Dr. Cindy Blackstock Awarded 2025 John Rook Leadership Award

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.

New Report Examines the Roots of Poverty and Pathways for Systems Change

A Deep Dive Into Poverty:

An Exploratory Analysis of the Root Causes of Poverty and Possible Pathways for Systems Change

If we want a Canada where all communities can thrive, that vision must be woven into the fabric of our national identity. It must serve as a guiding priority – shaping our choices, informing our success metrics, and grounding our collective accountability.  Only then can we begin to make the millions of aligned decisions needed to design legislation, programs, policies, and practices that foster shared well-being. At a macro-level, achieving this vision requires two things: a broad-based individual and institutional commitment to collective well-being, and the strategic allocation of resources that reflect the scale and urgency of the need.

In this new report, Monica Da Ponte explores the nature of the incentive structure that lies at the heart of a poly-crisis manifesting itself in widespread homelessness, food insecurity and environmental degradation. Read her analysis and options for pathways forward here.

Turning Debt Into Hope - Summer 2025 Issue of Spero Released

The Canadian Poverty Institute is pleased to release the Summer edition of our newsletter Spero. In this issue read about:

  • The 2025 Year of Jubilee and Campaign for Debt Relief

  • Community Housing and Insurance in a Changing Climate

  • Poverty in the Community and Classroom - A Collaboration with the Simcoe County District School Board.

  • The 2025 Poverty Studies Summer Institute

  • The new CPI Advisory Committee

Read the latest issue here.

Dr. John Rook Leadership Award - Call for Nominations

The Canadian Poverty Institute is accepting nominations for the Dr. John Rook Leadership Award for Poverty Reduction. This award is presented annually to an outstanding Canadian who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in working to end poverty and embodies the principles of the Canadian Poverty Institute. The award is named in honour of Dr. John Rook, founder of the Canadian Poverty Institute. To submit a nomination, please refer to the Nomination Guidelines. Nominations are due by July 18th.

CPI Advisory Committee - Call for Members

Are you passionate about ending poverty in Canada? Would you like to support an organization that works to make a difference by addressing the root causes of poverty? The Canadian Poverty Institute is seeking interested and qualified individuals to serve on its National Advisory Committee.

For more information and to view the call for members click here.

If you are interested in joining the National Advisory Committee of the Canadian Poverty Institute, please express your interest by email to povertyinstitute@ambrose.edu prior to February 28th.

Fall Issue of Spero Released

The Fall issue of Spero, newsletter of the Canadian Poverty Institute, is now available. This issue focuses on the Right to an Adequate Income. Learn about aspects of income rights such as universal basic income, the Canada Disability Benefit, living wage, and social assistance reform. Read the latest issue here.

Sheila Regehr Named as Recipient of the Dr. John Rook Leadership Award for Poverty Reduction

The Canadian Poverty Institute is pleased to announce that Sheila Regehr has been named as the recipient of the inaugural Dr. John Rook Leadership Award for Poverty Reduction.

For the past 40 years, Sheila Regehr has been a powerful voice for those facing marginalization in Canada. Currently, she is a founding member and chair of Basic Income Canada, a national network advocating for a Universal Basic Income.

Previously, she served as the Executive Director of the National Council on Welfare as part of a 29-year career in the federal public service. During that time, she advocated for a range of important policies related to income security, taxation and gender equality.

Ms. Regehr also served as a Canadian negotiator at several United Nations world conferences on gender equality and social development, and chaired UN negotiations on poverty and unpaid work.

The Award will be presented on December 13th at Ambrose University. The Award presentation will also feature a keynote address by the Hon. Senator Kim Pate who will be speaking about Universal Basic Income.

The Dr. John Rook Leadership Award for Poverty Reduction is presented annually to an outstanding Canadian who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in working to end poverty and embodies the principles of the Canadian Poverty Institute. The award is named in honour of Dr. John Rook, founder of the Canadian Poverty Institute.

Please join us for the award ceremony on Friday December 13th at 1:00 at Ambrose University.

To register to attend please visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-dr-john-rook-leadership-award-for-poverty-reduction-tickets-1076962637239