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Organized by: SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue — https://www.eventbrite.com/o/120748046802The second dialogue of this series aimed at digging deeper into and addressing the root causes of entrenched political division.
Bridging the Political Divide: Broader Table, Deeper Conversation
SFU Dialogue & Engagement is pleased to invite you to the second dialogue in the in-person dialogue series, Bridging the Political Divide, part of the When the Map Is Useless initiative.
Building from the Inaugural Dialogue in April 2026, we're diving deeper into the root causes of division, focusing on concrete examples after spending a day on exploring our common understanding of democracy.
This dialogue broadens the table to bring in more voices from across the political spectrum, injecting perspectives that were missing in our first round. Coming out of the day, we want the group to feel like they have a clear grasp of the factors deepening our current political chasm, feel a sense of ownership in both the cause and the solution, and take on the hard work of moving forward with actions that can mitigate current trends.
The day will also include a debrief of recent local and provincial elections and provide us with an opportunity to learn from these elections about our work to bridge the political divide.
The conversation takes place under Chatham House Rule.
Accessibility
Washrooms are located on the lower level, second, third and fourth floors of the building. The venue has a gender-neutral washroom, available on the second floor in the east hallway. All floors within the building, including the venue and washrooms, are wheelchair accessible and serviced by elevators. How can we make this event accessible for you? If you have any questions, concerns, or comments regarding this event’s accessibility, feel free to connect with us at [email protected].
Directions
The SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue is located at 580 W. Hastings St (enter by Seymour Street at Joe Segal Way), and is a brief walk from Waterfront station and numerous bus stops. Bike racks are available outside the Hastings entrance of SFU Harbour Centre (located across the street). Nearby parking is available at 500 & 400 W. Cordova St.
Code of Conduct and Inclusion Expectation
This is an inclusive event. By submitting your registration, you are agreeing to engage with organizers and other guests at the event in a respectful manner. Offensive or discriminatory behaviour and/or language toward event organizers and other guests will not be tolerated. Such behaviour may result in the removal or banning of the individual(s) from future events.
Land Acknowledgement
We respectfully acknowledge the unceded, traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, on which the SFU Vancouver campus and the SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue building are located.
About the Initiative
When the Map Is Useless is a multi-year initiative that brings SFU and the wider community together to strengthen public sense-making and civic discourse in a time of profound social, political, and ecological transition.
When familiar frameworks no longer hold, this work invites us to think—and live—beyond easy answers. It centers on cultivating the capacities that matter most in conditions of uncertainty: engaging across difference to make sense of what is unfolding, adapting personal and collective leadership to meet the moment, and reclaiming shared decision-making even amid polarization. Through spaces for dialogue, reflection, and practice, the program works to renew the civic relationships we need to find our way forward.
The initiative has two parts:
Bridging the Political Divide is a series of programming that focuses on the growing erosion of civility and trust in the public sphere. Through facilitated conversations, reflective spaces and public events, this initiative brings together people with influence over public life—including elected and former elected officials, journalists, union leaders, philanthropists, academics, and community leaders—to explore how disagreement can remain rigorous without becoming dehumanizing. By modeling how leaders can engage in heated conversations while remaining grounded and respectful, this work seeks to strengthen the quality of public discourse in British Columbia and Canada, and to encourage broader and more diverse participation in public leadership and democratic life.
Conversations for a World in Transition is a public dialogue series of thoughtfully curated, interdisciplinary, fireside-style conversations with innovative scholars and practitioners. These dialogues create opportunities to engage complexity without resorting to simplification or despair. Guided by three core questions—what is unfolding in this moment, what contexts help us make sense of it, and how we sustain ourselves while navigating profound change—the series invites the public into collective reflection beyond soundbites. Its aim is to deepen understanding and foster critical optimism, public imagination, and the personal and collective capacities needed to live through transformation with curiosity, care, courage, and integrity.
This program is supported in part by the North Family Foundation.
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Event venue
SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, 580 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3, CA, Canada
Tickets
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