1.866.488.8775 hello@civix.ca
With a very limited amount of resources, a small but committed team built an engagement model for schools that would secure the participation of more than 300,000 students in the first ever province-wide parallel election program in Canada during the 2003 Ontario provincial election. Rather than student voting taking place at official polling stations coordinated by adults, the voting took place in schools, coordinated by students themselves — offering a more empowering experience.
Encouraged by the results, they began to expand their network across the country, offering the parallel election program in other jurisdictions. During the 2004 federal election, schools participated in every province and territory in the country. Student Vote soon became a meaningful tool for Canadian teachers as they delivered curriculum on government and democracy, and ultimately became cemented as part of electoral process in Canada.
Recognizing that democratic engagement goes beyond voting, the team began exploring opportunities to grow its programming beyond elections, including budget consultations for youth, meetings with elected representatives and professional development for teachers.
In 2011, Student Vote merged with Operation Dialogue, a citizenship initiative founded by the late Warren Goldring of AGF Management. Operations were consolidated in 2013 and the organization was renamed CIVIX.
To better meet the needs of teachers in Québec, CIVIX established a Québec office in 2017: CIVIX-Québec. Its mandate is to adapt and create new programs aimed specifically at Québec schools in order to support local students and teachers.
While CIVIX has always incorporated media literacy activities in its programming, this topic became a much more prominent focus in 2017 as a means to tackle the challenge of “fake news” and information disorder. In recent years, CIVIX has developed learning resources to promote increased awareness about the role of journalism in democracy, algorithms and filter bubbles, as well as disinformation and online verification skills.
CIVIX programming has received international recognition and interest, and CIVIX has started to share its programming with democracies around the world.
In May 2018, the trial program of Voto Estudiantil in Colombia was conducted in parallel to the first round of the Presidential election. The program was delivered in partnership with the Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil (RNEC), Colombia’s national election agency, and implemented by local partners. Following a successful trial program, CIVIX has been offering its own civic education programs in Colombia since late 2019.
Student Vote is born under the name ‘Kids Voting Canada’
First-ever Ontario Provincial Student Vote
335,000 VOTES CAST
First-ever Federal Student Vote in every province and territory
263,000 VOTES CAST
First-ever Alberta Provincial Student Vote
63,000 VOTES CAST
First ever British Columbia Provincial Student Vote
61,000 VOTES CAST
2nd Federal Student Vote
468,000 VOTES CAST
Organized the Students’ Assembly on Electoral Reform in Ontario
3rd Federal Student Vote
503,000 VOTES CAST
First-ever municipal election program (Nova Scotia)
CIVIX is born
First large-scale Democracy Bootcamp
4th Federal Student Vote
563,000 VOTES CAST
First-ever provincial/territorial elections in MB, PE, NT, SK, YT
First-ever Student Budget Consultation (Ontario)
Launch of Federal Student Budget Consultation
Launch of Rep Day with MPs across Canada
Five Democracy Bootcamp events held across 5 provinces
5th Federal Student Vote
922,000 VOTES CAST
Opening of Quebec office
Launch of Digital Literacy Initiative
6th Federal Student Vote
1.2 MILLION VOTES CAST
Launch of Voto Estudiantil in Colombia for the local elections
Launch of CTRL-F program
Launch of direct student leadership programs in Colombia (Liderab, Marea Purpura)
7th Federal Student Vote
800,000 VOTES CAST
Development of PoliTalks
First Voto Estudiantil in Chile for the Constitutional Plebiscite
2020 |
Future of Good, Canada’s top 100 recovery projects : CTRL-FAwarded to volunteer-run or professionally-run projects that help communities bounce back from the pandemic’s economic and social impacts while also tackling the United Nations Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs). |
2019 |
International Centre for Parliamentary Studies, First Time Voter AwardAwarded to Electoral Management Bodies or non-governmental organizations that have taken outstanding measures to facilitate optimize the electoral experience of first time voters. |
2019 |
International Centre for Parliamentary Studies, Citizens’ Engagement AwardAwarded to Electoral Management Bodies or non-governmental organizations that have put citizens at the heart of the electoral process and maximize their engagement and their satisfaction. |
2019 |
International Centre for Parliamentary Studies, International Engagement AwardHonours initiatives in the field of election assistance and election observation that successfully contributed to an increase of legitimization of the electoral process and a growth of public confidence towards democratic procedure. |
2016 |
Ontario Teachers’ Federation, Greer Memorial AwardAwarded to a single recipient for outstanding contributions to publically funded education in Ontario. |
2014 |
Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation, Lamp of LearningAwarded annually to a single recipient for significant contributions to publically funded education at the secondary level. |
2014 |
Elections Nova Scotia, Quality, Service and Value AwardFormal recognition of initiative and effort in support of Elections Nova Scotia’s goals and values during the 2013 provincial election. |
2011 |
Canadian Teachers’ Federation, Special Recognition AwardAwarded annually to individuals for meritorious services to education and the teaching profession in Canada. |
2010 |
Institute for Canadian Citizenship, Best Practices Award in Civic Education |
2005 |
Ontario Teachers’ Federation, FellowshipAwarded annually to a single non-member for outstanding service to education and/or to the Federation. |
2005 |
Public Policy Forum, inaugural Emerging LeadersAwarded annually to recognize the contributions of young Canadians who personify leadership in the area of public policy and civic discourse. |
2004 |
Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, Special Recognition Award |
