Description:
The SAMARA CENTRE FOR DEMOCRACY is a non-partisan registered charity with a mission to realize a resilient democracy with an engaged public and responsive institutions. We want to make it easier for people to talk about and participate in politics. For over a decade the Samara Centre has shaped critical conversation about the health of Canada’s democracy.
Key pieces of work include the 2014 national bestseller Tragedy in the Commons, the award-winning Humans of the House podcast and the innovative SAMbot project which measures online abuse during Canadian elections. Our annual In Defence of Democracy event convenes a diverse audience that extends across sectors, disciplines, professions and generations to consider a pressing question of our era: how do we inspire renewed civic purpose in Canada?
Our work is highly regarded for its dynamism and has received praise from Governor General Mary Simon. Insights from our research frequently receive national media coverage and are referenced by public leaders, policy-makers, academics and active citizens. High school and university educators also routinely draw on our material in their classrooms to enhance curriculum and programming about Canadian politics and society.
The Samara Centre was co-founded in 2007 by Alison Loat and Michael MacMillan. Our name comes from the winged “helicopter” seed that falls from a maple tree, reminding us that from small seeds, big ideas can grow.