Join Samara Canada and the University of Toronto School of Public Policy and Governance for "Canada’s Democracy at 150: A Panel Discussion and Report Release," featuring Jane Hilderman and Dave Meslin in conversation with Amara Possian, Annahid Dashtgard, Elamin Abdelmahmoud and Nate Erskine-Smith.

In the year of our country's 150th birthday, Canadians are feeling a new urgency to talk about the health of our democracy, and a vision for the next 150 years: How is Canada's democracy faring? How can we renew our democracy and guard against its decline?

Two years ago, Samara released the first Democracy 360, a made-in-Canada report card focusing on the relationship between citizens and political leadership. The Democracy 360 measures three areas essential to a healthy democracy: communication, participation and political leadership.

Much has changed since then. In the midst of a "democratic recession" spreading across the globe, Canada's political landscape may look relatively rosy but are we doing as well as we could be doing—as well as a country as fortunate as ours ought to be doing?

On March 28th, Samara unveils the second edition of its Democracy 360. Jane Hilderman, Samara’s Executive Director, will open the evening by sharing key research insights. Dave Meslin, author of a forthcoming book on democracy, will then lead a discussion exploring:

- how we can strengthen Canada’s democracy, and revitalize our political culture and institutions;

- what elements of our "democratic infrastructure" we should maintain, improve or abandon; and

- who our democracy is serving, who it is leaving behind, and how we can more fully include all Canadians.

Doors open at 5:30 PM and the event begins promptly at 6:00 PM.

Admission is free but space is limited. For more details and to RSVP, go to: http://engage.samaracanada.com/democracy_360_event

Samara Canada is dedicated to reconnecting citizens to politics. Established as a charity in 2009, it has become Canada’s most trusted, non-partisan champion of increased civic engagement and a more positive public life.