DXC+ Ottawa Reflections: How Do We Move Fast Without Losing What Matters?

On April 30th, 2026, Bridge Building Group and the Open Democracy Project co-hosted DemocracyXChange’s inaugural regional event, DXC+ Ottawa, at the Global Centre for Pluralism supported by OCAD U’s Cultural Policy Hub. 

We brought together business leaders, public sector representatives, and civil society to explore a question at the heart of the moment: How do we move fast without losing what matters most?

We’re all grappling with a sense of urgency: from climate change and protecting Canada’s sovereignty, to the ethics and unknowns of AI. The challenge is moving quickly without weakening the principles, relationships, and trust that underpin good decision-making.

Through a facilitated panel discussion and a participatory fishbowl dialogue where participants became the experts, we explored this question together. The goal was not to solve it, but to learn: to surface clearer questions, shared principles, and a stronger foundation for decision-making that can move at pace without losing what matters.

Here are some key themes and takeaways from what we heard and starting actions for where we can each start to not lose what matters while we grapple with speed and change. 

Please note that the summary reflects key themes and diversity of perspectives shared during the conversation and does not imply consensus among all participants.

Our many thanks to our partners who made the event possible, to the speakers, and to every participant whose voice shaped what emerged. 

Want to Keep the Conversation Going?

This event was designed to move beyond debate and do what good dialogue does: surface better questions, build unexpected connections, and leave people more equipped than when they arrived. If that resonates with you, whether it was the format, the facilitation, or the questions we explored, we'd love to hear from you. 📩 jane@bridgebuilding.ca 

We also invite you to connect with our partners: 

Open Democracy Project is working to strengthen and evolve the practice of democracy in Canada through contributing to the growth of Canada’s democracy sector. It is a not-for-profit incorporated in Canada and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Open Democracy Project’s goal is to foster collaborative and sustainable multi-stakeholder programs that convene, connect and share knowledge to build democratic resilience and protect democratic values.

DemocracyXChange (DXC) connects, celebrates and equips people who are taking action to strengthen democracy. Co-produced by OCAD U, The Open Democracy Project and the Dais at TMU, Canada’s premier annual democracy summit takes place in Toronto in April. A thousand participants gather over three days of dynamic programming that includes inspiring keynote speakers, thought‑provoking expert panels, and hands‑on participatory workshops, created to both examine and tackle today’s most urgent civic issues. democracyxchange.org

DXC+ is the regional events initiative of DemocracyXChange, bringing the spirit of the national DXC Summit to communities across Canada. Through DXC+, local leaders and organizations create spaces for dialogue, exchange and learning about democratic issues, connecting local perspectives to a broader national conversation.