iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 23/07/2026

Here, we share five lessons from the research, design, and evaluation of these tools, including why practical skill-building matters just as much as awareness, and how scenario-based practice can help prepare people to act: dpsorg.substack.com/p/stopping-g...

dpsorg.substack.com

Stopping Gender-Based Violence Through Bystander Training: Five Lessons Learned

We tested strategies for empowering men and boys in Ontario to intervene when witnessing gender-based violence. Here's what we learned.

011

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 23/07/2026

Many boys and young men want to intervene when they witness harmful behaviour. They just aren't sure how. Through research with Ontario men and boys, followed by the development of two interactive digital tools, DPS explored how to build bystander confidence and practical intervention skills.

101

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 27/05/2026

We piloted Voices with more than 1,000 Canadians, using conversations about Israel-Palestine as a test case for a broader model of digital dialogue. The early results gave us reason to be hopeful. Today, we’re sharing what we built, what we learned, and where we hope to take it next.

110

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 27/05/2026

That question led to Voices — a digital prototype designed to bring some of what makes dialogue transformative online: hearing from real people, sitting with unfamiliar perspectives, and finding the human behind a polarizing issue.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 27/05/2026

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 27/05/2026

But dialogue is difficult to scale. It requires experienced facilitators, small groups, and months of commitment. Not everyone can participate — and not everyone is ready to. So we asked ourselves: what would it look like to translate that experience into an online interaction?

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 27/05/2026

How do you scale empathy? Over the past year, we’ve been convening in-person dialogues between Palestinian and Jewish Canadians — creating space for people to meet, listen, and remain present with one another across disagreement. The impact of those sessions has been significant.

120

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 08/04/2026

What we heard was consistent: When people are given space to reflect without judgment and explore their own assumptions, their views shift. And extreme narratives start to lose their grip. This is what meaningful digital engagement can look like.

110

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 08/04/2026

We focused on: Building trust: Helping people understand how the electoral system actually works. Encouraging agency: Showing that participation doesn’t end at the ballot box. Restoring cohesion: Challenging the idea that Canadians are deeply divided, and revealing where common ground exists.

110

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 08/04/2026

At Digital Public Square, we created Canada is Talking, a digital campaign designed to reach Canadians who feel disconnected, sceptical, or unheard. Across three phases around the 2025 federal election, more than 10,000 Canadians engaged with the experience.

110

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 08/04/2026

How do you rebuild trust in democracy? Not with more information. With better engagement.

121

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 12/03/2026

Our new report documents what unfolded in those sessions and what it might teach us about addressing polarization. “Palestinian and Jewish Canadians in Transformational Conversations: Hope for a Sunrise We Might Never See.” Read the report here: dpsorg.substack.com/p/new-report...

dpsorg.substack.com

New Report – Palestinian and Jewish Canadians in Transformational Conversations: Hope for a Sunrise We Might Never See

We brought Palestinian and Jewish Canadians together for a series of conversations on polarization and intolerance in a post-October 7 environment. Read what happened next.

000

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 12/03/2026

In a post–October 7 climate marked by mistrust and pain, participants remained in conversation even when it was uncomfortable. Over time, discussions shifted from political positions to the emotions and histories beneath them.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 12/03/2026

Over three months, the group met regularly for a series of Transformational Conversations about identity, grief, fear, and the growing distance between communities in Canada. They didn’t gather to debate or persuade. They gathered to listen.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 12/03/2026

Ten Palestinian and Jewish Canadians walked into the same room in Toronto last fall, unsure what to expect. At a time when conversations about Israel and Palestine were becoming increasingly polarized, they chose to do something counter-cultural. They stayed.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 30/01/2026

The evidence highlights the need for early, gender-transformative, skills-based interventions that prioritize safety and reflect diverse realities. Education must equip boys and young men with practical tools to become active allies in preventing gender-based violence within their communities.

000

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 30/01/2026

Our mixed-methods research found that dominant masculine norms often create pressure and uncertainty rather than confidence, leaving young people hesitant to intervene effectively.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 30/01/2026

Many boys and young men want to intervene when they witness gender-based violence but are unsure how to act safely. Digital Public Square’s new report by Jillian LeBlanc explores how masculinity shapes the gap between intention and action.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 13/01/2026

Our survey suggests that Canadians should be concerned about the growing challenge of affective polarization. When Canadians see people with opposing political beliefs with hostility, the quality of our democracy suffers. Read the full report here: dpsorg.substack.com/p/new-report...

dpsorg.substack.com

New report - Political Polarization in Canada: Divisions Between the Left and Right

Read our new report on political polarization in Canada, ideological divides, and what the left and right think of each other.

021

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 13/01/2026

3. The far left and the far right see themselves especially positively, while seeing the other side as immoral and not wanting the best for the country.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 13/01/2026

2. The more “left” or “right” one identifies, the more positively they see their own side and the more negatively they see the other.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 13/01/2026

1. Three in ten Canadians consider the country highly polarized and over half think polarization is getting worse.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 13/01/2026

New report: Political Polarization in Canada: Divides Between the Left and Right Digital Public Square ran a survey to figure out how Canadians perceive polarization, what they think are the causes of polarization, and what the left and the right think about one another. Here’s what we learned.

110

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 09/12/2025

Our speakers came from a diverse range of personal and professional backgrounds. What they had in common was a commitment to standing up to polarization in our society—whether in our universities, places of worship, or online spaces.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 09/12/2025

Polarization poses an urgent threat to the health of our democracy and the social fabric of our communities. Canadians are becoming more divided in how we perceive our social and political identities, leading to a rise in extreme ideologies and growing distrust in our democracy.

110

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 09/12/2025

In October 2025, Digital Public Square held the Polarization in the Public Square Conference, an opportunity for civil society, academia, and government to come together to explore solutions to the growing problem of political and social polarization in Canada.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 12/11/2025

68% of Canadians who identify as ethnically Chinese worry that reports of foreign interference could fuel anti-Asian racism. Our research shows that fear of backlash can weaken community engagement on one of Canada’s most urgent national security issues: transnational repression.

substack.com

Why Canada Needs to Address Anti-Asian Racism in Responding to Transnational Repression

Anti-Asian racism threatens social cohesion and our collective ability to respond to foreign interference and transnational repression.

110

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 23/09/2025

As genAI technology proliferates, there is a risk that it could worsen trust in democracy—especially among young people.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 23/09/2025

While genAI can be used for many productive purposes, it can also increase the spread of harmful content like AI hallucinations and other content intentionally designed to deceive or manipulate.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 23/09/2025

Compared to older generations, young Canadians trust genAI tools more—but have less confidence in democracy.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 23/09/2025

Is there a relationship between young Canadians’ trust in generative AI technology, declining trust in democratic institutions, and the spread of genAI-powered mis/disinformation?

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 12/09/2025

We are glad to announce our final judge for Hack the Divide! Emily Traynor Mayrand is an expert in the downstream impacts of polarization. Her experience spans academia, the practitioner space, and government, providing great perspective on the theory of change and impact potential of projects.

Text on image:
Emily Traynor Mayrand
Judge
Emily is an expert researcher and knowledge mobilizer on violent extremism and terrorism. Her work in academia, in civil society with the Violence Prevention Network, and in the public service with the Government of Canada gives her a nuanced perspective of the forces leading to polarization as well as the downstream impacts that polarization can have on individuals and communities.

131

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 09/09/2025

We are excited to announce our second judge for Hack the Divide. Charles Finley is a civic leader with great experience launching and advising organizations for social impact. Charles will provide teams with feedback on impact potential and inclusivity.

Text on Image:
Judge
Charles Finley
Charles is a seasoned leader in strategic transformation and operations. His work as a founder, board member, and advisor across many organizations brings together system-level thinking with inclusive community building. As a trailblazer in civic technology and social innovation, he has a great depth of experience in starting, building, and achieving scalable impact.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 04/09/2025

Hack the Divide is less than a month away and we are thrilled to start announcing our esteemed panel of judges! Ahmed Khalifa is our “builder” who will provide rich feedback on the creativity and execution of projects.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 25/08/2025

3. Provide solutions for self-censorship. Tailored outreach efforts to engage diaspora communities in democratic political processes can help combat the silencing effects of transnational repression.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 25/08/2025

2. Offer broader social support to help rehabilitate victims. Most government responses view transnational repression from a security or law enforcement lens, but victims would also benefit from broader social support, such as mental health services and legal aid.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 25/08/2025

1. Improve law enforcement reporting and communication. Victims of transnational repression often do not know whether they should contact local police, the RCMP, or CSIS to report an incident and receive law enforcement support.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 25/08/2025

Transnational repression—when governments reach beyond their borders to coerce, intimidate, or harm critics and members of their diasporas—is a growing problem in Canada. We identified three steps that Canada can take to fight back against transnational repression and protect targeted communities.

100

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 21/08/2025

We are excited to share the official event link for Hack the Divide! It's a free virtual hackathon on solutions for our polarized society. It will be hosted on September 26-28th. Sign up as an individual, or as a team! Stay tuned as we announce the great speakers and workshops in the coming weeks!

lu.ma

Hack the Divide · Zoom · Luma

💬 Hack the Divide: Building Bridges Between People When disagreements turn into divisions… how can we keep the conversation going? Join us for a weekend-long…

000

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 22/07/2025

How do you imagine AI? AImagine is a personality quiz that explores the deeper, more polarizing beliefs behind how people see AI. Read more in our newsletter. Built using data from the Global Dialogues Challenge by @cip.org. open.substack.com/pub/dpsorg/p...

open.substack.com

How Do You Imagine AI? – Try “AImagine”

Take AImagine, a personality quiz that explores different perspectives on artificial intelligence

010