Following the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s contest in which Tommy Douglas was named the ‘Greatest Canadian’, the Douglas-Coldwell Foundation held its own ‘contest’ in 2006 for a special grant valued at $25,000, to be awarded to the project that “best captures Tommy Douglas’ Vision for Canada and makes it known to the public at large”.
In 2006, the Foundation awarded $25,000 to the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee for its 1% Solution Campaign against homelessness and in 2007, another $25,000 to the Canadian Health Coalition in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives for the “Tommy Douglas’ Vision of Medicare Conference - S.O.S. Medicare 2: Looking Forward” held in May 2007 in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Projects are invited to interpret Tommy’s vision as it pertains to their work, whether the field is labour rights, poverty, housing, the environment, gender inequality, health care, economic policy, or any other pressing social justice imperative. Submissions should make clear how their project captures Tommy’s vision for Canada.
The Board of the Douglas-Coldwell Foundation will make the selection of the winning project in mid-October of 2008. The winner will be announced at the federal convention of the New Democratic Party of Canada in November, 2008.
To be considered, project submissions must be received by the Douglas-Coldwell Foundation no later than Friday, September 26, 2008. Submissions should be sent to the DCF office by either mail or email.
Founded in 1971 and based in Ottawa, the Douglas-Coldwell Foundation promotes education and research into social democracy. The Foundation was named for, and continues to be inspired by Tommy Douglas, the first federal leader of the New Democratic Party, and M. J. Coldwell, leader of its predecessor the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). The Foundation has awarded more than $350,000 in grants and scholarships over the past ten years.
- 30 -
For further information:
Doug Massey, Douglas-Coldwell Foundation
(613) 232-1918
