Celebrating 20 years of Citizens' Assemblies: A Livestreamed Public Dialogue

Twenty years ago, 160 Canadian residents participated in the world’s first Citizens Assembly, setting a new standard for representative deliberation and sparking a global movement in democratic innovation. To commemorate this milestone, the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue and MASS LBP are hosting a public dialogue on September 18th in Vancouver, featuring key figures from the Assembly’s inception and current members reflecting on their experiences. The event will be moderated by Aftab Erfan and includes speakers like Geoff Plant, Peter MacLeod, and Andrea Reimer. It will be held at the Wosk Centre and livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. Read the blog post below for more information and to register. 

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Release: Celebrating 20 years of Citizens' Assemblies: A Livestreamed Public Dialogue

​20 years ago, 160 Canadian residents gathered for the world’s first Citizens Assembly, which set new precedents for the length of a representative deliberation and sparked the global “deliberative wave” that is transforming democracy in the 21st century.

On September 18th, to mark the anniversary of this pivotal democratic innovation, and to open the Democracy R&D Conference in Vancouver, the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue and MASS LBP are hosting a public dialogue to reflect on the origins of the first Citizen’s Assembly and envision the future of deliberative democracy.

Moderated by Aftab Erfan (co-facilitator of the first Assembly in Canada to be embedded within local government), featured speakers include Geoff Plant (the Minister responsible for the world’s first Citizen’s Assembly), Peter MacLeod (founder of MASS LBP, a leading convener of deliberative processes in Canada), and Andrea Reimer (previous member of Vancouver’s City Council who oversaw a municipal Assembly and advocate for accessible and accountable governance).

Additionally, the event will feature a dialogue amongst 9 current or recent members of Citizens’ Assemblies in the Vancouver area, reflecting on their experience of these Assemblies and their impacts.

While the event takes place in the Wosk Centre that hosted the world’s first Assembly, it will also be livestreamed for those who are unable to join in person. Sign up to our Eventbrite for a physical ticket, or to receive a link to the livestream and recording. 

Democracy R&D Conference Link: https://www.masslbp.com/drd2024

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