As DemocracyXChange enters its seventh year, Co-Directors Nataly De Monte and Tanya Coyle reflect on what it means to build, sustain, and evolve a space dedicated to democracy in action.

As we head into the seventh edition of DemocracyXChange, we spoke with Co-Directors Nataly De Monte, Senior Advisor, Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the President at OCAD University, and Tanya Coyle, Director of Communications at the Dais, Toronto Metropolitan University, about their reflections on being part of DXC.

They take us down memory lane, sharing unforgettable highlights, why they continue to stay involved and lead, the importance of youth, artists, and technology in shaping democracy, and what they’re most looking forward to at DXC26 this April.

Throughout your journey hosting DemocracyXChange, what’s been the most surprising thing you’ve learned, or a moment that has stayed with you?

Nataly: One thing that continues to surprise me is just how much people want spaces where they can talk about democracy honestly, across sectors and across differences.

When we first started DemocracyXChange, it was really in response to a moment where things felt very uncertain globally: Brexit, Trump, Duterte. There was this growing sense that systems we thought were stable might not be as stable as we assumed. But what we found is that there are so many people in Canada across government, civil society, media, tech, and the arts who genuinely want to come together and wrestle with those questions.

There have been a few moments over the years that have really stayed with me personally:

One was hearing Maria Ressa speak for the first time at the summit in 2019. She said something very simple but very powerful. In essence, it was: "You cannot take democracy for granted. It can change overnight." That message really landed for me. It was a reminder that democracy is not just a system that exists on its own. It is something that needs to be actively constructed, iterated on, and defended.

Another moment was in 2024 when Daniel Roher spoke just weeks after Alexei Navalny’s death. There was this shared feeling in the room, a collective grief that was palpable. And later watching Danny’s documentary, I remember really feeling the loss of someone like Navalny. Someone I never met, but who was willing to risk everything for a true and just democracy.

And more recently in 2025, during an uplifting close to our summit with Choir! Choir! Choir! A participatory singing performance that was equal parts joyful, emotionally moving and spiritual in the sense of feeling a genuine human connection with everyone in the room.

Moments like these remind me that democracy is deeply human. It is about courage, responsibility, and people choosing to stand up for something bigger than themselves.

Tanya: I joined DXC to amplify stories of change. What I didn't expect was walking out of the summit with my fists metaphorically clenched, wanting to fight for democracy. 

There is nothing — nothing — like being inside a community of people who are actually making change. Not theorizing about it. Not scheduling a meeting to discuss the possibility of it. Doing it. Showing up, caring, clashing, and choosing to stay at the table anyway. That kind of collective motion gets into your bloodstream.

I've belonged to things before. But DXC feels different: like the stakes have finally caught up with the rhetoric. People from different countries, different generations, different walks of life, carrying different amounts of hope and scar tissue, and yet there is this undeniable current running through it all: we belong to each other in this work. 

And when Nobel prize-winning journalist, Maria Ressa, declared on stage in 2023, “The future of democracy is a one-to-one-fight,” I knew — without any doubt — it's us. You and me. Our families, friends, and neighbours. No one else is coming to save democracy. We are exactly who this moment needs. 

Engaging youth is a core pillar of a strong democracy. What has surprised you most about how young people are engaging with democracy today?

Tanya: Let me kill the myth right now: young people are not disengaged. They are furious and creative and not waiting for someone else’s permission. They’re just not showing up in the rooms we built. They’re building new ones.

Young people have a radar for authenticity that is absolutely savage. They know the difference between being consulted and being heard. Between a photo op and a real seat at the table. And they will name it. Without flinching.

But when something is real — when they can see the direct line between their voice and actual change — something ignites in them. And it’s electric. Through our work with emerging leaders at the Dais, we’re lucky to see the first catch of light, the small flame as it starts to glow, the moment it decides to live, and the roar that needs no help anymore.

We keep talking about engaging youth in democracy like it's something we do for them. We have it backwards. Young people are fighting for democracy. 

Let’s be humble enough to ask: are we clearing a path or getting in the way?

What role do artists and creatives play in shaping a healthy democracy?

Nataly: Early on, as DemocracyXChange began to evolve, we came to recognize just how important artists are in shaping a pluralistic democracy. Their ability to question assumptions, imagine different futures, and interpret the world around us plays a critical role in how societies reflect, adapt, and move forward.

In many ways, this reframes the role of the artist not just as a cultural contributor, but as a truth-sayer and a leader. Artists often sense shifts in society before the rest of us do. They help surface tensions, possibilities, and emerging narratives that haven’t yet made their way into policy or public debate.

Creative work also has a unique ability to translate complex democratic issues into experiences people can actually feel and engage with. It opens space for empathy, curiosity, and imagination, things that are often missing from traditional political discourse.

In your view, what are the biggest risks and opportunities of digital technology in influencing democracy?

Tanya: The risk is: disinformation, algorithmic manipulation, and the erosion of trusted institutions are hitting democracy faster than our policies and literacy can keep up. But the opportunity, and this is what drives our work at The Dais, is that the same technology that threatens democracy can democratize leadership, multiply civic voices, and equip a whole new generation with the tools to actually fix it. The future of democracy is not written. Let’s make sure technology works for it, not against it.

What are you most excited about for DXC26?

Nataly: What excites me most about DXC26 is how the community around DemocracyXChange keeps growing and evolving.

Every year we see new voices entering the conversation, from youth leaders to grassroots organizers to innovators working at the intersection of technology, economy, and governance. That ecosystem is what really powers the summit.

I am also excited about the possibility of scaling DemocracyXChange beyond Toronto and expanding into regions across Canada. There are active communities across the country that are already part of this dialogue and want to be part of shaping it. Creating opportunities to platform those voices and connect those regional conversations is something that feels really important for the future of this work.

I am also excited about continuing to experiment with formats such as workshops, collaborations, and creative installations that help people move from conversation to action.

DemocracyXChange was always meant to be more than a conference. It is a place where people come together to explore how democracy needs to adapt to the challenges of our time and to build the relationships that help make movements possible.