Step 1: Plan your Canadian federal electoral reform event

The first step is to think about and determine the kind of Canadian federal electoral reform dialogue you want to host:

1. Prepare. Read through this guide to help you make informed decisions about your participation.
   
2. Choose. Pick the kind of event you want to host. Canadian federal electoral reform can be discussed in a variety of ways. Think about your goals, networks and resources when selecting the dialogue model that is the best fit for you. At this point you may want to explore the possibility of working with partners or groups. Think about how you might use digital tools and technologies to extend the impact of your event. Consider how you might make your event as inclusive and accessible as possible.
   
3. Date and time. Select a date and time that will work for you and your intended audience. Think about how much time you will need to prepare for and promote your event when selecting a date. For example, a coffee dialogue with neighbours could happen next week, but a successful town-hall-style event may need three to four weeks of lead time.
   
4. Budget. Determine if you will have a budget for the event. Most dialogues can be hosted successfully with little to no cost. Be creative in taking advantage of local assets to keep costs low.
   
5. Location. Select and confirm the location that is best suited to your event. There are many items to consider when choosing a location, such as:
   
   
   1. Facility accessibility for persons with disabilities
   2. Location accessibility by car (e.g. parking availability), public transit and foot
   3. Size/capacity
   4. Technology considerations (e.g. Internet access, audiovisual capacity)
   5. Flexibility to provide refreshments (if desired)
6. Agenda and dialogue topics. Based on the kind of dialogue you want to host, begin to develop the agenda for your dialogue. Think about whether you want to host a themed or open dialogue. You may want to review this sample agenda and facilitator guide and list of potential Canadian federal electoral reform dialogue topics and questions to help decide what you want to do. You may also wish to adapt this sample event Powerpoint presentation to fit your needs.
   
7. Set up registration. Depending on the intended size of your event, you may want to ask people to register ahead of time. This can be as simple as asking people to email you ahead of time, or using a specialized online tool (such as Eventbrite, Universe, etc.).