that we're leaving for our children and grandchildren – every parent has to be a warrior on behalf of their children and grandchildren. The way you do that -- if we have a democracy -- at all candidates' meetings, you get up and say, 'What is your party going to do, not for the next election, but for my children? What are you going to do about climate change because I really do worry.'"