FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Trois-Rivières, Aug.17, 2026
At a time of polarization, disinformation and growing distrust of institutions, a new French-language book club open to the public aims to create spaces for civic discussion across Quebec.
Called Lire la démocratie, it is being launched by the Chaire de recherche sur la démocratie, le vivre-ensemble et les valeurs communes au Québec (Research Chair on Democracy, Social Cohesion and Shared Values in Quebec), held by Professor Mireille Lalancette of Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) and Professor Éric Bélanger of McGill University.
Driven by a desire to bring academic research closer to Quebecers and to advance citizenship and public engagement, this initiative, carried out in collaboration with Les Libraires, will offer an accessible, non-partisan and intellectually rigorous forum for discussion centred on popular books that explore democracy, its challenges and its evolution.
"Democracy is not limited to institutions. It also depends on our collective ability to understand, debate and engage in dialogue. Through this book club, we want to create a space where ideas can circulate freely, across today's political divides," said Mireille Lalancette, Co-Chair and Professor in the Department of Literature and Social Communication at UQTR.
For his part, Éric Bélanger, Co-Chair and Professor in the Department of Political Science at McGill University, said he hopes that "a large number of Quebecers will be interested in this initiative, which seeks to engage them, encourage meaningful exchanges and, who knows, inspire a greater appreciation for civic dialogue."
Every two months, participants will be invited to read a selected popular-interest book and then take part in a moderated discussion designed to foster the exchange of ideas in a respectful environment. Meetings will be offered in a hybrid format to reach a wide range of citizens from across Quebec.
Such topics as disinformation, the state of democracy in Quebec and the challenges of public dialogue will be explored.
The first book selected is Citoyen-nes: un essai et un lexique pour la pensée critique by Normand Baillargeon and Camille Santerre-Baillargeon.
The first meeting will take place on Sept. 15, 2026, International Day of Democracy. Participants can register through the Chair's website.
About the Chair
The Chaire de recherche sur la démocratie, le vivre-ensemble et les valeurs communes au Québec is dedicated to analyzing transformations in democratic societies and fostering public dialogue in Quebec.
About UQTR
The Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) is distinguished by its people-centered approach to higher education and its research focused on societal challenges. Recognized for its excellence in social and technological innovation, UQTR prioritizes partnerships with local and regional communities, positioning research as a driver of sustainable development.
UQTR is home to more than 15,000 students enrolled in nearly 400 academic programs. Its educational offerings are delivered across seven campuses: Trois-Rivières, Drummondville, L'Assomption, Terrebonne, Québec City, Joliette and Longueuil.
About McGill University
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, McGill University is Canada's top ranked medical doctoral university. McGill is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, not only nationally, but internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with 12 faculties, 14 professional schools, 700 programs of study, over 40,000 students, including more than 10,000 graduate students, and research activities spanning three campuses. McGill attracts students from nearly 150 countries around the world, its 11,000 international students making up 27 per cent of the student body. Over half of McGill students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 20 per cent of our students who say French is their mother tongue.
Source
Chaire sur la démocratie, le vivre-ensemble et les valeurs communes, UQTR-Université McGill
