DEMOCRACY DIALOGUES

Season 3: The Year of the Election?

We're thrilled to bring our network Democracy Dialogues, a free virtual series that will answer some of the biggest questions and concerns we have about what it takes to build a vibrant and inclusive democracy now and in the future.

Each session is designed for learning and building community during this challenging time. Check out this season’s episodes below:

Social Media - The enemy of a vibrant and inclusive democracy?

Monday, November 8, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

Social media is an essential component of any political campaign. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced candidates to rely even more on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp to get their message out and to connect with potential supporters. On this virtual campaign trail, candidates, specifically women and racialized candidates, often face insults, threats, hate speech, and other abuse.

We understand that social media can be a toxic environment for women and racialized candidates, but what is the impact of this on civic engagement and our democracy? This session, we’ll explore and raise critical concerns about the challenges posed by social media and its ability to foster dangerous polarization. What happened during the 2021 Federal Elections? And how should we respond?

DECISIONS, DEBATES, DEMOCRACY? MAKING AN INFORMED DECISION - EASIER SAID THAN DONE!

Tuesday, July 13, 1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT

The Leaders Debates offers the only chance that Canadians have to see all major political party leaders go head-to-head live. Is it pure political theater or a genuine opportunity for Canadians to learn more about the parties policy positions and leaders' capabilities? Join two seasoned journalists, one now responsible for organizing the debates and another a former debate moderator, for a lively conversation about the role of debates and the broader question of how we help new voters make informed decisions during an election.

We will explore the challenges associated with making an informed choice during elections in an age of disinformation, social media overload and political campaigns that reward platitudes over substance. And offer practical tips for first time voters who find themselves frustrated by the whole experience.

Representation matters. Power matters.

a Conversation with Velma Morgan & Celina Caesar-Chavannes

Tuesday, June 15, 3:00 - 4:00 PM EDT

Join two Canadian leaders committed to building a vibrant democracy.

Democracy promises that all of us will have a voice in shaping our future and we will have leaders to represent our communities. But since Canada’s inception, systemic racism has undermined this promise. Velma Morgan and Celina Caesar-Chavannes are leading efforts to change that. In this conversation, we will consider the challenges that racialized candidates face in their journey from nomination to the campaign trail to Parliament Hill. In our current political system, what is broken but can be fixed and what needs to be thrown out and what new needs to be built?

THe plague that killed athenian democracy

Tuesday, May 25, 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT

The Great Plague of Athens was a violent and deadly epidemic that swept the city-state of Athens in 430 BC, during the second year of the Peloponnesian War. It was a disaster that killed 1 in every 4 Athenians, and its political and social consequences were harmful to the Athenian body politic and its nascent concept of democracy. The collective trauma of the plague produced a hopelessness and a paranoia that ultimately resulted in the abandonment of the common good and the erosion of public trust in democratic rule. The Athenian plague and its aftermath tells us much about the nature of democratic rule. How can we tend to the moral health of individuals and societies in the face of unprecedented and disastrous events?

Active Citizenship: Fostering political participation for newcomers and refugees

Thursday, April 15, 1:30 - 2:30 PM EST

An essential element in a newcomer’s journey to settlement in Canada is developing the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to contribute to the civic life of their communities and influence public decisions that impact their lives. Doing so creates stronger bonds of belonging and better policies and programs that impact all Canadians.

This session will explore what the journey to active citizenship looks like, including the legislative, structural and cultural barriers that newcomers face, and the enablers that can be put in place to build a more inclusive democracy where immigrant and refugee voices play a greater role in shaping Canada.

Educating for Democracy: Campus Based Democratic Engagement

Tuesday, March 9th, 1:00 - 2:00 PM EST

Colleges and universities are political spaces. Students are shaped by political events. But for too many students in our post-secondary institutions, there is no educating for democracy. In Canada, there is a pressing need to develop a more robust approach to fostering democratic participation at our colleges and universities. But what does this look like? How can we educate for democracy? How do we address existing inequalities in the participation?

Empowerment through Accessibility: Towards Inclusive Democratic Engagement for People with Disabilities

Tuesday, February 9th, 1:00 - 2:00 PM EST

There is a systemic exclusion of people with disabilities from political participation. Equal access to exercising their right to civic engagement and political participation are among the barriers that people with disabilities face in our society. How do we build an inclusive democratic process that is reflective of the needs of people with disabilities?

Health Care for All? Confronting Health Inequalities by Building Democracy

Tuesday, January 12th

At this moment when health inequalities have never been more front and centre in our public discourse, strengthening the connection between democratic engagement and individual and community health is essential to establishing positive health outcomes for communities too often ignored by our formal democratic institutions. How can marginalized communities gain power and bring their voices to the forefront in the fight towards equitable healthcare for all? Join us in conversation with Cathy Crowe, RN & Dr. Danyaal Raza as they share their experiences on the ground in communities where engaging in democratic action has led to improved health outcomes.