Blog Post
Ottawa
Happy Spring from all of us here at Tommy Douglas’ charity. We hope you are enjoying some of the hints of warmer weather we are starting to see across the country. This month we will highlight the Women’s Leadership Showcase interview with Audrey McLaughlin, our Community Leadership Training focused on social housing, and how the DCLF is standing in solidarity with PSAC members fighting for a better deal.
April Recap:
Women’s Leadership Showcase: Audrey McLaughlin Interview
We were so grateful to be joined by Rebecca Blaikie, one of our Board of Director members and former President of the NDP, interviewing Audrey McLaughlin, former NDP Leader and MP, who was the first woman to lead a national political party in Canada. Both inspiring women leaders in their own right.
We got to reflect on the progress that has been made advancing women’s rights and the work that still needs to be done to fight sexism. We delved into the challenges McLaughlin faced and how that compared to today’s political landscape, polarization, tips for uniting folks, advancing social democratic principles, and advice for young women looking to get involved in their communities. Click here to watch.
We also heard the importance of the labour movement and what they do for the public. Audrey reminded us that “Because of the union movement, all our lives have been raised up.” We must not forget this. With unions under attack across the country, it is more important than ever to defend unions and stand by their side as workers need better conditions.
Donations in support of this exciting educational initiative can be made here: www.douglascoldwelllayton.ca/womens_leadership_centre
We Stand in Solidarity with PSAC
We’re thinking of the 155,000 workers at PSAC fighting for justice, fairness and a better deal, and all the workers who are pushing for better working conditions and wages. Workers deserve better and we stand in solidarity with you and them.
With inflation and the prices of gas and groceries going up, it’s time that wages go up too. Workers know what they deserve and will not settle any longer. As Tommy Douglas said “The inescapable fact is that when we build a society based on greed, selfishness, and ruthless competition, the fruits we can expect to reap are economic insecurity at home.”
We must educate all Canadians about the importance of unions in our daily lives and in our communities. As Tommy Douglas envisioned, the DCLF is committed to doing just that.
It’s time to set a new standard, because when a union wins, workers everywhere win. Find a picket line and support your local PSAC members!
Join us at the Canadian Labour Congress Convention
On May 8th, the annual CLC Convention begins in Montreal and we are excited to meet with our friends in the labour movement to connect about how to make lives better for workers. As Jack Layton said, “Workers should come first, and it’s about time that we lift them up.”
We are proud to be a convention sponsor this year. If you are at the convention this year please come visit us in the trade show at Booth #410 to receive your union made gift.
Special thanks to the CLC leadership and staff for their excellent work in organizing this event.
Community Leadership Training
The DCLF has partnered with the Institute for Change Leaders to provide community leadership training to folks looking to learn more about how to advocate for social housing. This is a 6-week course that teaches folks how to organize, the importance of storytelling, how to recruit and grow your circle of influence, strategies, tactics, and team building. The training is underway, teaching folks how to become better advocates for social housing.
Tommy often spoke about how to keep the movement on the left strong. Community Leadership Training is a great opportunity to discuss how to be better activists, stay fresh on organizing tips, and come out as a united front that can mobilize to help secure wins for people such as affordable housing. Here at the DCLF, we strongly believe in training the next thought leaders.
Jack Layton Leadership Awards
A key component of the Jack Layton Legacy initiative, a partnership between ICL and the Douglas-Coldwell-Layton Foundation, is to support and encourage groups and individuals who are committed to organizing for change in their community.
Jack Layton was a joyful and passionate activist who believed in our collective strength to organize for transformative change in every conceivable way.
It's great to see so many of his efforts being carried on by current activists, where Jack's spirit lives on. The awards reception is a chance to honour the great community work of activists carrying on his legacy.
We’ll be announcing this year’s winner for the 2023 Jack Layton Activism Award and the Jack Layton Indigenous Leadership Award at a live celebration event on August 22nd at 1pm, in partnership with the Institute for Change Leaders, and we want you to join us. To learn more click here.
Remembering Harry McKay
Our dear friend passed away on Friday March 17th. Harry dedicated his life to trying to build a better community trying to instill the values of the social gospel such as compassion and care around him.
A lifelong New Democrat, Harry attended the founding convention in 1961 and was recruited by his friend and mentor Tommy Douglas to be one of the first candidates to run under the NDP banner in a federal by-election.
“I first met Harry McKay on a fundraising mission to Ottawa for the Ontario NDP. I’ll never forget how hospitable, kind and generous Harry was inviting me into his home. He brought out boxes of historical NDP memorabilia and we spent a couple of hours enthusiastically pouring over his most treasured memories - on that day we became friends. Harry was a gem of a human and will be missed by everyone who knew him.” Josh Bizjak, Executive Director, DCLF.
That’s a wrap
Before we let you go, we’d like to remind you of a few initiatives and events that we have in the works so please make note:
*The Annual General Meeting is reserved for members. If you would like to attend the AGM please take out a membership in the charity today - click here to join.
If you would like to check the status of your membership please contact our Development Officer JJ Sandler: [email protected]
On behalf of the Board of Directors and Staff thank you for your continued support. We’ll be back in touch next month with more good news to share.
All the best,
Blog Post
Ottawa
Today is International Women’s Day; a day which I am truly thankful for all the women who have worked tirelessly, past and present, towards a more equitable world where all voices are heard. I take this day to reflect on the women that came before me and the work that we have to continue to do in their honour.
Blog Post
Ottawa
As promised we’ve got lots of news to share with you this month. The Douglas Coldwell Layton Foundation had a banner year in 2023. We produced more special events, original content, research projects, and educational materials than ever before!
This year we’re building from that success. You’ll see us in more places with more exciting programs for you to participate in throughout the year. All of this growth is thanks to our supporters like you.
We hope you enjoy our update this month.
Blog Post
Ottawa
We hope you have had a good start to the year. We’ve got lots of important information and event announcements to share with you this month.
Thank you to those who supported us last year with a donation and helped us advance social democracy! You allow us to continue the important work we do, being the only charity in Canada to promote social democracy and carry on our founders' legacies. With your support we were able to create new research, establish an annual lecture series, new scholarships, new training for activists, and an interview series with social democrat leaders. And, this year we have even more content to deliver and special event plans to share with you.
Your charitable tax receipts are on the way!
