Article content

It was only a few minutes into his address in Montreal when former U.S. president Barack Obama was asked a question that would reveal the underlying theme for his wide-ranging discussion.

It was put to him by Jean-François Gagné, co-founder of Montreal’s Element AI, before 12,000 people at the Bell Centre Thursday evening.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Obama in Montreal: Youth, climate change discussed in hour-long talk Back to video

“What makes you optimistic these days?” Gagné, the night’s moderator, asked.

“Young people,” Obama answered, without hesitating.

Whether speaking about climate change, the economy, the state of online discourse or the state of democracy at large, Obama often tied the conversation back into today’s youth and the future that awaits them.

“This generation coming up behind us, they are incredibly sophisticated, incredibly idealistic, innovative, comfortable with diversity and welcoming of new ideas,” he said to applause. “When you spend time with them, you are inspired and energized.”