The Dais

Ophea’s Monthly Recognition Spotlight aims to illuminate the bright spots within the education sector through recognizing the critical work being done by community members and value-aligned organizations, and its impact on student and staff well-being. This initiative also aims to strengthen connections between the Ontario education sector with individuals and organizations serving equity-deserving groups through raising awareness of the resources and services available to Ontario educators. Read on to learn about this month’s featured Spotlight, The Dais, a public policy and leadership think tank at Toronto Metropolitan University. 

Tell us about your organization.   

The Dais is a public policy and leadership think tank at Toronto Metropolitan University, working at the intersection of technology, education and democracy to build shared prosperity and citizenship for Canada.   

What are some guiding principles that are important to your organization?   

We are guided by a commitment to evidence-informed policy that is grounded in lived experiences. We believe that the people most affected by policies, especially young people, should play a central role in shaping them.   

We prioritize collaboration across sectors, bringing together educators, policymakers, researchers, and communities to co-create solutions that are practical and scalable.   

Finally, we are committed to equity and inclusion. The impacts of technology and education policy are not felt equally, and we work to ensure that diverse perspectives – across geography, identity, and experience – are reflected in the work we do. 

What is a recent initiative that you are proud of?   

We are currently running a pan-Canadian digital engagement on phone-free schools, hosted on the Ethelo platform. It's a structured way for educators and students across Canada to weigh in on what's working in their schools, what they need, and where policy should go next.  

Unlike a standard survey, Ethelo lets participants see how their views compare to the broader group and surfaces areas of real agreement across the country. We want to hear from every region, every school type, and every role, from classroom teachers and principals to the students living with these policies every day. 

• Educators can take part at: https://headsupeducator.ethelo.net/page/welcome 

• Students can take part at: https://headsupstudents.ethelo.net 

What is an upcoming initiative that you are excited about?   

We’re excited about the continued growth of our Youth Champions program, a national initiative that equips young people with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to lead conversations about phone-free policies, focused learning, and screen balance in their communities. 

Through hands-on learning, workshops, and mentorship, Youth Champions explore the impacts of device use on attention, learning, and school culture and then apply what they’ve learned by leading peer-to-peer initiatives in their schools and communities. 

What makes this work particularly meaningful is that it moves beyond awareness. Young people are not just participants – they are facilitators, organizers, and advocates shaping real conversations about screen use, attention, and learning. 

As debates around phone-free schools and screen balance evolve, Youth Champions are helping ensure these conversations don’t end with the program – they continue within schools and are grounded in both evidence and lived reality. 

How can our audience support your organization’s goals? 

There are two concrete things people can do to help.