What if public consultation wasn’t an obligation – but an opportunity to build trust, connection, and shared purpose?

Across Canada, governments are recognizing that meaningful public participation leads to stronger, more inclusive decisions. A pillar of Canada’s 2025–2029 National Action Plan on Open Government is “inclusive and meaningful public participation.” In British Columbia, the Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral Reform has called on government to “enhance public consultation processes” while “leveraging technology” and “empowering youth”.

UCL Shauna Sylvester joins a community of practitioners in this SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre hosted workshop which is part of the Victoria Forum being held at UVIC Aug. 23-25, 2026.