A Decade of DemocracyXChange: Technology and Partnership Building

Next week, DemocracyXChange 2026 brings together leaders working at the intersection of democratic governance, civic action, and technology. Cory Doctorow will deliver the opening keynote on April 16 about Canada's strategic opportunity to rebuild its tech sector, strengthen digital sovereignty and position itself as a global technology leader. Sessions on the case for public AI and human rights in the digital age follow on April 18. If you work in social impact and are thinking about technology's role in what comes next for Canada, this is the conversation to be part of.

Technology Choices Are Democratic Choices

I co-founded DemocracyXChange a decade ago, and one of the things I've seen through building and sustaining it is how important the technology choices have been to building trust amongst the partners and to the summit's ability to grow as a collaborative initiative. What platforms we use, how we've handled data, and how we're grappling with AI adoption have all shaped our ability to work effectively across organizations.

And that dynamic extends beyond events like DXC. Whether you're forming a member association or building a campaign for civic change, technology choices shape the partnerships you can sustain and the impact you can achieve. It's become even more consequential as AI tools enter the picture. In a recent interview with DXC's Ecosystem and Strategic Engagement Lead, Melody Ma, I reflected on what civic entrepreneurship means in this context. Read the full interview ❯

"AI and software tools are not neutral. We need people who understand these emerging technologies and are thinking critically about how they affect democracy, whether through partnerships, starting a business, or civic initiatives."

Piloting DXC+ in Ottawa

This year, we're piloting DXC+, a regional expansion that brings DemocracyXChange to communities beyond the national summit in Toronto. Groundforce Digital is proud to partner with Bridge Building Group to host DXC+ Ottawa. On April 30th, we will convene leaders at the Global Centre for Pluralism to explore a theme relevant to tech for social impact: Can we move fast without losing what matters? It's a question that applies as directly to AI adoption in your organization as it does to national policy. If you're in Ottawa, I hope you can join us. Register for DXC+ Ottawa ❯

Shared Tools for Change

Readers of this newsletter are leading organizations through a period of rapid technology change. The lesson from DemocracyXChange is relevant because the challenges are shared: building digital capacity with limited resources, making responsible technology choices under pressure, and sustaining the long-term work when the pace of change rewards short-term thinking. The leaders strengthening Canada's democratic infrastructure and the leaders transforming social impact organizations are often the same people — and they need the same things: practical skills, trusted networks, and the agency to build and make positive social change.

Leading a social impact organization through this moment? I'm always happy to connect — email me or book a needs assessment call.