about citizen minutes

These short doc collections, commissioned by Hot Docs, showcase ordinary Canadians making extraordinary impacts in their communities.

Our mission: inspire engagement in Canadian democracy by celebrating stories of civic participation across the country.

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this is civic engagement.

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it's time to take action on issues that matter. WHAT’S YOUR CITIZEN MINUTE?

ordinary canadians. extraordinary impact.

Meet the fearless changemakers shaping our communities.

Series 3

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Films (index)

Becoming Ruby

Follow Ruby Chopstix, Canada’s first drag artist-in-residence, as they navigate the complexity of being an underrepresented drag performer while creating a special showcase to create space for other queer BIPOC performers.

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Crossing the Divide

Two Canadians, one Liberal and one Conservative, attend a U.S. convention focused on depolarizing politics, determined to engage in tough conversations for a healthier democracy.

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La femme équi-LIBRE

In Prince Edward Island, Josée Gallant Gordon is reinventing mental health care through her bilingual equine therapy centre, proving that with ideas, one person can transform their community.

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Hommes-Relais

Amid migration grief and integration challenges, Manuel, a former doctor turned community leader, guides immigrant men through a life-changing program, forging resilience, belonging, solidarity, and hope.

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Red Girl Rising

Joyce Jonathan Crone—Mohawk matriarch, retired teacher, activist, Humanitarian—reaches forward into her community of Huntsville, Ontario, opening hearts and bridging gaps for Indigenous education.

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A Stop Gap Measure

When temporary solutions become the status quo, who gets left behind? A Stop Gap Measure follows disability activist Luke Anderson on his fight for accessibility to be a right, not a privilege.

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Series 2

View All Series 2 Films

Films (index)

Ancestral Threads

Follow designer Joleen Mitton on her mission to use fashion as medicine for Vancouver’s Indigenous community.

about citizen minutes

this is civic engagement.

it's time to take action on issues that matter. WHAT’S YOUR CITIZEN MINUTE?

ordinary canadians. extraordinary impact.

Meet the fearless changemakers shaping our communities.

Series 3

Becoming Ruby

Crossing the Divide

La femme équi-LIBRE

Hommes-Relais

Red Girl Rising

A Stop Gap Measure

Series 2

Ancestral Threads

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Janelle Niles: Inconvenient

Loud & Here

Mind Check 1-2, 1-2

Rising From the Ashes

Sisterhood Softball

Series 1

Body Politics

Excluded by Design

The Gift

Jean Swanson: We Need a New Map

Mending a Crack in the Sky

Militant Mother

Nourrir les Rêves

Ride Fair

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24,000+

30+

90+

45+

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“I think there is a little bit of all of us in these documentary shorts. I feel that even if they didn't pertain to us, it helped us see ourselves in others and cheer them on to change.”

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