Highlights from 2011

12-20-11

2011 Year In Review

The past year offered many high-points for Canada Without Poverty including speaking opportunities, new partnerships, and increased media attention. In light of the approaching new year, it felt appropriate to look back and reflect on some key moments that had great significance for the organization. Here are a few:

Highlights:

Dennis Raphael, released the second edition of Poverty in Canada. Featuring a foreword by Canada Without Poverty Executive Director Rob Rainer, and the late Jack Layton, the book examines the connection between poverty and health, and provides in-depth analysis on the effects of poverty in Canada
Creation of Circle 500 plus donor group. We are very grateful for the donors who have joined this group thus far. Once we reach the milestone of $500,000 we will have sufficient core funding and be able to build staff and capacity across Canada
Executive Director Rob Rainer had the opportunity to co-host a special edition of CBC’s The Current that looked at poverty across the country. In a follow-up program to the previous week’s show titled “We are the 10%: Poverty in Canada” with Lorna Crozier, CBC scheduled a second show after the incredible response that rolled in from all corners of Canada

Events:

The first Dignity for All policy summit on housing and early childhood education and care was held on March 3-4th
On September 29th, Canada Without Poverty held Get Up, Stand Up: An Evening of Insight and Inspiration, at Carleton University in Ottawa. The event featured speakers, songs and imagery reflecting on poverty in Canada since 1971 and our work over 40 years, and a panel dialogue on social and economic rights in Canada
On September 30th, Canada Without Poverty presented Will Ackerman and Friends in Concert for Canada Without Poverty including musicians Kathryn Kaye, David Cullen, Jill Haley
On October 13th, Canada Without Poverty presented its second Poverty & Punchlines comedy night fundraiser, this time at the Waterfront Theatre in Vancouver featuring local comedians Erica Sigurdson and Ivan Decker
On November 2^nd and 3^rd in Ottawa, Canada Without Poverty once again joined with the Council of Canadians with Disabilities and the Canadian Association for Community Living to co-host End Exclusion, an annual event spotlighting the links between disability and poverty and the needs of disability communities with respect to their quality of life
On November 26th in Calgary, Canada Without Poverty held a workshop on ethno-cultural engagement and leadership on poverty in partnership with the Alberta Network of Immigrant Women and the Calgary Centre for Culture, Equity and Diversity

Presentations:

Speaking engagements included: the BISSELL Centre in Edmonton, Whitehorse, at Carleton and Waterloo University; and Basic Income Conference in New York City
September 28^th public roundtable at the Canadian Museum of Civilization concerning the National Council of Welfare’s new report on the profound impacts of poverty on Canadian society (The Dollars and Sense of Solving Poverty)
September 29th, Canada Without Poverty appeared on Parliament Hill before the federal Finance Committee, one of the first groups to do so in response to the federal government’s invitation for pre-budget consultation. Read our written submission here

In line with our mandate and vision, here is a sample of upcoming activities in 2012:

Watch for a regular Canada Without Poverty blog on the Huffington Post website that will highlight important poverty-related issues, and offer insight on current events from a social justice perspective
Ethno-cultural forums will be taking place in British Columbia and Ontario in the new year, with the first one slated for February
The re-scheduled “What’s Next? How do we Address Poverty in Canada?” panel discussion on poverty in Ottawa will take place in February or March
Creation of an online seminar series on economic and social rights
CWP will continue to co-lead Dignity for All: the campaign for a poverty-free Canada, and assist in the organization of a second policy summit on income security
Poverty Profiles for each province and territory will be released early in the new year
Coordination of a Basic Income Conference in Toronto, ON in May

Canada Without Poverty would like to thank the supporters, donors, staff and volunteers that have made 2011 a success. Your contributions have allowed us to expand our reach across the country and continue to educate the public on important solutions to poverty. We look forward to an active 2012 and welcome your continued commitment to our work!

Our office will be closed from December 23 – January 3rd. CWP staff and board members wish everyone a happy holiday season.