CPAC launches new educational tools

Interactive website showcases Canada’s political ridings

By Jake Wray, News Editor

The Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC,) a network that provides streams of Canada’s House of Commons, has launched a new website as part of a multimedia education initiative.

The website, www.route338.ca, features an interactive political map of Canada, with information about each federal riding in the country such as biographies of current MPs, photos from the ridings, economic facts and lists of Indigenous peoples within a given riding. The map also has information about senators.

A section of the website, called CPAC in Focus, is frequently updated with articles and videos about current political issues in Canada. Some of the most recent explainers in this section include an article about the NAFTA negotiations and an article about a parliamentary committee questioning commissioners of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

The Route 338 site includes a video series called Day in the Life, which shows various MPs as they work in Ottawa and in their home ridings. Two MPs from British Columbia are featured in the series: Jenny Kwan, who represents the Vancouver East riding, and Dan Albas, who represents the Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola riding.

Alongside the website, CPAC is also offering a mobile app called CPAC Quiz Canada, which is a multiplayer Canadian trivia quiz game.

Catherine Cano, president and general manager of CPAC, said in a press release that the new multimedia initiative is intended to boost engagement in Canadian democracy.

“Now more than ever before, we recognize that democracy is precious but fragile, even in mature democracies like Canada,” Cano said in the release. “CPAC Route 338 is a vital resource because the earlier we study and learn about our democracy, the better our chance to have a society that is curious, knowledgeable, and engaged.”

The website and app are paired with 11 learning activities—designed by CPAC—that are geared for primary and secondary students.

In addition to the learning activities, CPAC is also providing several 8-by-11 metre floor maps of Canada. The maps, which also include information about federal ridings, will tour across Canada to various schools, and will also pair with the website and learning activities.

CPAC developed with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society to develop the maps.

“Learning about democracy has never been more important,” John Geiger, CEO of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, said in a press release. “Our partnership with CPAC brings together the best in geographical and political education resources to give students and newcomers the information they need to understand how democracy works in Canada.”