Civics toolbox

This toolbox provides information about how City Hall works, how to get involved, and how to make change happen.

Who the toolbox is for

The toolbox is for all interested individuals, groups, and organizations wanting to know more about their city, and how to get involved.

This includes schools, universities, non-profit organizations, and community groups.

Activities and worksheets

Review downloadable presentations, activities, and worksheets organized by topic. You can use the activities in any order.

Democracy and democratic participation
Objectives and learning outcomes
- Understand what democracy means in Canada
- Identify different perceptions of democratic participation
- Design your own definition of democratic participation and create your ideal democracy
- Learn about voting rights in Canada through time
Activities
1. Creating my ideal democracy:
  - Activity (258 KB)
  - Worksheet (443 KB)
2. Understanding democratic participation:
  - Activity (674 KB)
  - Worksheet (189 KB)
3. Where is my voice the loudest?:
  - Activity (256 KB)
  - Worksheet (368 KB)
4. Voting rights in Canada through time:
  - Activity (425 KB)
Vancouver's people and neighbourhoods
Objectives and learning outcomes
- Name the local First Nations
- Identify some of the City of Vancouver’s Reconciliation efforts
- Learn about Vancouver’s geography and facts
- Learn about Vancouver’s people and places
Activities
1. Local First Nations:
  - Activity (746 KB)
  - Worksheet (847 KB)
2. Making Indigenous Peoples and cultures more visible:
  - Activity (2 MB)
  - Worksheet (358 KB)
3. People and places in our city:
  - Activity (807 KB)
4. Vancouver geography and facts bingo:
5. My Vancouver mural:
  - Activity (751 KB)
6. Interviewing an older adult:
  - Activity (254 KB)
City government and how decisions are made
Objectives and learning outcomes
- Identify the roles and responsibilities of three levels of government in Canada
- Identify roles and responsibilities of the City of Vancouver
- Learn about public policy
- Assess the ways that local government decisions impact our daily lives
The learning resources in this module are designed for young adult learners.

Activities
1. Local government 101: roles and responsibilities:
2. Local government 101: who does what?:
  - Activity (158 KB)
  - Worksheet (499 KB)
3. Local government 101: what is public policy?:
4. Local government 101: decisions in your daily life:
  - Activity (200 KB)
  - Worksheet (148 KB)
City policy and planning issues
Objectives and learning outcomes
- Understand different areas of City planning
- Identify ways to have your voice heard on City matters
- Identify what issues matter to you
- Discuss why different planning and policy issues matter for different groups
The learning resources in this module are designed for young adult and adult learners but can be changed to suit other audiences.

Activities
1. Planning 101:
2. Learn to use Shape Your City, our online platform for sharing ideas and feedback:
  - Activity (241 KB)
  - Worksheet (164 KB)
3. What issues matter to me?:
  - Activity (265 KB)
  - Worksheet (244 KB)
4. Mock debate:
  - Activity (161 KB)
  - Worksheet (168 KB)
Getting involved
Objectives and learning outcomes
- Identify ways to get involved in local democracy
- Learn about local elections and identify how to become a registered voter
Activities
1. Make a plan to get involved:
2. Learn about voting in local elections: