Code for Canada

🔔Join our friends @fwd50conf.bsky.social on June 3rd, where they'll explore the full AI supply chain - from data ownership to practical automation in government. Buy your pass to be part of the conversation! t.co/jhEJSdzxeo

GO open data conference may 14 and 15

Calling all #OpenData professionals and enthusiasts! 3 days left to register at the members' early bird rate! The GO Open Data Conference "Open Data in the Age of AI" explores the intersection of open data and AI. We also have a very special mystery guest!
Register: tinyurl.com/bdfk93y7

Giancarlo Fiorella Documenting War Crimes with Volunteers Bellingcat's Open Source Approach Civic Tech TORONTO Hacknight #490 IN PERSON AND ONLINE Tues April 22 → 7pm

Hear giancarlofiorella.bsky.social talk about how bellingcat.com mobilizes a volunteer community to help document war crimes and other atrocities in conflict zones across the world.

Plus our usual breakouts for projects and discussions

April 22 7pm: in person and online

guild.host/events/civic...

Our Service Designer Uneeba is still in the initial stage of research but will be happy to connect and share down the road!

We’re especially interested in tools used in education, social work, public health, legal services and youth services.

Tools with a Canadian context or used in public services are most relevant.

If you’ve used or know of something that fits, reply to this post or DM us!

Maroon megaphone graphic on a white circle with text above: "We're researching case management tools!"

📣 Calling for recommendations: Our team is looking for case management tools (e.g. tracking clients, coordinating services, and documenting outcomes) that also offer robust data analysis for reporting and decision-making.

11 Code for Canada staff members sitting across a wooden table in a restaurant

10 Code for Canada staff members posing for a selfie in front of the Calgary Tower

Can you guess which Canadian city we snapped this selfie in? 👀

Our management team came together last week to plan for Q2 full of big plans and exciting projects.

Even though we're remote-first with staff across the country, we know the value of coming together for deeper collaboration.

93 Building an accessible web 🌐 - Civic Tech Chat We’re joined by Mike Gifford, Open Standards and Practice Lead at CivicActions. We’ll dig deep into what it takes to build accessible web services and why th...

ICYMI: Podcast on Building an Accessible Web with Mike Gifford

CivicActioner @mgifford.bsky.social, Open Standards and Practices Lead, dives into how and why of building an accessible web on this recent episode of Civic Tech Chat.

civictech.chat/2025/02/buil...

AI for Social Impact Academy: Solutions Lab

Join us at #AI Solutions Lab 2025 on April 15, 2025.

This exclusive event will help you:

🔹 Learn practical AI strategies
🔹 Navigate AI ethics, bias, & security risks
🔹 Explore how AI can streamline workflows and boost impact

👉 Become a member to secure your spot: tinyurl.com/49ffjdm4

You won't want to miss this discussion featuring our CEO Dorothy Eng!

Become a Future of Good member for free access to this virtual event ⬇️

How to Design and Develop for Web Accessibility: A Workshop Summary A Code for Canada Developer shares some challenges, learning and web accessibility tips.

Is your team curious about digital accessibility?

Delivering a workshop on web accessibility is a great way to build internal capacity and encourage people to think more about creating inclusive digital experiences.

Check out our blog for tips: hubs.li/Q03fKMD_0

How to Use Service Design to Improve Waiting Experiences A Code for Canada Senior Service Designer applies a human-centered lens to the design of waiting.

The result? A clear roadmap of actionable service improvements.

Learn more about how Uneeba used service design to improve the visitor experience: hubs.li/Q03fK8DS0

Graphic with a quote from Uneeba Mubashsher, Senior Service Designer at Code for Canada, about turning waiting into a beneficial experience through thoughtful design

From brainstorm to real-world prototyping!

Our Senior Service Designer Uneeba led a creative brainstorm activity to reimagine the waiting experience 🧠

She brought lots of the ideas to life through in-person prototyping at a popular tourist spot, testing how they’d work in the real world.

Keith Jansa put it perfectly in the article: “Getting this wrong will further put fuel on a fire with respect to the level of trust Canadians and citizens have in digitally interacting with governments.”

✴️ Invest in Canadian tech expertise to strengthen the public service’s digital capacity
✴️ Simplify procurement so smaller, Canadian businesses can contribute to the AI ecosystem
✴️ Choose Canadian partners who will build the public sector’s understanding of ethical AI use

But alongside opportunities, the article touches on critical risks, including heavily relying on foreign contractors to integrate AI.

🇨🇦 In this “Choose Canada” era, we urge governments to:

Four things public servants need to know about the federal government's new AI strategy Artificial intelligence has the potential to be both transformational and highly disruptive for the government's workforce.

This Ottawa Citizen article lays out the key considerations for public servants in the federal government’s new AI strategy: ottawacitizen.com/public-servi...

We’re glad to see @ryanandrosoff.bsky.social emphasize the opportunity to equip public servants with practical AI skills.

Infographic on AI's benefits for the public sector, highlighting: enhanced decision-making, improved service delivery and improved work with big data

At Code for Canada, we see big benefits to working with AI within the public sector. Here are a few:

Read our full guide for ethically working with AI in the public sector 👉 hubs.li/Q03c33XJ0

DemocracyXChange 2025 In an era of growing polarization, we must interrogate existing paradigms and old preconceptions in order to deliver lasting change. DemocracyXChange 2025…

Join us this Friday at DemocracyXChange: Canada’s premier democracy summit!

Looking forward to engaging with leaders, policymakers and innovators on important civic topics, from AI and information integrity to governance and inequality.

Will we see you there?

Get more details: hubs.li/Q03dGw6D0

Don't miss out on the next edition! Subscribe here: hubs.li/Q03dpHX50

🏛️ Nova Scotia’s platform approach to modernizing service delivery
🗣️ Insights from BC’s Crystal Hall on fostering government innovation
🏆 Finalists from the Government Data Challenge
🤖 Canada's standards for accessible AI systems
📜 Ontario’s AI Directive balancing AI innovation with transparency

Five people around a table with laptops, sticky notes, papers and laptops out

Looking for fresh ideas and insights on digital government in Canada, AI in the public sector and inclusive design?

The Code for Canada newsletter delivers the latest trends, success stories and thought-provoking reads straight to your inbox every month.

This month, we cover:

Civic Tech Montreal Hacknight #7 Nous travaillons ensemble pour faire progresser la technologie civile à Montréal, Québec. Nos initiatives combinent l'activisme, la technologie et l'engagement communautaire local. Montréal a une riche histoire de technologie civile et de développement communautaire. Nous désirons créer un espace où les gens peuvent se réunir pour discuter, collaborer et agir sur les défis locaux. Qui devrait venir? Que vous soyez nouveau dans la technologie civile ou un praticien avec beaucoup d'experience, vous êtes les bienvenus ! Nous accueillons tous les profils—données, informatique, produit, design, et plus encore. Des étudiants ansi que des professionnels chevronnés, c'est un espace pour apprendre et grandir ensemble en tant que communauté. À quoi s'attendre?  Nos soirées comprennent généralement des mises à jour de projets, des présentations éclair des membres de la communauté et du temps dédié à la collaboration appliquée. Nous encourageons les participants à apporter leurs propres projets ou à rejoindre des initiatives existantes. Nous accueillerons également des conférenciers et des praticiens de la technologie civile de Montréal et du Canada. English We are working together to advance civic tech in Montreal, Quebec. These initiatives combine activism, technology, and local community engagement. Montreal has a rich history of civic tech and community building. We're creating a space where people can come together to talk, build, and act on local challenges. Who should come: Whether you're new to civic tech or an experienced practitioner, you're welcome to join us! We welcome all backgrounds—data, code, product, design, and more. From students to seasoned professionals, this is a space to learn and grow together as a community. What to expect: Our hack nights typically include project updates, lightning talks from community members, and dedicated time for hands-on collaboration. We encourage participants to bring their own projects or join existing initiatives. We'll also host civic tech speakers and practitioners from across Montreal and Canada. Location and schedule: Details for each meetup will be shared with registered participants. We aim to create an accessible and welcoming environment for everyone. Come ready to share ideas, learn from others, and contribute to meaningful civic projects that can make a difference in Montreal!

🙌 Apr 9th at 6PM: Civic Tech Montreal Hacknight #7

Let's build a better Montréal, ensemble! 🛠️
Bring your ideas, projects, & passion for civic tech. All backgrounds are welcome! 🙌

Check it out 👉 https://guild.host/e/x0pzv6

This perspective on digital transformation resonates with us:

"Digital transformation isn’t a destination. It’s an ongoing process that will evolve along with citizens’ needs and the digital services that enable us to meet them." 👏

Check it out: hubs.li/Q03bNL2y0

We're feeling inspired by this digital government success story from the Nova Scotia Department of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions ✨

It has great insights on how digital platforms speed up service delivery.

❤️ Loving this call-to-action: "The time for action is now. Government, businesses, and citizens must collaborate to drive an impactful digital transformation effort."

Code for Canada is proud to work with governments across the country to improve digital service design and delivery for residents.

How to Use Service Design to Improve Waiting Experiences A Code for Canada Senior Service Designer applies a human-centered lens to the design of waiting.

"If waiting is an inevitable part of flowing through a service, could it become a benefit instead of a challenge? What if waiting could be thoughtfully designed to enhance — even enrich — the overall experience?"

Learn how we used service design to improve the waiting experience: hubs.li/Q03c3cCY0

Code for Canada’s Ethical AI Principles Code for Canada has created our own set of principles for ethically working with AI.

At Code for Canada, we help public sector teams navigate AI ethically and effectively. If your organization is exploring AI, we’d love to connect.

📃 Find our ethical AI principles here: hubs.li/Q03bZrb60

It focuses on managing risks after deployment rather than ensuring only safe and secure models are chosen from the start.

A responsible approach to AI should follow human-centred design best practices to ensure new tools meet real users' needs.