---
tags: CivicTechTO
title: "CivicTechTO: Dolphin Tank"
image: https://i.imgur.com/wF9UNQr.png
description: Dolphin Tank (aka “Project Lab”) is a sporadically-hosted breakout group with the main goal of helping attendees workshop ideas for potential projects.
---

:::info
:tada: Hello! If you're reading this, please feel welcome to contribute & improve this resource!
:::

# CivicTechTO Dolphin Tank: About

<table style="float: right; width: 30%">
<tr><td>
<img style="width: 100%" src="https://i.imgur.com/wF9UNQr.png">
</td></tr>
<tr><td>
<div style="font-size: 0.6em; text-align: right">
🙌 Credit: <a style="white-space: nowrap" href= "https://twitter.com/jdas2k">Jason Das</a>
</div>
</td></tr>
</table>

:link: [`link.civictech.ca/dolphin-tank`](http://link.civictech.ca/dolphin-tank)

_Dolphin Tank_ (aka "Project Lab") is a sporadically-hosted breakout group with the main goal of helping attendees **workshop ideas for potential breakout groups**. (like projects, learning groups, etc.)

The **intended audience** includes both (1) people *with* potential breakout group ideas, and (2) people *looking for* upcoming breakouts or just eager to help others think things through.

We communicate in `#dolphin-tank` on the Civic Tech Toronto Slack team! [Please join!](https://link.civictech.ca/slack)

## Past Meetings

- [2025-09-23](https://hackmd.io/s0YwKDNHSMyLMrdxWw9w-A?view)
- [2025-07-25](https://hackmd.io/@_1muNMfoSJCWWvj9Y6CwmQ/Sk4vxs6Lxg) incentivizing drivers not to drive, tackling food waste
- [2025-06-10](https://hackmd.io/6uAI_DgLQj60Nh6z3fZbnQ?view) democracy decentralized. event map for loneliness epidemic.
- [2025-06-03](https://hackmd.io/q_RR1H4DTKuzocC9oTh1Sg?view) wikipedia for organizational operations. calmer internet. greenspace finder.
- [2025-04-01](https://hackmd.io/g4T0I7RYRRGEgNMGMRbPXQ?view) political candidate wiki. volunteer matchmaking/marketplace.
- [2023-12-12](https://hackmd.io/xYwZBLNVQVmOyy00dGH6eg?view) collectivized rental website.
- [2023-12-05](https://hackmd.io/_yNpQmVlSkiuHwhqa-WhqA?view) beyond climate air quality reports. sharing policy context internationally. improving public consultations.
- [2023-11-28](https://hackmd.io/TjvgQWG_RlyF0K5P8ncZGw?view) dolphin tank. skate park support. financial literacy platform. libary passport project.
- [2023-06-27](https://hackmd.io/0MUIYRAFS2iwqJWaXqxGEw?view) mesh network. chatbot for managers to practice having convos with diverse employees. LLM for law.
- [2022-03-01](https://hackmd.io/Je86t12hSeG0Xh94OB-ejg?view) community mapping (bike accidents), shadow city clerks office
- [2022-02-22](https://hackmd.io/@patcon/HkKadZ7g9) 10-minute consulting
- [2022-02-08](https://hackmd.io/maiBaHDrQ7iGw7dKN7E6Aw?view) shadow clerks office, `t0ronto.ca`, taiwan, maps
- [2022-01-11](https://hackmd.io/rzEW4IXOSHmmMnOJAxwxtA?view) Contacting politicians
- [2020-12-01](https://hackmd.io/pxwKVmT2SJmwAMxKlsROrA?view) High Fidelity + energy poverty experiments
- [2020-08-25](https://hackmd.io/@patcon/r1_tazm7w)
- [2019-06-18](https://hackmd.io/@patcon/SJH_vlD1r) Cross-generational co-living to tackle loneliness epidemic. Automated food kiosk to reduce food waste.
- [2019-06-11](https://hackmd.io/CR9TYs1uTnmRXDJfgCb82Q?view) Voting for Dummies platform.
- [2019-06-04](https://hackmd.io/@patcon/SkPS9_HC4) Affordable housing. Blockchain property group-buy.
- [2019-05-21](https://hackmd.io/LwOLfKszTdKd3wi0W04PGw?view) Museum of Bricks, 1.5 Generation Immigrants
- [2019-03-12](https://civictechto.slack.com/files/UA017NTBJ/FGWMM7G75/Meeting_Notes)
- 2019-03-05: newcomer support (sorry, no notes this week!)
- [2019-01-29](https://hackmd.io/s/r1fEP_0QN): Student union voter engagement app
- [2018-08-28](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b7HwPuSRvn2eE7Sx1QPzfM69teGSOi3X2cg-M0CVsSc/edit): mapping Toronto ravine system, watershed-related project
- [YYYY-MM-DD](https://hackmd.io/H9LXDVpnQ_i9jCOdwMiifw?edit): Template (optional) [:new:](https://hackmd.io/new)

## Notes on Hosting

<img style="float: left; margin-right: 25px; width: 50%" src="https://i.imgur.com/lvnxq1j.png">

**Who should host?** Co-organizers or any community member with enough experience to feel comfortable doing so

**When best to host?** Whenever it feels like there is perhaps a shortage of new projects for people to join.

**Past Hosts:** @gabe, @mhellstern, @patcon, @mickm, @jordy, you?

## Resources

- [New Runsheet: Dolphin Tank](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wITuD3dkaIicXpwij2pBjfdK6BtthgF59UvMuFEj4Ec/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.b3s48rj3skfc) (Feb 2025)
- [Project Lab: Facilitators' Guide](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DJX-tfW1io3rv-JJvIKAYBK1n448AvOgkTwlMbARxvU/edit#heading=h.aqfpdtpxdfr6) (Feb 2018)
- [GDrive folder: Project Support](https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/0B5mbukaYfzU_bmVDYTJ3NTBRYlE?) (More archives)
- [Project / Breakout Group / Idea Archive](https://trello.com/b/EVvNEGK5/hacknight-breakout-groups)

#### Attribution
^{Concept inspired by [Mary Kuhn's session of the same name at Chi Hack Night](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H-zebHibDbYFIO37f-fl5kT83wtK0-xiQrB_qjPZnUk/edit).}