Civic Tech Toronto

Promotional poster for Civic Tech Toronto Hacknight #521 on Tuesday, December 2 at 7pm (in person and online). Features speaker Olivia Cimò presenting on 'Barriers to Breakthroughs: How an AI Agent Fixed Canada's Open Data Problem in 24 hours, and how you can build one to supercharge your research.' The poster includes a professional headshot of Olivia Cimò and the Civic Tech Toronto logo. Design features a gradient background from light blue to coral pink to yellow.

This Tuesday: How an AI agent fixed Canada's open data problem in 24 hours

Join Olivia Cimó to explore Web Search MCP Servers and learn how you can build one to supercharge your research

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Plus: discussions and project breakouts!

👉 7pm Dec 2 in person and online

This Tuesday: AI & Human Behaviour

Elisabeth Costa shares key insights from BIT's new paper on how behavioural science can augment AI and align its design with human psychology.

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Plus: discussions and project breakouts!

👉 7pm Nov 25 in person and online

Promotional poster for Civic Tech Toronto Hacknight #519 on Tuesday, November 18 at 7pm (in person and online). Features speaker Rafael Grohmann presenting on 'Worker-Owned Intersectional Technology: Lessons from Brazil and Argentina.' The poster includes a professional headshot of Rafael Grohmann and the Civic Tech Toronto logo. Design features a gradient background from purple to pink to peach/orange

Worker-Owned Intersectional Tech Platforms (WOIP)

Rafael Grohmann explores how WOIP co-ops in Brazil and Argentina can inspire Toronto's worker-led digital future.

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Plus: discussions and project breakouts!

👉 7pm Nov 18 in person and online

Promotional poster for Civic Tech Toronto Hacknight #518 on Tuesday, November 11 at 7pm (in person and online). Features speaker Cole Westerveld presenting on 'Project Ploughshares: Uncover & track Canadian military exports with AI.' The poster includes a professional headshot of Cole Westerveld and the Civic Tech Toronto logo. Design features a gradient background from green to brown/gold.

This Tuesday: Uncover & track Canadian military exports with AI

Learn how Cole Westerveld and #CivicTechWR used automation and AI to save #ProjectPloughshares hours of work.

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Plus: discussions and project breakouts!

👉 7pm Nov 11 in person and online

Make open data requests more open

Get a sneak peek of Toronto's new Open Data public requests portal and share your feedback. The Open Data Team's Luke Simcoe presents at Civic Hacknight.

Plus: discussions and project breakouts!

👉 𝟳𝗽𝗺 Nov 4 in person and online

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This Tuesday: Human Cartography!

@patcon.bsky.social shows us a Google Maps-inspired tool that maps human perspectives—revealing how we can come together despite our differences.

Plus: discussions and project breakouts!

👉 7pm Tues Oct 28 in person and online

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Kien Dang From Raw Data to Public Safety: The Story of CanadianRecalls.ca Civic Tech TORONTO Hacknight #515 IN PERSON AND ONLINE Tues Oct 21 → 7pm

This Tuesday!

From Raw Data to Public Safety – Kien Dang explores the story of CanadianRecalls.ca, a project that uses Health Canada recall data to help Canadians stay informed and safe.

Plus: discussions and project breakouts!

👉 𝟳𝗽𝗺 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗰𝘁 𝟮𝟭 in person and online

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Wingham Rowan Sovereign Markets for Any Nation The Next Step in Digital Public Infrastructure Civic Tech TORONTO Hacknight #514 IN PERSON AND ONLINE Tues Oct 14 → 7pm

𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝟳𝗽𝗺 Sovereign Markets for Any Nation

Traditional markets have been displaced by multinational platforms.

Wingham Rowan explains how any govt can induce corporates to run markets across their economy, available to anyone: a new public utility

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In person + online!

David Numan Elbows Up, Nerds! Civic Tech TORONTO Hacknight #513 IN PERSON AND ONLINE Tues Oct 7 → 7pm

This Tuesday: Elbows up, Nerds!

US companies dominate our digital lives. @davenuman.bsky.social shows us that Open Source software offers alternatives that can be fully Canadian sovereign.

Plus: discussions and project breakouts!

👉 𝟳𝗽𝗺 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗰𝘁 𝟳 in person and online

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Aedan Burnett Is My MP a Landlord? Civic Tech TORONTO Hacknight # 512 IN PERSON AND ONLINE Tues Sept 30 → 7pm

This coming Tuesday!

Aedan Burnett will explain how he built ismympalandlord.ca – and many of the surprising and unexpected things he learned in the process.

Plus our usual discussions and breakouts, naturally.

Come along!

👉 𝟳𝗽𝗺 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝟯𝟬 in person and online 👈

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Tues Sept 23 → 7pm Kelindi Kumar TorontolD: Building local software with the AT Protocol Civic Tech IN PERSON TORONTO AND ONLINE Hacknight #511

Coming up on Tuesday! Hacknight #511

TorontoID: Kelindi Kumar will talk about his experience of making local software, and using the AT Protocol

Plus our usual discussions and breakouts.

Come along and join us!

𝟳𝗽𝗺 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝟮𝟯 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁 in person and online 🙌

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Alex Macisaac Social Media Research for Social Good Civic Tech TORONTO Hacknight #510 IN PERSON AND ONLINE Tues Sept 16 → 7pm

Coming up on Tuesday: Alex MacIsaac, Senior Research Coordinator at the Samara Centre for Democracy, will share his insight into the state of social media research.

Plus our usual discussions and breakouts.

We'd love to see you!

𝟳𝗽𝗺 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝟭𝟲 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁 in person and online 🙌

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Francesca Policarpio Turning Complex Data Into Clear Stories: Mapping Community Benefits in Toronto Centre Civic Tech TORONTO Hacknight #509 IN PERSON AND ONLINE Tues Sept 9 → 7pm

Next week Tuesday: Francesca Policarpio talks about Community Benefits, and how ArcGIS maps and interactive tools have helped users understand these vital funds.

Plus our usual discussions and breakouts, of course.

Come join us!

𝟳𝗽𝗺 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝟵 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁 in person and online 🙌

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Sonali Chakraborti Paylt - City of Toronto's Innovative Digital Transformation or an Accountability Failure? Civic Tech TORONTO Hacknight # 507 IN PERSON AND ONLINE Tues Aug 26 → 7pm

Come and see Sonali Chakraborti talk about the controversial City of Toronto procurement of PayIt. Innovative digital transformation or accountability failure?

Come join us!

𝟳𝗽𝗺 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝟮𝟲 𝗔𝘂𝗴 in person and online 👍

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New statements are coming in for you to vote on. pol.is/3smctymsxs Then Pol.is will measure the hidden consensus. #CivicSpark

Now is your chance to see for yourself how AI can assist in insuring your matters. Follow this link pol.is/3smctymsxs to join the conversation and help shape the collective picture. The more perspectives, the sharper the insight. #CivicSpark

Don’t forget, if you need a moment to recharge in peace away from all the excitement, Room 380 is available with puzzles and relevant reading material. #CivicSpark

In a creative block? Ali and Zam want to talk about it at #CivicSpark unconfernce edition.

The truth is, you only fail when you stop trying. #CivicSpark

Tools like Pol.is from Taiwan can transform things in the way they measure consensus and find the best interest that would have otherwise been hidden. This kind of resource and information is needed to move policy forward.

Let’s talk about Operationalizing AI and Democracy. #CivicSpark

5. LAW OF TWO FEET: If you’re not into a session, leave and no one will take it personally.

3. INCLUSIVE: Share what you know, ask when you don’t, and don’t judge in either case.

4. FOCUSED: You don’t need a defined ending point, but a shared starting point helps.

Keep in mind the unique Guiding Principles:

1. GROUNDED: Build on lived experience and real needs.

2. COLLABORATIVE: Make sessions participatory whenever possible.

Going into the second half of the event, this is a good time to think about what YOU would like to facilitate and participate in for the Unconference tomorrow. #CivicSpark

Naan Kabob: Authentic Afghan & Mediterranean Cuisine in GTA Discover Afghan and Mediterranean cuisine at Naan Kabob. Mississauga & Toronto’s top-rated Halal spot for kabobs, family meals, and catering. Order online today!

Overheard in the lunch line: “looks like we have a one way ticket to yum town.” - Anonymous

Thank you, Naan Kabob.

naankabob.ca

Q: What has contributed to the long term success of bike brigade?

A: Connections that extend beyond the organization. Ideally, it would be designed to eventually be obsolete. Don’t underestimate the potential of prioritizing a sense of peace that can pivot into any other activities.
- Rachel Wang

Enjoyed the Conversation on Bike Brigade and wondering how to get involved? Sign up for a ride and you could be cruising too this week.

www.bikebrigade.ca/deliveries

Agreed.

- Boosts confidence and reduces risk in design choices by ensuring ongoing user feedback and insights.

- Ensures accountability and equity through continuous input from a representative group of users.