The Democratic Engagement Exchange

Dedicated to building a more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient democracy across Canada

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EXCHANGE
 
 
 

2026 Toronto Mayoral Debate

Register for the chance to attend the 2026 Toronto Mayoral Debate on October 6 hosted by TMU, United Way Greater Toronto, and the Toronto Star.

Enter the public lottery here
Enter the TMU student lottery here


 
 
 
 
 

The exchange’s work

 

Projects

Read about our ongoing and past programming activities.

Election Readiness Tools

Become election-ready with free tools and training for you and your community.

Canadian Vote Summit

Learn about The Exchange's flagship event.

Democracy Dialogues

Explore current and past episodes of our webinar series.

 
 

Do you want to support a vibrant and inclusive democracy?

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As the 2026 municipal elections approach, nonprofits have an opportunity to help residents better understand how local government shapes everyday life. This interactive session will explore practical approaches to civic engagement that move beyond t
At the Canadian Vote Summit, we explored the trust deficit. The answer to how we rebuild trust kept coming back to the same place: lived experience and human connection 🧑‍🤝‍🧑. From local journalism 📰 to public services 🏛️, the message
🌎 At the Canadian Vote Summit 2026, the Global Centre for Pluralism introduced participants to the Global Pluralism Monitor: a practical tool for understanding how pluralism can strengthen democratic institutions, build trust, and foster belonging a
We’re Hiring! 🚀 Join the 2026 Youth Leadership Academy staff team at York University this summer! If you’re a mentor or leader passionate about supporting youth (ages 15–18), we want you. Open Roles: 🔹 Youth Engagement Leaders ?
🗳️ 🇨🇦 At the Canadian Vote Summit, election leaders from across Canada shared what they're seeing on the ground and how electoral institutions are adapting to meet new challenges, strengthen trust, and protect the integrity of our democratic proce
Belonging, alienation, and trust were at the heart of our Summit 2026 panel: Polarization, Populism and Pluralism. Disagreement isn’t the problem, it’s essential in a democracy. The challenge is finding ways to connect and engage across
The Walrus Debate brought together voices from across the political landscape for a lively and wide-ranging conversation. The debaters agreed, disagreed, and sometimes agreed to disagree. This discussion was a reminder that civil discourse is still