Metalude's story.
Stephanie Watt and Margaret Fraser founded Metalude in 2022 to promote inclusive cities focused on play, children’s rights and children’s social and public participation.
Today, the non-profit organization is led by Stephanie Watt and develops its projects in collaboration with partners and professionals from a range of fields.
Why Metalude?
The term “metalude” refers to the moment of reverie that happens before play—a key time to foster children’s participation. We believe adults can and should use this moment of contemplation to create more opportunities for children to play and to participate.
Today, Metalude is recognized in its field for actively contributing to the development of innovative projects that encourage the participation of children and youth and that ensure that young people thrive.
Metalude's mission.
Our team’s mission is to advocate for children and young people’s right to the city. When public spaces and the public sphere are nourished and shaped by child and youth participation in decision-making and by their play, mobility and culture, this is a sign of a just and inclusive society and territory. We therefore encourage people from various backgrounds to work together to create a playful and inclusive public domain.
Metalude's values.
When young people have a place, the whole community grows. Rooted in ethics and curiosity,
our work strengthens inclusion efforts made by communities.
Inclusion
Our work is based on the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). Our goal is to include all children, in all their diversity.
Ethics
We make ethics central to our approaches, collaborations and actions because we want to not only honour our duty to advocate for children’s rights, but also to recognize everyone’s contribution and role.
Curiosity
Our curiosity helps us better understand the young people and adults with whom we work and play. This open-mindedness cultivates innovative solutions that promote inclusion and well-being in our communities.
Cofounders.
Stephanie Watt (she/her)
Cofounder and executive director
Stephanie is an urban geographer, a public speaker and the cofounder and executive director of Metalude. Her work focuses on cities designed for and with young people, child and youth engagement, play, mobility and life in public space.
A former Montréal city councillor, she is particularly interested in the connections between ideas, public policy and everyday experiences. She designs and facilitates participatory processes, talks and keynotes, public conversations and place-based learning experiences.
Through Metalude, she develops collaborations with organizations, institutions, artists, researchers and professionals from a range of fields who want to integrate the perspectives of young people into their work and lives.
At Metalude, Stephanie is responsible for the protection of personal information.
Photo : Manoucheka Lachérie
Margaret Fraser (she/her)
Cofounder and board member
Margaret is a cofounder of Metalude and a member of its board of directors. She has contributed to the organization’s development since its creation, particularly through projects focused on play, inclusion and neurodivergence, as well as the social and public participation of children and young people in public space.
Today, she continues to support Metalude’s mission as an active board member.
Photo : Manoucheka Lachérie