2024 Healthy Democracy Forum
June 26 - 28, 2024
Ted Rogers School of Management: 55 Dundas Street West, Toronto, M5G 2C5
Together, let’s draft a blueprint to a more engaged, informed, and vibrant local democracy.
AMO’s Healthy Democracy Project is a unique initiative focused on improving local democracy through civic engagement that’s respectful and diverse. It’s a project based on collaboration and a collective will to improve the health of local democracy in Ontario. For more information on the origin of the Healthy Democracy Project and initiative click here.
AMO has been working with sector partners and subject matter experts over the past two years and now it’s time to come together to align and direct our efforts in targeted ways that will drive lasting change.
This two and a half day AMO event in partnership with Toronto Metropolitan University, Apathy is Boring and a number of campaign schools including is a hands on workshop for Ontario’s healthy democracy.
Overview of the Forum
Day 1—Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Diverse representation matters
Day 1 is a forum for the community leaders and groups who help elect and re-elect candidates from a wide array of diverse communities to unite as a network to share challenges, research, opportunities, and resources.
When decision-making tables and municipal councils are representative of Ontario’s rich diversity better informed decisions are reached that can support everyone’s needs.
On this day, AMO will share its new research into the barriers to running for local office in Ontario with a focus on those most barriered.
Day 2—Thursday, June 27, 2024
Accelerating local democratic engagement: convene, prototype, energize
AMO will provide insight into its efforts to accelerate local democratic engagement. AMO’s efforts to accelerate democracy at the local will have a focus on finding positive responses to growing incivility, toxicity, and apathy impacting our political and civic lives.
This day will examine strategies on how municipalities and local organizations can forge a robust coalition to increase democratic engagement and improve the health of local democracy in Ontario communities.
Day 3—Friday, June 28, 2024
Engaging youth in local democracy and elections
Young people in Ontario are as interested in working for positive change in their communities as they have been in the past, but they are voting and engaging with local government in decreasing numbers. This day will be all about engaging with and hearing from youth about why that is and how local governments can work to regain their trust and build stronger relationships with the young people in their communities.
Who Should Attend
AMO recognizes that a healthy democracy is an evergreen and evolving process. Working with partners, AMO can do its part with elected municipal officials to participate in effective, production and sustainable community development. We need to work together on this important objective.
• Leaders, staff, and volunteers from organizations who support candidates running in local Ontario elections: from local campaign schools to national demographic-focused organizations
• Community leaders, previous and current elected officials who support individuals running for local elected office
• Municipal staff who support municipal democracy
• Interested democracy partners, civil societies, and municipal associations
• Academics and researchers interested in municipal elections and democracy
Registration and program information will be available soon.