U of T Where You Are - Vancouver, BC: The Science of a Good Life: Why Life Satisfaction Belongs at the Heart of Policy

Canada consistently ranks among the world’s leaders in health, education, and economic opportunity—yet Canadians have reported declining levels of life satisfaction over the past decade. Why is there a gap between what the numbers suggest and how people actually feel?

In this talk, Dr. Cheung will draw on his work with the Canadian Happiness Report and the World Happiness Report and introduce the idea of life satisfaction as a way of understanding societal progress. He will highlight the latest research findings on life satisfaction at the provincial (including British Colombia), national, and global levels. He will also discuss what can be done—from policy choices to everyday practices—to ensure that Canada becomes not just a prosperous country, but one where more people genuinely feel satisfied with their lives.