As part of the new DXC+ regional series, Ottawa brought together diverse voices on April 30 to explore how communities can make faster decisions without sacrificing democratic values.

Following the national DemocracyXChange 2026 Summit in Toronto, we launched the DXC+ Ottawa regional event initiative this April! 

Democracy dialogues cannot remain only at the national level. They must also take place within local communities across the country. That is why we launched DXC+ regional events this year in Ottawa and Vancouver.

Alongside  Bridge Building Group and the Open Democracy Project, we hosted the inaugural DXC+ Ottawa convening on April 30 titled Canada's Democratic Test: Can We Move Fast Without Losing What Matters? at the Global Centre for Pluralism, with support from the Cultural Policy Hub at OCAD U.

More than 60 people from a variety of sectors and backgrounds gathered to grapple with questions arising from Canada's current moment of accelerated decision-making, and whether this sense of urgency is necessary or risks creating new trade-offs.

The event opened with a panel discussion to help frame the conversation ahead. Panelists represented a diverse range of perspectives—from technology and Indigenous governance to nature conservation and beyond:

• Akaash Maharaj, Director of Policy, Nature Canada

• Anoush Fraser Terjanian, Research Fellow, uOttawa Human Rights Research and Education Centre

• Brian Gallant, CEO, Space Canada

• Jon Lomow, Managing Partner, Catalyze4

• Skylee-Storm Hogan-Stacey, Senior Research Officer, First Nations Information Governance Centre

Following the panel discussion, participants had an opportunity to engage directly in the dialogue through a fishbowl discussion facilitated by Jane Porter, Co-founder of Bridge Building Group, a dialogue design,facilitation, and strategic consultancy firm. Participants dove into the conversation to surface tensions, explore debates, and identify areas of agreement and disagreement.

Several recurring themes surfaced throughout the discussion, reflecting both shared concerns and areas of emerging consensus.

1. Speed is not the problem or the solution

2. Inclusion is an accelerator, not a brake

3. Guardrails, not barriers

4. Context matters: we’re flourishing and we’re worried

5. Technology is a tool, not oracle

6. Democracy is infrastructure, and it’s built daily

Building on these themes, participants identified several recommendations for communities, sectors, and organizations seeking to navigate similar challenges:

1. Define what “sound decision-making” looks like in your context

2. Build processes that integrate consultation at the start, not after conflict emerges.

3. Invest in social capital, especially beyond the usual rooms and across differences.

4. Stay on your toes, not your heels. Adaptability and reactivity are not the same thing.

For the full report and additional details, click below:

You can also read a reflection on the convening from our partner, Bridge Building Group, here.

While DXC+ Ottawa participants were deep in dialogue about the state of development and democracy, DXC+ Vancouver was hosting a series of events throughout the month on the other side of the country, reflecting on the role of democracy across different parts of society.

To read a recap of the DXC+ Vancouver events, view here.

Interested in bringing DXC+ to your community? We’d love to hear from you.