Activate is a gathering on Cortes Island, BC where organizers, strategists and storytellers across movements connect and learn from each other about what is working, what’s not and how we can work together towards winning progressive change.
Book now and get 15% off listed prices! Offer valid until Dec 9, 2026.
Progressive movements are facing enormous challenges. We do not need another conference devoted to describing the problems.
Activate is about what works.
For five days on Cortes Island, participants learn directly from organizers, fundraisers, campaigners and movement leaders who are winning.
Come with a challenge. Leave with strategies, allies and ideas you can put to work immediately.
Fill out the form and our team will help answer your questions:
We need a diversity of voices in the room. To address economic barriers and ensure frontline community leaders can participate, Hollyhock offers a limited number of scholarships.
Juhi Sohani, Action Co-Lab
The producers and advisory team behind Activate are movement leaders and strategists, curating the conversations and speakers that matter most.
Package Pricing: You can view availability of accommodations and rates on our Registration Page.
Learn more about our accommodation types here.
Your investment includes full access to this 5-day program, including workshops, plenaries, peer coaching circles, faculty mentorship, and ongoing access to the Activate alumni network. Program fees vary by accommodation type. Click on Register for a full list of accommodations and package prices.
Let us handle the logistics. Travel to Hollyhock hassle-free with the Activate Participant Charter. With pickups in Vancouver and Nanaimo, you’ll ride in comfort, connect with fellow participants, and take in the beauty of the journey. Your trip wraps up with a 30-minute boat ride across the Salish Sea—keep an eye out for whales, seals, and eagles.
If you’d prefer to organize your own travel to and from Hollyhock, check out our Travel Directions page for suggested options and costs.
We want everyone to feel fully present and supported at Activate. Learn more about accessibility at Hollyhock or reach out to [email protected] for any specific needs.
Hollyhock recognizes that economic opportunity is not currently equal. Our scholarship program is one of our key strategies to expand program access to underrepresented and marginalized communities. A limited number of scholarships are available with awards ranging from partial to full tuition
We encourage applicants from those whose identities intersect with, but are not limited to: Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, newcomers, youth, and elders
The scholarship process opens in 2027. Contact us if you’d like more information on scholarships!
Activate is a five-day gathering for organizers, campaigners, labour leaders, movement builders, and advocates who want to strengthen their work and learn from others across the progressive movement.
Through workshops, case studies, peer learning, and strategic conversations, participants explore what’s working, what isn’t, and how we can build more effective movements together.
Activate is designed for:
Whether you’re organizing locally or leading national campaigns, you’ll find practical lessons, new connections, and opportunities for collaboration.
Participants learn directly from organizers who have won campaigns, overcome challenges, and adapted to changing political realities. Sessions are designed to encourage honest conversations, practical problem-solving, and peer-to-peer learning. Activate gathers some of the top movement organizers across North America.
Topics for Activate 2027 include:
No.
Activate welcomes both emerging and experienced leaders. The program is designed to support participants at different stages of their organizing, campaigning or communications journey. No matter what level of experience you have, you’ll learn something new at Activate, both from sessions and from your fellow participants.
Activate features organizers, strategists, labour leaders, campaigners, researchers, and movement builders from across North America. Stay tuned for speaker updates in spring of 2027.
Activate focuses on progressive organizing, advocacy, labour, and movement building.
The conference is non-partisan and centers practical lessons about building power, strengthening communities, and advancing social, economic, and environmental justice.
Your registration includes:
Participants can travel independently or reserve a seat on the Activate Participant Charter in April 2027, which includes coordinated transportation from Vancouver and Nanaimo.
A typical day includes:
The schedule balances structured learning with time for connection and reflection with fellow participants. Check out the 2026 Program Guide here for an example.
Yes.
Networking is a core part of the Activate experience. Participants connect through facilitated discussions, peer coaching circles, meals, informal gatherings, and collaborative workshops.
Many attendees leave with new partners, collaborators, and lasting professional relationships.
Yes. A limited number of scholarships are available to help reduce financial barriers to participation.
We particularly encourage applications from individuals and communities that are underrepresented in leadership spaces, including Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, newcomer, disabled, youth, and elder communities.
Hollyhock is committed to creating an accessible and welcoming experience. Learn more here.
If you have specific accessibility requirements, dietary needs, or accommodation requests, please contact our team before the event so we can support your participation.
Many participants attend with support from their employer, union, foundation, or organization.
Activate combines professional development, leadership training, strategic learning, and networking, making it a valuable investment for organizations seeking to strengthen their campaigns and teams.
Expect a collaborative environment where learning continues long after sessions end.
Some of the most valuable conversations happen over meals, during walks around campus, or while connecting with fellow organizers between sessions.
Participants consistently tell us that the combination of practical learning, meaningful relationships, and the natural setting makes Activate unlike any other conference they’ve attended.
Contact the Activate team and we’ll be happy to help.
Email: [email protected]
“I recommend Activate to anyone looking to recharge, find community, and reconnect with their values or their sense of purpose and agency. You will leave transformed.” – Kate Catherall, Founder and Principal, Slow Clap & Co-founder and Board Chair, Arena
“Activate Hollyhock was like a week of masterclasses in life. The knowledge and skills I gained were invaluable. I’m taking home a refreshed mindset, a deeper understanding of the world, and a notebook full of ideas. This is education re-imagined.”
