Civic Spark is over! Click here for info on the August 2025 event. →

About Us

People Powered

Civic Spark is a people-organized gathering created by volunteers from Toronto who believe in building together – across roles, sectors, and lived experience.

We’re designers, developers, public servants, organizers, and community builders who care deeply about how technology, data, and design can serve the public good.

This isn’t a corporate event — it’s a collaborative effort grounded in care, curiosity, and community. We’re here to hold space for real stories, meaningful relationships, and the hard, hopeful work of civic action.

Our Why

We envision a vibrant, people-centered civic ecosystem where communities use technology, organizing, and design to tackle real-world challenges — collaboratively, equitably, and creatively.

For us Civic Spark is a space to:

Spark new relationships, ideas, and actions.
Bridge disciplines and sectors.
Celebrate what’s working, and name what’s not.
Push the civic tech movement forward — with values at the core.

Civic Spark is organized by

Civic Tech Toronto

Civic Tech Toronto is a vibrant and diverse community engaged in understanding and creating solutions for civic challenges through technology, design, and other innovative means. Civic Spark has been made possible thanks to the commitment and leadership of many volunteers from the Civic Tech Toronto community.

Since 2015, the Civic Tech Toronto community has come together at weekly meet-ups featuring a speaker as well as participant-organized breakout sessions to work on projects that use data, design, and technology to make Toronto better. Find out more and join us at an upcoming meet-up at civictech.ca

Centre for Analytics & Artificial Intelligence Engineering (CARTE)

The Centre for Analytics & Artificial Intelligence Engineering (CARTE) is a hub for collaborations and partnerships in analytics and artificial intelligence at The University of Toronto's Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. Their mission is to conduct state-of-the-art research while nurturing the next generation of engineering talent.

CARTE facilitates applied research in Artificial Intelligence (AI) with external partners, over 100 affiliated faculty members and students and also offers customizable AI and machine learning training to industry and academic partners.

1RG

1RG believes that the development of technology can and should be stewarded to support human agency, democracy, building richer and more vibrant communities, and the flourishing of all life.

1RG Labs develops good software for resilient futures. They provide expertise in engineering, data science, product development and security.

1RG Space is an inclusive co-working and event space located in Toronto’s The Junction neighbourhood, built on a foundation of community. At 1RG Space, members can find a supportive environment to actively collaborate, grow, and learn together.