We want to make it easier to talk about and participate in politics.

The Samara Centre is a non-partisan organization that produces ground-breaking research and dynamic events that advance a vibrant culture of civic engagement across Canada. We work to support a resilient democracy with responsive institutions, shaped by an engaged public.

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Humans of the House Teaching Resources

Humans of the House Teaching Resources

The Samara Centre for Democracy has developed learning resources to help educators across different spaces teach about active citizenship in Canada. These resources are designed to empower students (and learners from all walks of life) so they can evaluate and participate in strengthening Canadian democracy. These resources provide an accessible way to enhance curriculum and programming about Canadian politics and society. 

Online Abuse in Local Elections: The SAMbot Municipal Report

Online Abuse in Local Elections: The SAMbot Municipal Report

Throughout the fall of 2022, the Samara Centre for Democracy deployed SAMbot in eight municipal elections across Canada to measure abusive content received by candidates and political parties on Twitter.

Humans of the House Podcast

Humans of the House Podcast

You know what a politician sounds like on the job. But once they leave office, that’s when they can share what’s truly on their minds. Join host Sabreena Delhon as she speaks with former Members of Parliament, to hear, in their own words, what this job is really like. Their stories are woven together in a six-part series that explores an MPs path to politics, why they left, and what it cost them to serve their communities.

SAMbot

SAMbot

Online abuse is a barrier to civic engagement and active participation in our democracy. It can disrupt political conversations and even prevent people from entering politics. Our SAMbot project measures abusive content that candidates and political parties receive online during Canadian elections. We do this to illuminate the realities of abuse on the digital campaign trail and the barriers to civic engagement created by technology’s influence on our democratic culture. 

Initiatives

Humans of the House Teaching Resources

Humans of the House Teaching Resources

The Samara Centre for Democracy has developed learning resources to help educators across different spaces teach about active citizenship in Canada. These resources are designed to empower students (and learners from all walks of life) so they can evaluate and participate in strengthening Canadian democracy. These resources provide an accessible way to enhance curriculum and programming about Canadian politics and society. 

Humans of the House Podcast

Humans of the House Podcast

You know what a politician sounds like on the job. But once they leave office, that’s when they can share what’s truly on their minds. Join host Sabreena Delhon as she speaks with former Members of Parliament, to hear, in their own words, what this job is really like. Their stories are woven together in a six-part series that explores an MPs path to politics, why they left, and what it cost them to serve their communities.

Online Abuse in Local Elections: The SAMbot Municipal Report

Online Abuse in Local Elections: The SAMbot Municipal Report

Throughout the fall of 2022, the Samara Centre for Democracy deployed SAMbot in eight municipal elections across Canada to measure abusive content received by candidates and political parties on Twitter.

View All

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Supporting and Enhancing  Political Conversations

The Samara Centre is known for influencing the national conversation on politics with innovative, evidence-based initiatives and thought-provoking convenings. Our insights make us the go-to resource for active citizens, educators, policy makers and journalists.

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In Defence of Democracy with Naheed Nenshi

In Defence of Democracy with Naheed Nenshi

The Samara Centre for Democracy celebrated our 15th anniversary by welcoming former Mayor of Calgary Naheed Nenshi for the In Defence of Democracy public lecture.

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In a moment where democracy is under threat, the work of the Samara Centre for Democracy is more urgent and relevant than ever before. Your donation will support our non-partisan efforts to secure an inclusive and accessible democracy in Canada.

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Advocating for accessibility and involvement in Canadian democracy

The Samara Centre for Democracy advances bold ideas about how to improve civic engagement in Canada. We are dedicated to learning about the lived experience of politicians, examining technology’s influence on our democratic culture and demystifying the political process for the general public. For 15 years we have convened critical conversations about the future of Canada’s democracy.

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