The Activist’s Guide to Freedom of Information Requests

Saturday, June 6, 2026
10 AM-11:30 AM (PT) • 11 AM-12:30 PM (MT) • Noon-1:30 PM (CT) • 1 PM-2:30 PM (ET) • 2 PM-3:30 PM (AT) • 2:30 PM-4 PM (NT)

Get the hidden information you need from government, and protect your own information from being exposed. This workshop will share tips on how to file effective information requests to any level of government. If you share written materials with the government, you’ll also learn how to protect your interests when the government wants to share your info with an external party. This workshop covers both Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) requests.

Speakers

Dr. Martha Paynter (she/her) is a writer, nurse, and public scholar, and an associate professor at the University of New Brunswick Faculty of Nursing. She researches reproductive health in prison systems, and uses FOI approaches to identify public policies addressing reproductive health outcomes, such as the number of children incarcerated with their parents in federal institutions.

Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff (he/him) is a Councillor for the District of Saanich on Vancouver Island, and a researcher and community organizer. He is Chair and Co-founder of the AccessBC Campaign, which successfully advocated for free prescription contraception in BC. He also works as the Research Coordinator for the BC Humanist Association to support the separation of religion and government. He has used FOIs for many research projects and campaigns, and as an elected official has been on the receiving end of FOIs.

Joyce Arthur (she/her) is ARCC's founder and executive director. She’s been a writer, media spokesperson, and speaker on abortion and other gender rights and social justice issues for over 35 years. Joyce will share her experience in responding to ATIP requests from the government and how to protect your gov’t correspondence from exposure.

Workshop Admission

There is a small fee to register for each attendee. If this fee presents a hardship, please contact us to arrange having your fee waived.

Please use the Group Registration form to request admission for more than one person.

If you are not already an ARCC member, we invite you to support our work by joining us today for just $35. You will immediately become eligible for the member admission rate on workshops for the next year along with other membership benefits. Please contact us if you are uncertain of your membership status.

Donations

Please considering donating $10 or more to help a student or person with low-income to attend the workshop. All fees and donations are gratefully accepted and will be split equally between the speakers and ARCC to support our advocacy. Thank you!

Questions?

Please contact us if you have any questions.