OFFnumérique 2: Back to tackle the digital divide
By
Karine Simard
·
2 minute read
OFFnumérique returns to Québec: let’s mobilize against the digital divide
Digital transformation touches every sphere of our lives. Yet access, use, and representation in data do not progress at the same pace for everyone. The result: inequalities emerge and widen. That’s why Votepour.ca invites you on March 10, 2026, to Université Laval (Québec) for the 2nd edition of OFFnumérique, a gathering forum dedicated to the digital divide.
Why OFFnumérique?
At the first edition, nearly 140 participants from institutional, technology, community, and research sectors took the time to exchange, clarify what the “digital divide” encompasses, and identify urgent challenges to address. This year, we’re going further: we’re emphasizing inspiration and moving to action.
Once again this year, Ciao is proud to be a partner of this important event!
We discuss the digital divide and the first edition on Ciao’s blog:
On the agenda: be inspired and act
OFFnumérique 2026 will be a day of discovery and collaboration:
- Presentations of best practices and successful real-world cases.
- Sharing of expertise and knowledge across sectors.
- Participatory workshops to co-create applicable solutions.
- Showcases of inspiring projects to replicate or adapt locally.
The program is being developed and brings together voices and initiatives from:
- the community sector
- institutions (ministries, municipalities),
- the technology and digital sector,
- online services (banks, insurance),
- customer and user experience,
- public health,
- education,
- research.
The digital divide, concretely
The digital divide refers to social inequalities caused by difficulties in accessing technologies, limited use (skills, equipment, connectivity, support), and underrepresentation in data. These gaps are not only technical: they involve sociodemographic, socioeconomic, political, cultural, material, and psychological determinants. In other words, they affect civic participation, access to services, the quality of public policies, and social justice.
OFFnumérique aims to turn these findings into levers:
- Make obstacles visible (cost, literacy, accessibility, trust).
- Equip organizations to deliver inclusive digital services.
- Connect actors who are experimenting with solutions.
- Encourage the collection and use of representative data for fairer decisions.
Easier access for the community sector
Thanks to a sponsorship program supported by our partners, community organizations can benefit from free access to the event. Sign up now for the waiting list; our team will contact you to confirm your eligibility and finalize your registration.
Who should participate?
- Community organizations wishing to equip their teams and audiences.
- Professionals in online services (banks, insurance) and customer/UX experience.
- Municipal and ministerial leaders engaged in digital transformation.
- Actors in the tech sector, public health, and education.
- Researchers, practitioners, and anyone curious to build a more just digital society.
Join the movement
OFFnumérique is more than a forum: it’s a space to build bridges, share what works, and leave with actionable ideas. If you believe an inclusive digital future is possible, your place is with us on March 10, 2026, at Université Laval.
Stay tuned: the detailed program will be announced soon. In the meantime, sign up and share the invitation within your networks.
Together, let’s reduce the digital divide—and make digital a lever for equity.