Democratic Engagement Exchange

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Democratic Engagement Exchange

The Exchange drives democratic engagement by creating tools, and championing policies and programs that promote a more inclusive democracy.

03/10/2026

Today, Founder and Director of the Exchange John Beebe testified before the Procedure and House Affairs Committee on the importance of investing in community to strengthen democracy.

At a time when Canada is facing a growing loneliness epidemic, supporting the community organizations that do the grassroots work of bringing people together has never been more important.

That’s why we’re proud to support the proposed Canadian Democracy Fund.

Learn more at the link in our bio.

12/05/2025

Big news for democracy in Ontario!

Elections Ontario has shared data from the February 2025 election showing something remarkable: voter turnout among 18- to 24-year-olds increased by 9%, and new and updated voter registration in the same age group more than doubled to 29%. This happened in an election when overall voter turnout was flat, and voter turnout of those 65 and older actually declined.*

For those of us working to strengthen democratic engagement, this is more than a promising statistic. It’s evidence of what’s possible when we invest in meaningful, sustained engagement.

On behalf of , the Democratic Engagement Exchange, in partnership with , led a province-wide campaign to reach young people where they are. We were on 47 college and university campuses across the province. This new data affirms what our work has long shown: when you meet youth with relevant information, accessible tools, and a sense of collective purpose, they show up.

We look forward to continuing to work with Election Ontario, EMBs across Canada, community partners, students and post-secondary institutions to ensure that participation is easy and meaningful for every voter across the province and the country.

*NOTE: Turnout data is based on all registered electors. It does not include data on electors who may be eligible to vote but are not registered.

12/01/2025

Deadline Extended! ⏰ Apply by Dec 8 to join the Forum for Young Canadians team in Ottawa (Feb–Mar 2026).

We’re looking for youth-focused leaders in engagement, logistics, and health support. Be part of something inspiring and help empower youth to engage with democracy in action!

Apply now – link in bio

11/19/2025

We’re Hiring!

Join the Forum for Young Canadians Team and help deliver a once-in-a-lifetime experience empowering youth across Canada to engage with democracy in action.

We’re looking for dynamic, inclusive, and youth-focused leaders for roles in youth engagement, logistics, and health support.

📍 Ottawa | Feb–Mar 2026 | Applications reviewed rolling until Nov 28

Be part of something inspiring. Apply Now. Link in bio.

10/21/2025

It’s been an inspiring week at The Democratic Engagement Exchange!

Our Founder and Director, John Beebe, joined two important conversations about strengthening democracy and belonging.

📍 At the ’s 2025 Global Symposium, John took part in the Belonging in Action: Activism, Democracy, and the Power of Civic Voice panel, exploring how we can make civic participation more inclusive and empowering.

📍 At the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Healthy Democracy Forum, John presented key insights from Turn Up the Turnout, a new resource on voter participation developed in collaboration between The Exchange and AMO.

He also joined a lively discussion on how to Get Out the Vote, highlighting practical strategies for increasing participation in local elections.

With Ontario’s municipal elections just one year away, this is an important moment to reflect on the factors that shape voter engagement and how we can work together to build a stronger culture of engagement.

A big thank you to everyone involved for an energizing week of ideas, insights, and community!

10/07/2025

Welcome to Play Dough’s Republic, where democracy meets creativity (and a little bit of mess)!

At the MetLib Conference today, John Beebe led 150 librarians and community changemakers through a hands-on democracy workshop. Together, they explored the principles that matter most to a vibrant democracy, and brought them to life in playdough form.

Each creation is a reminder that participation can be playful, collective, and deeply meaningful. Swipe to see how these teams shaped their visions of democracy 🟣🟡🟠

10/06/2025

The Canadian Democracy Delegation just wrapped an incredible week at the Athens Democracy Forum!

From exchanging ideas with Greek institutions to hosting a standing-room-only panel on pluralism and democracy, our delegates shared Canada’s experience in reconciliation, equity, and countering polarization.

💬 Panel highlights included insights from Hayden King, Maiwand Rahyab, Dominique Anglade, and Mohammed Hashim, with remarks from Chrystia Freeland showcasing how Canada strengthens pluralism at home.

🏛️ Athens itself inspired reflection—visiting the Agora, the birthplace of democracy, reminded us why inclusive participation and trust in institutions matter more than ever.

Democracy is a muscle 💪—its strength comes from participation. Canadians have a role and responsibility to defend pluralistic values.

🙏 Huge thanks to the Athens Democracy Forum, The Democracy & Culture Foundation, The New York Times, and our funding partners for making this possible:

- Global Centre for Pluralism
- Euphrosine Foundation
- McConnell Foundation
- Embassy of Canada in Greece

Together, we’re building a more resilient, inclusive, and pluralistic democracy.

10/01/2025

Canada’s Democracy Delegation Has Landed in Athens!

From diplomats to peacebuilders, civic innovators to youth engagement champions, these delegates bring diverse perspectives and decades of experience to the global conversation on pluralism, resilience, and the future of democracy.

As threats to democratic values intensify around the world, they will step onto the global stage at the Athens Democracy Forum, driving dialogue, building alliances, and taking action to defend and strengthen democracy -both at home and abroad.

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09/22/2025

🎬 Three incredible films. One incredible event.

Join us on September 25th at 1 PM ET for a virtual screening and moderated discussion of three select short documentaries from Citizen Minutes.

Learn how ordinary people can make extraordinary impact, and how to use these films to spark conversations and deepen engagement in your community programming.

👉 Register on Eventbrite through the link in our bio.

09/19/2025

Meet the leaders shaping Canada’s democracy.

This week, four Canadian voices are stepping onto the global stage at the Athens Democracy Forum. Representing the Democratic Engagement Exchange, Apathy is Boring, the Circle for Democratic Solidarity, and the Global Centre for Pluralism, they’ll join international thinkers to share ideas, build alliances, and strengthen democratic resilience.

Swipe to hear their vision for safeguarding democracy at home and abroad.

09/16/2025

Upcoming Virtual Event: How to Make Change
📅 September 25 at 1 PM ET

Are you looking for engaging tools to spark dialogue and action in your programs?

Join us for a special virtual screening and moderated discussion of three Citizen Minutes short documentaries that showcase Canadians breaking down barriers, building bridges, and reimagining change. These powerful stories are designed to be used in classrooms, workshops, and community programs to inspire conversation and spark action.

🎬 Featured Films & Guests:

Becoming Ruby — with director Quan Luong to share the story of Ruby Chopstix, Canada’s first drag artist-in-residence.

Crossing the Divide — featuring participant Amanda Sussman, who joins to reflect on bridging political divides.

A Stop Gap Measure — with director Lulu Wei and disability activist Luke Anderson on the fight for accessibility rights.

This interactive session is not just about watching films. It’s about discovering how you can use them as tools to deepen engagement, spark tough conversations, and strengthen your community programming.

👉 Register through the link in our bio and leave with stories and strategies you can bring back to your own work.

Address

Toronto Metropolitan University
Toronto, ON
M5B2K3

Website

http://engagedemocracy.ca/

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