Celebrate Democracy
Programs and resources for civic engagement
Delve into democracy with us!
At the library, we’re committed to supporting civic engagement and democracy by providing reliable resources and programs to help you understand and participate in the democratic process. Contributing to community decision-making is a key part of ensuring a free and just democratic society. We’ve highlighted books, resources and programs to help you get informed about democracy and engaged in the civic process.
Reading lists
Upcoming programs
Join us in shaping a more connected and democratic Toronto!
Civic Life is a program stream that helps you better understand and engage with the world from your neighbourhood to the city and beyond. Focusing on timely civic issues, the program encourages thoughtful dialogue and meaningful community connections that can lead to informed action.
Through inclusive programming, Civic Life creates space for you to think critically, share your perspectives as a Torontonian and strengthen your civic engagement.
Upcoming Events
You can also visit TPL’s On Civil Society page for more information about other upcoming programs and events.
Additional resources
- Anniversary of Indigenous Voting Rights
Learn more about the history of Indigenous voting rights and the impact of the Indian Act. - Apathy is Boring
A non-partisan, charitable organization that supports and educates youth to be active and contributing citizens in Canada’s democracy. - Democratic Engagement Exchange
The Exchange works to build a vibrant and inclusive democracy, where everyone living in Canada can contribute to creating healthy communities and solving our most pressing challenges. - Journeys to Active Citizenship
A collaborative project to build a more inclusive Canada where immigrants and refugees are empowered to play a greater role in shaping their communities. - Open Democracy Project
A Canadian not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering collaborative and sustainable multi-stakeholder programs to strengthen and evolve the practice of democracy by supporting the growth of Canada’s democracy sector. - Operation Black Vote Canada
A non-profit, multi-partisan organization dedicated to increasing Black representation in public office by educating, motivating and advocating for Black Canadians to engage in all levels of government and civil service. - Samara Centre for Democracy
A non-partisan charity that strengthens democracy in Canada through research, programming and promoting civic participation. - What is Misinformation and Disinformation?
False information can take many forms, including deepfakes, disinformation, fake news, malinformation, and misinformation. Here are some tips and tricks to help you spot and navigate misleading content.
Past events
Watch replays of past events you may have missed on the On Civil Society YouTube channel, and check out our featured Crowdcast democracy programs: