Events & Activities

Media Literacy Week 2026 is officially on! From October 26 to 30, explore our nationwide calendar of workshops and activities happening near you.

What are you and your community doing this Media Literacy Week? It’s never too late to sign up as a collaborator and tell us all about it!

October 3

Digital Expo: AI & Democracy
Saturday, October 3 — 9:30 am - 4:30 pm ET 
In-person Event — 789 Yonge Street Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4W 2G8
Hosted by Toronto Public Library in partnership with MediaSmarts
Featuring a panel discussion with Matthew Johnson, Director of Education at MediaSmarts, this year's Digital Expo is a dynamic day of learning, exploration, and connection focused on shaping a responsible AI future for everyone. Discover how emerging technologies are transforming our lives, communities, and civic institutions.
 
 

October 5

Be An Active Digital Citizen - Play-based Workshop for Families
Monday, October 5 — 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm ET 
In-person Event — 3990 Major Mackenzie Drive East Markham, Ontario, Canada, L6C 1P8
Hosted by Kids Rights Canada and Markham Public Library
In this play-based, interactive workshop for children and families, Kids Rights Canada in exploring what it means to be a smart, safe, and empowered digital citizen. Through games and hands-on activities, children will practice healthy social media habits and learn about their digital rights online in a fun, age-appropriate way.
 
 

October 9

Digital Storytelling with LEARN
Friday, October 9 — 9:30 am - 3:00 pm ET 
In-person Event — 4190 Rue Garand, Suite 201, Laval, Quebec, Canada, H7L 5Z6
Hosted by LEARN
Amplify student voices through hands-on digital storytelling at LEARN’s free, bilingual Open Creative Space! Collaborate with peers, test tools like Canva, Google Vids, and Stop-Motion, and explore projects aligned with Professional Competency 12. Content is tailored to your grade and subject. Pizza lunch included (release time not covered). Register today!
 
 

October 14

RALLY 2026
Wednesday, October 14 — 8:30 am - 4:00 pm ET 
In-person Event — Meridian Hall, 1 Front St E, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5E 1B2
Hosted by RALLY
RALLY is Canada's digital wellness festival for high school students, presented by Bell Let's Talk. Held each fall at Meridian Hall in Toronto, RALLY brings together up to 3,000 Grade 9 to 12 students and educators for a day of speakers, performances and hands-on experiences about mental health, identity, media literacy, community and the future of work. Admission is free for school groups. RALLY is produced by OFFLINE EVENTS LTD. and returns on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
 
 

October 17

Stories That Echo: The Artivism Cohort Showcase
Saturday, October 17 — 11:00 am - 3:00 pm MT
In-person Event — Edmonton City Hall, 1 Sir Winston Churchill Sq NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Hosted by ECHOFORM
Stories That Echo is the culminating showcase of ECHOFORM's 2026 Artivism Cohort. Youth artists share zines, visual art, and multimedia storytelling shaped by summer labs on media literacy, climate futures, health equity, and civic engagement, alongside live performances, speeches, and community connection. Part of Edmonton Design Week 2026.
 
Wheelchair-accessible entrance and washrooms. For accommodation requests, please contact [email protected].
 
 

October 22

Parenting in the Digital Age: An Essential Guide to Fostering Healthy Online Habits
Thursday, October 22 — 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm ET 
Online Event 
Hosted by Kids Rights Canada and Markham Public Library
Managing children's social media and AI usage often feels like a constant battle over restrictions. Join Kids Rights Canada in learning practical strategies and everyday language to build healthy digital habits and encourage open dialogue at home.
 
 

October 23

Tejedoras de la Imagen (Image Weavers): Vernissage and art exhibition
Friday, October 23 — 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm ET 
In-person Event — (Gallery 101) 280 Catherine Street Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1R 5T3
Hosted by Inter Pares
Join Inter Pares and Gallery 101 for the opening of Tejedoras de la Imagen (“Image Weavers”), an exhibition of works by Indigenous artists, filmmakers, photographers and storytellers from Colombia.
 
 

October 25

Bo$$BabyKoin Challenge
Sunday, October 25 — 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm MT 
In-person Event — Theatre Gallery
Hosted by Lethbridge Public library
Bo$$BabyKoin puts players in the middle of a compelling opportunity to make fast money. With a famous financial influencer promoting a new digital currency, teams must piece together clues, evaluate what they find, and decide whether your friend's parents should invest their life savings.
 
 

October 26

Take the News Diet Challenge!
Monday October 26 — 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm ET
Online Event
Hosted by McGill University Libraries
Do you want to explore your own relationship with the news by analyzing your daily “news diet”? Do you want to balance your “news diet” so it better meets your needs? Join us for an online session where we will think about and discuss news consumption in the context of our real lives. You will leave this event with the insight and tools to audit your news consumption and to make tweaks and changes for a more balanced “news diet.”
 
 
Finding statistics for your paper: A whirlwind tour
Monday October 26 — 12:05 pm - 12:55 pm ET
Online Event
Hosted by McGill University Libraries
Learn where to find facts or summary statistics to support arguments in your paper. This workshop provides a quick overview of sources and search strategies for finding Canadian and international statistics. The sources that will be discussed include Google, Odesi, Our World in Data, Statista, Statistics Canada, and World Bank Open Data.
 
 
Before the Phone: A Parent Workshop on Getting Kids Ready for Life Online
Monday October 26 — 11:00 am - 12:00 pm PT
Online Event
Hosted by Tech Safe Kids
Child behaviour clinician Joanne Ma, co-founder of Tech Safe Kids, leads a free workshop drawn from the Before the Phone series. Parents will learn readiness signs beyond age, how to talk with kids about AI, group chats and social media, and how to create a family phone agreement together.
 
 
Building Healthy Minds in a Digital World (Gr. 1 - 6)
Monday October 26 — 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm MT
Online Event
Hosted by Calgary Public Library
In today’s digital world, children are constantly receiving messages about who they should be, how they should feel, and what success looks like. This interactive session helps students build the skills to navigate media in a healthy, confident, and balanced way. 
 
 
Digital Media Literacy Workshop – Wingham
Monday October 26 — 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm ET
In-person Event — (Alice Munro Branch) 281 Edward St. Wingham, Ontario, Canada, N0G 2W0
Hosted by Huron County Library
Can you tell what’s real online? With the rise of AI, misinformation and disinformation are becoming increasingly common. In this practical workshop, you’ll learn tools and strategies for evaluating online information, spotting misleading content, and deciding what you can trust.
 
 
What's Real Online?
Monday October 26 — 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm ET 
In-person Event — 900 Clark Avenue West Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, L4J 8C1
Hosted by Vaughan Public Libraries
How can you know what's real these days? Come play a Real or Fake quiz game and learn how you can avoid being tricked online! For grades 3-5.
 
 

October 27

Respecting Yourself and Others Online
Tuesday, October 27 — 9:30 am - 10:30 am ET 
Online Event 
Hosted by LEARN in partnership with MediaSmarts
This workshop was created to provide tweens and young teens with strategies and knowledge that will help them respect themselves, respect others and respect the space when using social media.
 
 
National Online Forum: Literacy and Digital Media: Building the Road to Critical Thinking
Tuesday, October 27 — 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET
Online Event — Zoom
Hosted by United for Literacy in partnership with MediaSmarts
Why is critical thinking important when young people navigate digital media? This National Online Forum brings together experts and youth voices to explore the role of literacy and critical thinking in how we navigate information, AI and digital media today. Open to all.
 
 
CyberSafe Seniors: Preventing AI Fraud and Scams
Tuesday, October 27 — 1:00 pm ET
Online Event — Zoom
Presented by MediaSmarts in partnership with the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario with support from Meta.
Scammers are using AI to create fake voices, videos and messages that look and sound real, with older adults often the target. This workshop gives you the tools to spot these scams, respond safely and protect yourself and your family. ASL translation services will be provided
 
 
What's wrong with this picture? Fake news and data visualization
Tuesday, October 27 — 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET
Online Event
Hosted by McGill University Libraries
"A picture is worth a thousand words... but are any of them true? Charts, graphs, and infographics can make information look clear, objective, and convincing at a glance. But appearances can be deceiving. A graph can exaggerate a trend, a chart can hide important context, and a carefully selected dataset can tell a very different story from the whole truth. In this interactive workshop, we'll explore how data visualizations shape the way we understand the world, and how they can sometimes be used to mislead."
 
 
Robot Free Research – Find & Evaluate without AI with AWCS (Gr 4 – 6)
Tuesday, October 27 — 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm MT
Online Event
Hosted by Calgary Public Library
Discover how AI works, why it sometimes gets things wrong, and how your own human intelligence helps you find better answers!
 
 
J-Talks Live – THE LEDE: A Live Editorial Meeting Experience
Tuesday, October 27 — 7:00 pm ET
In-person Event — 789 Yonge Street Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4W 2G8
Presented by The Canadian Journalism Foundation and Toronto Public Library 
In this Media Literacy Week event, presented in partnership with the Toronto Public Library, three journalists from The Globe and Mail, Canada's national newspaper, will each pitch the story they believe deserves the lead position in tomorrow's news: deputy head of investigations Robyn Doolittle, politics and economy editor Ryan MacDonald and news photo editor Solana Cain. Editor-in-chief David Walmsley will question their assumptions, challenge their reasoning and make the final call, live, in front of the audience.
 
 
Tech Workshop: Break the Fake
Tuesday, October 27 —  6:00 pm - 7:00 pm MT
In-person Event — 4715 50 Ave, Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada, T4S 1C5
Hosted by Sylvan Lake Municipal Library
Not sure how to tell what's true and what's misinformation? Unsure whether an image or video is real, or deepfake? Curious about using AI to verify information in real time? Join us at the Sylvan Lake Library for a free tech workshop focusing on spotting fake media and misinformation!
 
 
Media Literacy Week - Helping Youth Navigate the Digital World
Tuesday, October 27 — 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm MT
Online Event
Hosted by Calgary Public Library
Social media, AI, and online trends are shaping youth. This program helps adults support safe and responsible digital use.
 
 

October 28

Staying Safe Online (Gr. 4 – 6)
Wednesday, October 28 — 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm MT
Online Event
Hosted by Calgary Public Library
Build digital citizenship skills! Students explore online safety, social media, AI, digital footprints, and cyberbullying.
 
 
Why Local Journalism Matters
Wednesday, October 28 — 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm ET
In-person Event — 165 Kent Street West Lindsay, Ontario, Canada, K9V 3B6
Hosted by Kawartha Lakes Public Library
Join Roderick Benns and Rebekah McCracken of The Lindsay Advocate for a moderated conversation about the role of local journalism in our community. Explore how local media helps us understand community issues, evaluate information and build media literacy skills across print, online and social media.
 
 
The Disagreement Party
Wednesday, October 28 — 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm ET
In-person Event — 1030 Rue St-Alexandre Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H2Z 1E3 
Hosted by Versus (WeDoSomething)
Versus invites you to a night unlike any other: a Disagreement Party. We each live in our own bubbles that sharpen our differences and make us forget what connects us. This is our antidote to division: you'll learn how to disagree without destroying relationships. Because what we can't talk about, we can't change.
 
 
Digital Media Literacy Workshop – Goderich
Wednesday, October 28 — 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm ET
In-person Event — (Goderich Branch) 52 Montreal St. Goderich, Ontario, Canada, N7A 2G4 
Hosted by Huron County Library
Can you tell what’s real online? With the rise of AI, misinformation and disinformation are becoming increasingly common. In this practical workshop, you’ll learn tools and strategies for evaluating online information, spotting misleading content, and deciding what you can trust.
 
 
Beyond Doomscrolling! (For adults)
Wednesday, October 28 — 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm MT
In-person Event — 10011 102 Street, Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada
Hosted by Fort Saskatchewan Public Library
This fun, informal session explores the "analog trend." We'll talk about how to curb doomscrolling by creating a portable bag of offline hobbies like cross-stitch, journaling, puzzle books and, of course, books! Get inspiration, share your favorite screen-free activities, and reconnect with your creativity. Attendees can enter a draw to win a pre-made analog bag to take home.
 

October 29

Break The Fake: How to tell what's true online - Lunch and Learn Webinar
Thursday, October 29 —12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET 
Online Event — Zoom
Hosted by Literacy Quebec in partnership with MediaSmarts 
Join us for an informative session with Matthew Johnson, Director of Education from MediaSmarts. Matthew will teach audiences four quick, easy steps they can take to spot misinformation and find out if something online is true or not.
 
 
Where’s the Line: Online Safety Workshop
Thursday, October 29 —1:15 pm - 2:15 pm ET 
Online Event 
Hosted by LEARN in partnership with MediaSmarts
The session helps promote safe and informed online behaviour through encouraging youth to make safe, ethical and knowledge-based decisions online. Youth will also learn strategies and supports that are available to assist them with issues they encounter online. Covering topics such as sending intimate images, online harassment and cyberbullying.
 
 
Engaging Heated Rivalry in the time of 'elbows up' nationalism, or what Shane and Ilya can teach us about race, gender and sexuality
Thursday, October 29 —2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET
Online Event 
Hosted by McGill University Libraries
This presentation is an invitation to consider what lessons Heated Rivalry -- the book series, the Crave show and the cultural phenomenon -- can offer us about identity, difference and power. Considering both the internal universe of Heated Rivalry as well as its global public reception, we examine the way that Canadianness, in particular, is invoked in ways that demand that we attend carefully to the politics of nation and its narration.
 
 
Digital Media Literacy Workshop – Exeter
Thursday, October 29 — 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm ET
In-person Event — (Exeter Branch) 330 Main St. S. Exeter, Ontario, Canada, N0M 1S6 
Hosted by Huron County Library
Can you tell what’s real online? With the rise of AI, misinformation and disinformation are becoming increasingly common. In this practical workshop, you’ll learn tools and strategies for evaluating online information, spotting misleading content, and deciding what you can trust.
 
 
Exploring Privacy in Digital Gaming
Thursday, October 29 —5:30 pm - 7:00 pm ET 
In-person Event — Komoka Library, 1 Tunks Lane, Komoka, Ontario, Canada, N0L 1R0
Hosted by researchers from Western University and the University of Waterloo
Families will learn about privacy in digital gaming, including how game interfaces can influence privacy choices and what happens when players share personal information with in-game characters. Researchers from Western University and the University of Waterloo will facilitate hands-on activities in this interactive 1.5-hour workshop targeted to children and parents.
 
 
Break the Fake Presentation for Teens @ Youth Innovations
Thursday, October 29 —6:00 pm - 7:30 pm ET 
In-person Event — 800 Niagara St. Welland, Ontario, Canada, L3C 5Z4
Hosted by Welland Public Library 
Teens at Youth Innovations will learn four quick, easy steps to spot misinformation and find out if something online is true or not. They will learn methods for recognizing AI-generated misinformation, including deepfakes, as well as tips on how to verify the information they see.
 

October 30

Spill the tea: A data-driven look at gossip
Friday, October 30 — 11:00 am -  12:00 pm ET
Online Event
Hosted by McGill University Libraries
Everyone loves a good story... especially when it's about someone else. From celebrity scandals and viral rumors to everyday workplace whispers, gossip is everywhere. But how does it spread? Why do we do it? And who ends up at the centre of the conversation? Join us as we spill the tea on gossip through the lens of data, exploring trends, networks, and the surprisingly fascinating numbers behind one of humanity's oldest pastimes. Pour yourself a cup and join the conversation. There's plenty of tea to go around.
 
 
Is It Real or Is It AI? (For adults)
Friday, October 30 — 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm MT
In-person Event — 10011 102 Street, Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada
Hosted by Fort Saskatchewan Public Library
Artificial Intelligence is no longer science fiction - it’s creating photorealistic images, mimicking voices of loved ones, and writing text that sounds perfectly human. This rapid change raises urgent questions: How do we discern truth in the digital age? What are the risks and opportunities of this technology? This practical guide is for the curious, concerned, and connected adult. No technical background required.
 
 

November 4

Dark Global Skies – and a Nordic Silver Lining: Lecture on News Landscapes in the 2020s
Wednesday, November 4 — 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm MT 
In-person Event — University of Calgary Hunter Student Commons Room 122.
Presented by the University of Calgary's Department of Communication, Media and Film
UCalgary’s Department of Communication, Media and Film welcomes Professor Kim Christian Schrøder from Roskilde University, Denmark, to deliver his public lecture “Dark Global Skies – and a Nordic Silver Lining: News Landscapes in the 2020s” at the university. 
 
This is the first event ahead of the international research symposium “Re-Sieving the News: How Audiences Sift, Sort and Trust (Or Not)” taking place at the University of Calgary from Nov. 5-6. Several researchers from around the world will be presenting their findings regarding audiences and how they choose the news.
 
 

November 5

Re-Sieving the News symposium: How Audiences Sift, Sort and Trust (Or Not). Day 1
Thursday, November 5 — 9:00 am to 4:30 pm MT 
In-person Event — University of Calgary Taylor Institute 140/148, 1st floor.
Presented by the University of Calgary's Department of Communication, Media and Film
The symposium will address the challenges with engaging in and sorting news media amid a turbulent political environment where our collective life and well-being as communities and nations depend on having a critical and watchful eye. Organizers of these events are Dr. Maria Bakardjieva, professor and Chair in Communication studies at the University of Calgary, and Dr. Brooks Decillia, former CBC national reporter and Mount Royal University assistant professor.
 
 

November 6

Re-Sieving the News symposium: How Audiences Sift, Sort and Trust (Or Not). Day 2
Friday, November 6 — 9:00 am to 4:50 pm MT 
In-person Event — University of Calgary Hunter Collision Hub, 4th floor of HNSC
Presented by the University of Calgary's Department of Communication, Media and Film
The symposium will address the challenges with engaging in and sorting news media amid a turbulent political environment where our collective life and well-being as communities and nations depend on having a critical and watchful eye. Organizers of these events are Dr. Maria Bakardjieva, professor and Chair in Communication studies at the University of Calgary, and Dr. Brooks Decillia, former CBC national reporter and Mount Royal University assistant professor.
 
 

November 19

NO JOKE: The Onion, Infowars and the Fight for Truth
Thursday, November 19 — 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm ET
In-person Event — Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, 506 Bloor St. West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Presented by The Canadian Journalism Foundation 
After taking control of Infowars following a landmark defamation judgment, satirical newspaper The Onion turned the disinformation brand against itself. Join The Onion CEO Ben Collins, in conversation with CBC Commotion host Elamin Abdelmahmoud, for a CJF J-Talk examining how satire and humour expose power and fight misinformation.