Description of educational activity
In partnership with Élections Montréal, the special project Citizens of Tomorrow invites you to explore the democratic process in Montréal and learn about the city’s history. Who can vote? Who can be a candidate? Why is it important to know what candidates stand for?
This project, designed for elementary Cycle 3 students and secondary students, highlights the careers of six former mayors of Montréal and their contributions to the city’s development.
Seeking electoral teams! Tackling issues ranging from firefighting and access to culture to urban development, public transportation, poverty and Montréal’s image abroad, each of the former mayors is putting together an electoral team to convince the student population of their platform during the Citizens of Tomorrow 2026–2027 election.
To prepare the candidates and their teams, the Citizens of Tomorrow project will be carried out in five stages:
- Democracy in Montréal - In-class workshop (1.5 hours) with a MEM facilitator who will introduce key concepts related to democracy, notably the evolution of the right to vote and the development of the Montréal area.
- Sites of municipal democracy - A two-part school outing: a visit to the MEM’s exhibitions (75 minutes) to learn about the six former mayors and their achievements, followed by a visit to City Hall (75 min.) with a MEM guide.
- Special election: six mayors on the campaign trail ! - Independent teacher-led workshop. This activity is the main focus of the project: six former mayors are running for re-election! Divided into six teams, students make posters for the candidates and introduce them to their classmates during a press conference.
- Counting votes - Independent teacher-led workshop. Élections Montréal will provide a ballot box and voting booth so students can vote.
- Results announced on the MEM’s social media. The results, compiled from the votes of all classes participating in the 2026–2027 edition, will be announced in May 2027.
Two program calendars :
- 15 classes for the fall cohort: between October 12 and December 4, 2026
- 25 classes for the winter cohort: between January 25 and April 21, 2027
Objective
Elementary Cycle 3
Cross-Curricular Competencies
Social Sciences
- Canadian society around 1820
- Québec society around 1905
- Québec society around 1980
- Political situation
- Influence of people and events on social and territorial organization
Culture and Citizenship in Quebec
- Collective life
- Democratic experiences
Secondary
Cross-Curricular Competencies
Culture and Citizenship in Quebec
- Citizenship
- Civic participation
- Democracy and social order