17 November – Digital Defenders: Youth Building Resilience and Change

The Montreal Institute for Global Security (MIGS), in partnership with The Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy, is pleased to invite you to an upcoming seminar exploring how youth are responding to the challenges of the digital age.

As online spaces increasingly shape civic engagement and identity, young people are at the forefront of efforts to counter digital harms and foster safer, more inclusive online environments. This session will highlight innovative youth-driven initiatives such as NoSo November and national consultations on Artificial Intelligence, demonstrating how young leaders are building digital resilience and influencing the future of technology governance.

The discussion will examine how youth can:

• Redefine civic engagement and foster inclusive, community-oriented digital spaces.

• Integrate lived experiences into policymaking to inform digital governance.

• Innovate through activism, creativity, and collaboration to counter online harms.

🎙️ Featured Speakers:

• Maddie Freeman – Founder & CEO, NoSo November; 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 in Education; Youth Fellow, McGill University’s Media, Technology, and Democracy Centre.

• Maddie Case – Youth Fellow, Centre for Media, Technology, and Democracy; Policy and Strategic Initiatives Lead, Democratic Engagement Exchange.

• Iain Levine – Former Human Rights Professional, Meta; Former Deputy Executive Director of Programs, Human Rights Watch; Former UN Director, Amnesty International.

🔗 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seminar-digital-defenders-youth-building-resilience-and-change-tickets-1786878695279

This event is part of Canadian Digital Resilience Network Against Online Hate Seminar Series, a project sponsored by the Department of Canadian Heritage.