Canadian vote Summit 2025
Agenda Day 1 (May 20 2025)
| Time | Session and Topic | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 8:40 AM - 9:00 AM | Opening remarks | John Beebe, Democratic Engagement Exchange |
| 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM | First Take: CEO Reflections on Snap Elections Hot off the heels of the federal and Ontario snap elections, this exclusive fireside chat with Canada’s Chief Electoral Officers offers a rare, first-look at how it all played out—and what it means for the future of our elections. | Stéphane Perrault, CEO Elections Canada Greg Essensa, CEO Elections Ontario Moderator: Victoria Kuketz, Host of Democracy Dialogues |
| 9:30 - 10:40 AM | (In)Civility in Municipal Politics Former Gatineau mayor France Bélisle joins us for an unfiltered fireside chat on the loneliness of leadership and the toxic culture driving people out of politics. Her resignation made national waves—now she’s speaking out on what she lived, why it matters, and what needs to change to rebuild trust in public life. | France Bélisle, Former Mayor of Gatineau Moderator:Catherine Corriveau, Democratic Engagement Exchange |
| 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM | Builders of Belonging: Adapting Traditional Models to Strengthen Democracy What can institutions like unions, the military, and civic organizations teach us about fostering participation and social cohesion? | General Walter Natynszyk, Canadian Armed Forces Hugues Perreault, Unifor Samantha Reusch, Apathy is Boring |
| 11:40 AM - 1:00 PM | Lunch | |
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | KEYNOTE: Hahrie Han (co-presented by the Jarislowsky Democracy Chair as part of the On the Frontlines of Democracy series) | Moderator: John Beebe, Democratic Engagement Exchange |
| 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM | Think Like a Creator Effective Communication Strategies for Public Affairs and Elections: Want your message to actually land? This interactive session will teach you how to move beyond static messaging and engage audiences through storytelling, authenticity, and creator-informed strategies that actually connect. | Dave Sommer, Enterprise Canada Alex Paterson, Youtube |
| 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM | When Systems Fail: Rebuilding Trust When people lose trust in the system—whether in health care, elections, or climate response—democracy suffers. This session unpacks shared struggles across sectors and how they can rebuild public confidence. | Meaghan Thumath, University of British Columbia Lalitha Flach, Elections Ontario Moderator: Andrea Lawlor, McMaster University |
| 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM | Healthy Municipalities (Workshop) With low participation and high incumbency, municipal elections need a refresh. This hands-on session will explore how cities can become laboratories for democratic innovation. | Facilitators: Stewart McDonough & Chris Erl |
| 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Reception | |
| 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM | KEYNOTE: Richard Reeves Exploring the systemic forces driving disengagement, particularly among young men, and what it means for democracy. | Moderator:Jonathan Montpetit, CBC |
Agenda Day 2 (may 21, 2025)
| Time | Session and Topic | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 8:40 AM - 8:50 AM | Opening remarks | John Beebe, Democratic Engagement Exchange |
| 8:50 AM - 9:30 AM | Foreign Interference : 2025 Federal Election What did foreign interference look like in the 2025 federal election—and what does it mean for our democracy? This session breaks down what we know so far, what’s changed, and where the biggest vulnerabilities remain. | Aengus Bridgman, Media Ecosystem Observatory Manon Paquet, Privy Council Office Moderator: David Salvo, German Marshall Fund |
| 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM | 2024 Elections Reflections: Global Trends Shaping Canada’s Electoral Future What did 2024’s elections teach us about democratic resilience? This session breaks down what worked, what failed, and what Canada should prepare for in the years ahead. | Dr. Annika Silva-Leander, International IDEA Thomas Cormier Moderator: Katie Feenan, Hill & Knowlton |
| 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Canada’s Electoral Stress Test: Safeguarding Democracy in a Changing Landscape Election management leaders take stock of misinformation, foreign interference, and preservation of democratic institutions, reflecting on what needs to evolve in Canada’s system. | Jean-François Blanchet, CEO Élections Québec Shipra Verma, Elections Manitoba Anton Boegman, CEO Elections BC Moderator: Allison Harrel, C-DEM |
| 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Narratives in Politics: Finding Common Ground Our political perceptions are shaped by the stories we tell. This interactive session explores how narratives drive polarization—and how we can reshape them to foster civic engagement. | Facilitator: Jared Wesley, University of Alberta |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Lunch | |
| 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | AI as a Tool for Innovative Democratic Engagement Happening in the heart of Canada's AI hub, in the Mila offices, this session will combine expert insights and hands-on learning to explore how AI can enhance electoral practices, gain efficiencies, strengthen participation, and build trust in the democratic process. This session will officially launch Microsoft's AI Roadshow! * | Facilitators: Dave Leichtman, Microsoft & John Beebe, Democratic Engagement Exchange |