Events and Programming

Gen(Z) AI Halifax Forum

The MacEachen is thrilled to welcome McGill’s Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy on March 27-29th for the fourth and final iteration of their Gen(Z) AI Forum. Bringing together 100 young Canadians, Gen(Z) AI builds policy consensus that has the potential to impact Canada’s legislative and regulatory approaches to AI. The topic of the Halifax Forum is AI & Age Assurance.

Age assurance is becoming an increasingly relevant policy issue as governments around the world grapple with how to balance age verification policies with data privacy and data rights. Only five in-person spots are still available, offering a unique opportunity to contribute directly to high-level discussions on AI and age assurance. 

This is a unique opportunity for students to:

• Enhance your critical thinking and deliberation skills;
• Engage directly with experts and thought leaders;
• Gain hands-on policymaking experience;
• Make connections and meaningfully collaborate with peers from across Canada.

If this sounds like you, please reach out to Helen Hayes (helen.hayes@mcgill.ca) and Fergus Linley-Mota (flinleym@sfu.ca) and let them know why you are interested in joining our Halifax Forum.

Women in Public Policy Panel: Co-Hosted with the Dalhousie Women in Politics Society

• When: 2:00-5:00pm, January 29th, 2026 
• Where: University Hall, 6257 Alumni Crescent

What happened: The MacEachen Institute co-hosted a panel on Women in Public Policy with the Dalhousie Women in Politics society. Bringing together women in the public service, science and oceans policy, partisan politics, and non-profit sector, Moderator Trina Roache led a provoking conversation on what it means to build a career and professional life in pubic policy, and field questions from young women thinking about their next steps. 

Featured Panelists: Lisa Lachance, PhD, Suzy Hansen, Heather MacDougall, Ronnie Noonan-Birch, and Lisa Roberts. 

Photo Credit: Petra Jessome

Book Talk with the Honourable Kevin Lynch: A New Blueprint for Government: Reshaping Power, the PMO, and the Public Service

• When: 4:30-6:30PM, December 10, 2025 
• Where: Rm 270, Dalhousie Student Union Building.  

What happened: On Wednesday December 10th, the MacEachen Institute hosted the Honourable Kevin Lynch to discuss his new book, co-authored by Jim Mitchell: A New Blueprint for Government: Reshaping Power, the PMO, and the Public Service. Lynch facilitated a thought provoking discussion on how universities, businesses, and policy makers must work collaboratively to meet the domestic and geopolitical challenges of our day. 

This event was hosted in collaboration with the King's Co-op Bookstore, who sold copies of A New Blueprint for Government at the talk. 

Photo Credit: Kelly Clark Fotography.