section one – Democracy in need of heroic citizenship

Unless YOU defend liberal democracy, it doesn't stand a chance! Without the stewardship and vigilance of Heroic Citizens, just laws and strong institutions will inevitably fail to safeguard freedom and democracy.

Democracy Needs
Heroic Citizenship

The Mission

A curriculum for liberal constitutional democracy. Education for Heroic Citizenship!

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A conference of the country’s leading scholars, jurists, political scientists and experts on law and democracy in which we examine the significance, meaning, impact, operation and (de)merits of Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms forty years after the Charter’s enactment.

The Notwithstanding Clause at 40: Canadian Constitutional Democracy at a Crossroads

Watch The Conference

Peter’s keynote address for the conference: The Unwritten Constitution: Conventions, Traditions & Norms in our Populist Age – Massey College, January 18, 2021

Peter’s Keynote Address at Massey College

“Degrading Norms: Crisis of Legitimacy or Just Bad Manners?”

Watch Here

Read the Book on the the Backsliding of Our Democracy and How We Might Redeem It.

Constitutional Democracy Under Stress - A Time for Heroic Citizenship

Purchase The Book Here

View Book Launch

Examining and demystifying one of the most controversial, consequential, and misunderstood provisions in Canada's constitution: the notwithstanding clause in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Notwithstanding Clause and the Canadian Charter: Rights, Reforms, and Controversies

Purchase this book here

Our VISION

A civil society in which every citizen is imbued with a sense of civic duty to come to the defence of the fundamentals of liberal constitutional democracy.

Our Work

We want every school to teach a civics curriculum fit for liberal democratic citizens based on our “Fundamentals of Liberal Democracy”, including such programs as our Bootcamp for Heroic Citizenship (currently in development). We also convene conferences, run workshops, deliver public lectures and press commentary and we undertake research and writing projects, with an eye to safeguarding and promoting a liberal democratic civic culture.

Coming Soon

Bootcamp for Heroic
Citizenship

An intensive, multi-module “core curriculum for liberal democratic citizenship” for use by teachers, students and anyone interested in arming their civic immune system against the forces of democratic backsliding.

Get Involved

Invite us to address your school, organization, community. Send us questions and ideas. Volunteer, help us manage our social media, promote our mission, raise much needed funding to support our work.

Our VISION

A civil society in which every citizen is imbued with a sense of civic duty to come to the defence of the fundamentals of liberal constitutional democracy.

Why Section 1

Mission and Fundamentals