the Dais

Our name means ‘raised platform.’ A dais is a place that illuminates the people on it, and it reminds us that real change only happens when we lift new voices and ideas. Dais can be a bit tricky to pronounce, so we put a spotlight on some of our friends to see how they’d say it.

Know an educator struggling with the switch to phone-free schools? Join us on March 25 at 1 p.m. EST for another candid, practical conversation about moving from policy to practice. Register: dais.ca/headsup/events/

As Meta prepares to cut 20% of its workforce, Canadians are increasingly concerned about the impact that AI is having on the labour market. @vviet93 joined Global News to question whether AI might be a scapegoat for downsizing. globalnews.ca/video/11734019…

On the National Day of Unplugging, the conversation shouldn’t stop at logging off. When young people are empowered to lead conversations and reshape digital norms, schools can build healthier learning environments. dais.ca/commentary/let… #PhoneFreeSchools

Since we launched the RAISE program in late 2025, 500+ frontline nonprofit workers and leaders have joined us in future-proofing their skills, without compromising on mission. Get the best of both of our courses, condensed into a one-day session: tmu-emarketplace.paymytuition.com/raise-mastercl…

What happened to liberal democracy? Nobel Prize–winning MIT economist Daron Acemoglu will join DemocracyXChange on April 18 to explore the tension between economic growth, emerging technologies, and democratic health. Learn more and purchase tickets: democracyxchange.org

André Côté, executive director of @daisTMU, co-authored a recent op-ed that argues Canadian sovereignty starts with having a resilient democracy. Côté and his co-authors say the health of Canada's institutions is vital to our independence. Read more: vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/…

The era of platform self-regulation is over. Our latest commentary argues that Parliament must reprioritize online safety legislation to address the growing prevalence of AI-generated deepfakes, misinformation, and online harms. The full argument: dais.ca/commentary/can…

Nearly 18 months in, school communities across Canada are still asking: what does “phone-free” actually look like in practice? Join our new webinar series, The Lunchroom, to hear from Canadian education leaders on what’s working. Feb 25 | 1 PM ET dais.ca/headsup/events/

Canada is at a turning point in how it governs the digital economy and artificial intelligence. And it must do so in the face of rapidly changing technology – a challenge that’s compounded by geopolitical tensions and economic stress. Over the past few years, Ottawa has attempted to moved quickly on competition law, online harms, and AI. This comes after previous measures on online harms and AI faced criticism. But these are now back on the table. It’s clear these areas need attention, but there are serious concerns about state overreach, enforcement capacity, and whether we’re regulating technologies we barely understand. At the same time, Canada is facing weak productivity, sluggish innovation, and growing pressure to secure its economic and national security in a more volatile world. To share his perspective on how to navigate this, André Côté @andcote joins Inside Policy Talks. Côté serves as interim executive director at the Dias Institute @daisTMU, where he works at the intersection of technology, governance, and public policy. He’s a leading voice on how governments can regulate digital markets and AI with institutional realism, democratic legitimacy, and restraint – without ignoring real harms. On the podcast, he tells @CopelanPeter, deputy director of domestic policy at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, that Canada’s “deep dependence on foreign tech” is not only an economic issue, “it’s also a deep sovereignty issue for us.” Watch the full episode: youtube.com/watch?v=P6qXx2…

Happening now: tune in to the TMU Democracy Forum with Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy! youtube.com/live/CrvPw6vm7… #democracy #Canada #onpoli

AI is already everywhere in finance. But in a high-trust sector, deployment matters: > Lower-risk uses > Human oversight > Gains that outweigh governance costs. That’s the takeaway from Banking on AI, funded by @fsc_ccf_en. Explore the full report: dais.ca/reports/bankin…

Canadian sovereignty does not start at the border: it starts at home, with a resilient democracy. In a new op-ed in the Vancouver Sun, our Executive Director and #democracy leaders argue that the health of our institutions is key to our independence: vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/…

Canadian journalism icon Lyse Doucet has landed at the TMU Democracy Forum. Couldn't make it? Join the live stream: youtube.com/live/qXp9DbF1D… #democracy #journalism #Canada

Join us at the TMU Democracy Forum on Friday, January 30 where BBC Chief Correspondent Lyse Doucet will discuss her new book, “The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A People’s History of Afghanistan.” eventbrite.ca/e/lyse-doucet-… #Democracy #Canada @reggcohn

We’re going live at the TMU Democracy Forum with former Ontario Dalton McGuinty. Can’t join us IRL? Join the live stream! youtube.com/live/78ddrns1y…

We’re looking for students in Grades 9 to 11 from across Canada to join our national Youth Champion cohort as part of our Heads Up campaign for phone-free schools. Learn more and apply by February 20: dais.ca/headsup/youth-… #YoungLeaders #Canada #PhoneFree

International students contribute to Canada’s economy, but unlocking their full potential requires clear pathways + alignment with labour market needs. 📄 Learn how work-integrated learning can help: dais.ca/reports/yours-…

Join us at the Dais next week for our TMU Democracy Forum with former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty. Tickets are free, with advanced registration required. eventbrite.ca/e/197974159640…

Leading Through Policy Change introduces the fundamentals of Canadian public policy and changemaking, with no prerequisites required. For sliding-scale enrollment, please email Fahmida Kamali at famida.kamali@torontomu.ca Sign up by February 2: dais.ca/courses/leadin…

New year, new goals. Learn how to adopt AI responsibly with our Essentials of AI Governance course. Develop the skills to design guidelines for your organization, without compromising on ethics or mission. Last chance: final cohort starts tomorrow! tmu-emarketplace.paymytuition.com/essentials-of-…