BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//CanWaCH - ECPv6.16.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:CanWaCH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://canwach.ca
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for CanWaCH
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Toronto
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260421
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260424
DTSTAMP:20260617T134313
CREATED:20251217T172321Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T172321Z
UID:10002849-1776729600-1776988799@canwach.ca
SUMMARY:Igniting Hope - Inaugural Ottawa Civic Space Summit
DESCRIPTION:A Global Call to Protect What Makes Democracy Work \nAcross the world\, civic space is under attack—from digital surveillance and legal repression to the silencing of activists and shrinking public participation. Yet from the margins to the mainstream\, people are rising to defend the freedoms that make possible democracy\, human rights\, and justice. \nWhen civic space is protected\, communities thrive. It enables people to come together—through community associations\, farmers’ groups and cooperatives\, human rights organizations\, networks of health and education professionals\, climate champions and countless others working for a better world. The freedoms to gather\, speak up\, and organize are not abstract ideals—they are what make it possible to improve lives\, deliver essential services\, defend rights\, and build a more just and sustainable future. \nThe Ottawa Civic Space Summit is a new global platform to resist repression\, reclaim civic power\, and reimagine a more inclusive democratic future. This bold gathering will bring together civil society leaders\, civic space activists\, governments\, donors\, media\, academics\, and private sector allies to ignite hope and drive change. \n\n\n\n\nSummit Objectives \nDefend civic space as a cornerstone of democracy\, rights\, justice and sustainable development. \nCatalyze global momentum and political will to invest in and protect civic freedoms as foundational for social progress across all dimensions of sustainable development. \nReclaim civic space by strengthening collective resistance to its repression and fostering collaboration. \nFoster partnerships among governments\, civil society\, media\, academia\, and the private sector to counter the global rollback of civic space. Elevate the leadership\, voices\, and agency of youth\, women\, Indigenous peoples\, refugees and displaced people\, racialized communities\, LGBTQI+ persons\, and other marginalized groups. \nReimagine civic space to chart inclusive futures grounded in learning\, creativity\, and collective action. Advance transformative research\, innovative tools\, and coordinated strategies that respond to past and present challenges—while inspiring renewed vision\, resilience\, and inclusive civic renewal. \nWhat’s at Stake—and What We’ll Explore \nThe Ottawa Civic Space Summit will explore how civic space enables progress across all sectors—from gender equality\, climate action\, and racial justice to education\, health\, economic prosperity\, and humanitarian response. In a world facing growing crises and polarization\, civic space remains essential to our collective ability to organize\, respond\, and reimagine. \nDiscussions will examine the threats we face today—from digital surveillance and legal repression to disinformation and declining public trust—and the global forces behind them. \nTogether\, we’ll spotlight solutions: stronger solidarity across borders\, inclusive movements\, and bold approaches to safeguarding civic space in multilateral systems\, fragile contexts\, and emerging democracies alike. \nThrough this lens\, participants will engage with urgent questions: \n\nHow do we resist the shrinking of civic space across sectors and geographies?\nHow can donors\, governments\, and communities better fund and protect civic actors—including those in humanitarian and conflict-affected contexts?\nWhat role does civic space play in shaping inclusive economies and democratic renewal?\nHow can we centre intersectionality—across race\, gender\, age\, and Indigenous rights—in efforts to reclaim civic power?\n\nThese conversations will unfold through creative and participatory formats designed to foster deep reflection\, cross-cultural exchange\, connection\, and collective commitment. \nInformed by the latest research and grounded in frontline experience\, the summit will bring together global voices and visionary leaders to share ideas\, build alliances\, and explore concrete pathways to strengthen civic space around the world. \nAttend here! 
URL:https://canwach.ca/event/igniting-hope/
LOCATION:Ottawa\, ON
CATEGORIES:Events and Conferences
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://canwach.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/vitaly-gariev-TB5HpfJf7mA-unsplash-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR