What does it mean to have a voice?

What does it actually mean to “have a voice” in a democracy?

For many students, civics can feel abstract, something that happens somewhere else, to someone else. At Unlock Democracy Canada (UDC), we’re working to change that.

With the help of the UpliftEd Committee, we’re developing a series of hands-on, inquiry-driven civics lessons for Grade 10 students across Ontario. The goal is simple: make civics feel real, relevant, and connected to students’ everyday lives. Using resources like TVO’s Unrigged, students don’t just learn about democracy, they experience it.

Bringing democracy to life: Better Ballots

Our first lesson Better Ballots invites students to step directly into the democratic process.

Rather than memorizing definitions of different voting mechanisms like first past the post, ranked ballots, and proportional representation, students test each system themselves in a mock democratic process. They debate real issues they care about, like social media, climate action, school policies, then vote using different systems to see how outcomes change. 

The results aren’t always what they expect. Students see that casting a vote doesn’t always translate into meaningful representation. This opens the door to deeper questions about fairness and trust in democratic systems.

Beyond the curriculum: building critical thinkers

These lessons go beyond meeting curriculum expectations. They create space for students to think critically, listen to different perspectives, and reflect on the roots of their own beliefs, whether that’s family, peers, media, or lived experience. 

Just as importantly, they practise engaging respectfully with others, even when they disagree. In the process, students build trust, not just in democratic systems, but in their own ability to participate in them.

Why this work matters

At a time when civic engagement is declining and people are losing trust in politics, especially among youth, UDC is creating a meaningful opportunity to reconnect young people with democracy. They can see themselves in the process, question it, test it, and experience it first-hand. Democracy becomes more than a concept. It becomes something they can shape.

Interested in seeing the lesson plan for yourself? Sign up here to get your copy here.