In recognition of her lifetime of service dedicated to ending poverty, the Canadian Poverty Institute is pleased to announce that Dr. Cindy Blackstock has been named the 2025 recipient of the John Rook Leadership Award for Poverty Reduction. Dr. Blackstock has been a powerful voice for First Nations children and youth experiencing poverty and marginalization. A member of the Gitxsan First Nation, Cindy is honoured to serve as the Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and as a professor at McGill University’s School of Social Work. She holds a PhD in Social work from the University of Toronto and has over 40 years of experience working in child and family services and Indigenous children’s rights.
Read about the life and work of Dr. Blackstock here.
The award will be presented to Dr. Blackstock on January 12th 2026 at Ambrose University.