Activate: Elections

June 5-9, 2024

Restore, re-energize, and reconnect to face the challenges ahead.

June 5-9, 2024

Cortes Island, British Columbia

2024 is being called the global year of elections. Join us in June to level up your skills, build relationships, and meet the challenge ahead.

The theme of Activate this year is Elections. The months ahead will shape our communities for decades.

Activate is a 5-day gathering to bolster the digital and strategic capacity of progressives across Canada by bringing together the brightest minds and leaders for five days of intensive learning, collaboration, and inspiration.

Connect with leaders across the progressive movement ecosystem, build deep relationships, and help shape the movement at this pivotal time. Share best practices in campaigns across digital, fundraising, organizing and communications, problem-solve, and find new allies to take your organizing further. Restore and refresh your energy and ideas to be your best activist for the times ahead.

We have assembled an all-star cast of speakers with deep expertise to help lead our sessions:

Speakers

LaToia Jones crossing arms

LaToia Jones

SVP
Government Affairs & Political Partners at Hustle.
Jose Nunez at Hollyhock smiling

Jose Nunez

Senior Advisor, former Organizing Director
Democratic National Committee

Annie Wu Henry

Social Media & Digital Strategy Expert
Creative Director at AAPI Victory Fund, & Digital Consultant for Working Families Party

Meet Your Team

We would like to offer a special thank you to our Producers, Planning Team & Advisory Committee

Hollyhock´s presenter, Laurie Antonin, smiling

Laurie Antonin

Activate Advisor, National Digital Campaigns Lead
Canadian Labour Congress
Sara El-Amine holding a microphone

Sara El-Amine

Activate Advisor, Former President & Executive Director
Obama for America

Jack Milroy

Activate Advisor, Fundraising Consultant
Uplift Fundraising Partners

Oliver Paré

Activate Advisor, Political Consultant and Digital Ads Expert
OPS

Activate: Elections

Over 5 days at the spectacular Hollyhock retreat centre participants will engage in practical sessions and dig into cutting edge topics in elections and campaigns including:

  • The impact of AI on elections
  • How to leverage TikTok to engage the next generation
  • Lessons from the US Presidential election for organizers across the board
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Activate 2022 outside workshop
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Be Inspired

Re-inspire your work, and be challenged by new ideas. World-class speakers share game-changing secrets from their winning campaigns across the continent.

Activate 2023 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 reimagined.” – 2023 participant

Woman raising her fist during a leadership program at Hollyhock Retreat Centre
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Build Community

Grow your network and forge genuine connections with like-minded campaigners and advocates who are dedicated to sharing their knowledge, and lifting one another up.

Activate is for:

  • Managers and leaders in advocacy organizations and nonprofits who want to build strong digital programs. They want to learn how to build buy-in for digital across their organization, set up their team for success, and select the right tools and platforms to engage their members and supporters. 
  • Campaigners and organizers who want a structured training program that will help them engage their supporters and win campaigns. 
  • Organizers, communicators and digital staff at labour unions who want to learn from some of the best progressive digital leaders in the world. They want to explore the most effective ways to leverage technology to help their union connect with members and supporters in the community, and drive them to take action on campaigns in the workplace and beyond.
  • Business Development & Partnership Leads or Leaders at marketing or tech agencies who want to develop business and clients from non-profits, labour unions, and advocacy organizations
Activate 2022 working group outside
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Testimonials

Find out why Activate has a Net Promoter Score of 94%

“This experience was affirming in every possible way. I learned incredibly practical skills for meaningful change, made connections that were useful and inspiring, and felt energized being in a group that was so aligned in terms of values, needs, and energies.” 
Megana Ramaswami, Emdash Agency

“Activate continues to be one of those spaces where I feel welcomed, supported, and connected. Sharing informal time with so many incredible participants and the keynote speakers allows for many important conversations and learnings. I always show up open and curious and leave inspired and re-energized.”
Lydia Phillip, Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia

“Activate was a beautiful experience that was educational and rejuvenating in an industry that can be especially demanding and emotionally draining. I left feeling inspired and buzzing with new ideas.”
Angela, Labour Union Staff Member

“Activate is a place to set aside our rapid life rhythm and create space to truly share wisdom with people from various backgrounds. I leave Activate renewed, full of ideas, and with meaningful connections.”
Eymie Labbé, Youth Climate Corps

Agenda

Please note: sessions and times subject to change

7:00 am
7:30 am
8:00 am
8:30 am
9:00 am
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
12:00 pm
12:30 pm
1:00 pm
1:30 pm
2:00 pm
2:30 pm
3:00 pm
3:30 pm
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
5:00 pm
5:30 pm
6:00 pm
6:30 pm
7:00 pm
7:30 pm
8:00 pm
8:30 pm
9:00 pm
9:30 pm
10:00 pm
10:30 pm
11:00 pm

Wednesday, June 5
Wednesday, June 5

Check-In
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Opening Circle & Klahoose Welcome
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Welcome from Elder Rose & Brenda Hanson to the territory.

Dinner & Hollyhock Orientation
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Community Building
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Get to know your fellow participants.

Campfire
9:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Relax overlooking the ocean at a beachfront campfire or head to bed for an early night. Remember to bring a flashlight!

Thursday, June 6
Thursday, June 6

Morning Movement
7:00 am - 8:00 am

Pre-register by signing up on the lodge deck

Breakfast
8:00 am - 9:00 am

Morning Leadership & Ecosystem Development

There’s a reason one of the top things people take away from Activate is long-lasting relationships. We start each morning with facilitated time to develop leadership capacity and connect.

Keynote Plenary
9:45 am - 10:45 am

Hear from a game-shaping mover & shaker, get insights, ask questions, and apply learnings to your specific context.

Marketplace of Ideas
11:15 am - 12:15 pm

This is your opportunity to share in front of the entire group. These fast paced 60 second presentations allow you to tell the cohort about your mission or organization. Pitch an idea or make that ask for what you really need.

Lunch & Roundtables
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Workshops
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Interactive workshops to help you level up your skills.

Dinner
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Storytelling from the Front Lines
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Campfire
9:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Relax overlooking the ocean at a beachfront campfire or head to bed for an early night. Remember to bring a flashlight!

Friday, June 7
Friday, June 7

Morning Movement
7:00 am - 8:00 am

Pre-register by signing up on the lodge deck

Breakfast
8:00 am - 9:00 am

Morning Leadership & Ecosystem Development

There’s a reason one of the top things people take away from Activate is long-lasting relationships. We start each morning with facilitated time to develop leadership capacity and connect.

Keynote Plenary
9:45 am - 10:45 am

Hear from a game-shaping mover & shaker, get insights, ask questions, and apply learnings to your specific context.

Peer Coaching Circles
11:15 am - 12:15 pm

Gather in small groups of 5 for these interactive problem solving sessions. Each person can share a challenge and receive peer reflection and advice.

Lunch & Roundtables
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Free Time
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Take the afternoon to choose your own adventure: meet with One-on-One Advisors, strategize, or, take a brain break enjoy the land! Swim in the ocean, join a guided hike, paddle board, meditate in the Sanctuary, or nap.

Dinner
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Fail Night
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Take the stage and tell the story of your biggest organizing failures and what you learned. An Activate classic, you’ll be in tears of laughter or tears of cringe - the best part? Knowing you’re not alone.

Music Jam & Card Night
9:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Bring your musical instruments for a lowkey music jam or enjoy playing cards, board games, or sit in the hot tub under the stars.

Saturday, June 8
Saturday, June 8

Morning Movement
7:00 am - 8:00 am

Breakfast
8:00 am - 9:00 am

Morning Leadership & Ecosystem Development

There’s a reason one of the top things people take away from Activate is long-lasting relationships. We start each morning with facilitated time to develop leadership capacity and connect.

Keynote Plenary
9:45 am - 10:45 am

Hear from a game-shaping mover & shaker, get insights, ask questions, and apply learnings to your specific context.

Keynote Plenary
9:45 am - 10:45 am

Hear from a game-shaping mover & shaker, get insights, ask questions, and apply learnings to your specific context.

Workshops
11:15 am - 12:15 pm

Interactive workshops to help you level up your skills.

Lunch & Roundtables
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Workshops
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Interactive workshops to help you level up your skills.

Oyster BBQ
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Meet up on the beach for barbecued oysters and ocean views.

Dinner
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Closing Party
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Dance the night away with your new friends and allies.

Pricing

Tuition: $995 CAD

Package Pricing: Make the most of Activate and send your team as a unit. Discounted tuition is available for groups of 2 or more coming from the same organization. Learn more

Meals & Accommodation: Campus stay rates are in addition to tuition, and range from $750-2000 depending on your accommodation choice. Campus rates include accommodation, 3 gourmet meals a day, unlimited drinks, daily movement activities, hot tubs and campus facilities.

Scholarships: The Hollyhock scholarship program is one of our key strategies to expand program access to underrepresented and marginalized communities. A limited number of scholarships are available per program with awards ranging from partial to full tuition. Learn more and apply here

Travel: Take the stress out of travel and ride the Activate-mobile. For your convenience, Hollyhock organizes a charter to take you directly to Cortes Island with pickups in Vancouver and Nanaimo. Top your trip off with a 30-minute boat ride across the Salish Sea, keeping an eye out for whales, seals, and eagles! This subsidized charter is available for $325 roundtrip. Register when you sign up for Activate.

Convince Your Boss: You’re sold on attending Activate, now it’s time to convince your boss. Use these tools to justify why your organization needs to invest in your participation.

Our Partners

Hospital Employees´ Union logo
Canadian Union of Public Employees logo
Affinity Bridge Logo

Community Amplifiers

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