19 March 2025
Speaker: Karen Aitken, Director of the Parliamentary Education Office, Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada
Chair: Sally Coyne, Head of Public Engagement Services Office in the Scottish Parliament and IPEN Executive Team
Details: This IPEN seminar will focus on British Columbia’s parliamentary outreach programming.
As the outward facing office at the Legislative Assembly, the Parliamentary Education Office’s mandate is to provide informative and educational tools to the public to promote a better understanding of the parliamentary system in British Columbia. The intention is to facilitate the public’s understanding of the role of the Legislative Assembly and its Members.
Karen Aitken will share details of Speaker in the Schools, an outreach programme which travels to communities and classrooms with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Through fun and engaging sessions, the Speaker shares his first-hand knowledge with students and leads them in a model parliament exercise to explore how a bill becomes a law. Students are provided with costumes and role play the various positions within the House to conduct a bill debate.
Karen will also outline other outreach initiatives, which include a variety of in person and online programs as well as educational resources to meet the various learning needs of our diverse audiences.
This will be followed by a Q&A and further discussion on ideas for further parliamentary engagement ideas or strategies suggested from participants.
Image: Legislative Assembly Speaker in the Schools program image. Courtesy of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada.