Harriett selina McLachlan

Recipient of the 2026 Dr. John Rook Leadership Award for Poverty Reduction

In recognition of her lifetime of service dedicated to ending poverty, the Canadian Poverty Institute is pleased to announce that Harriett Selina McLachlan MSW has been named the 2026 recipient of the Dr. John Rook Leadership Award for Poverty Reduction.

Harriett McLachlan is a nationally respected anti‑poverty advocate whose leadership is grounded in lived experience, human rights, and a deep commitment to social justice. As the former President of the Board of Directors and Deputy Director of Canada Without Poverty and a long‑time community leader, McLachlan has played a pivotal role in shifting Canada’s poverty discourse toward dignity‑centered, rights‑based approaches that elevate the voices of those most affected by economic marginalization.

McLachlan’s advocacy is shaped by her own experience navigating poverty, housing vulnerability, and food insecurity as a single parent. Rather than allowing these challenges to silence her, she transformed them into a powerful platform for change. Her leadership has helped redefine what authentic representation looks like in national policy conversations, ensuring that people with lived experience are not only consulted but recognized as experts in shaping solutions.

At Canada Without Poverty, McLachlan played a central role in national campaigns, delivered public education initiatives, and represented the organization before numerous parliamentary committees, media outlets, and international bodies such as the U.N. Human Rights Committee on the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). She was a key figure in advancing the rights‑based framework that underpins Canada’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, emphasizing that poverty is not an inevitable social condition but a violation of human rights. Her testimony before the Senate and House of Commons helped bring national attention to the systemic barriers that perpetuate poverty, including inadequate income supports, discrimination, and gaps in social policy.

McLachlan was also privileged to be a part of Canada Without Poverty’s historic constitutional challenge asserting that governments have an obligation to uphold economic and social rights. Her work has strengthened public understanding of poverty as a structural issue requiring systemic solutions, not individual blame.

Beyond policy and advocacy, McLachlan is a mentor and community builder. Amongst a number of roles, she was Executive Director of the N.D.G. Community Council when the Benny Farm Mixed Housing Project was brought to life and the launching of the N.D. G. Food Dépôt. She has supported countless individuals in developing leadership skills, navigating social systems, and advocating for their rights. Her work embodies the Canadian Poverty Institute’s principles of dignity, empowerment, and systems change. She brings compassion, authenticity, and moral clarity to every space she enters. McLachlan’s leadership continues to influence national conversations on poverty, income security, and social inclusion.