We’re proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Jack Layton Progress Prize, Charles Taylor Prize for Excellence in Policy Research, and the Ellen Meiksins Wood Prize, celebrated at the Progress Summit in Ottawa.
The 2026 Jack Layton Progress Prize
Amira Elghawaby is the recipient of the 2026 Jack Layton Progrerss Prize in recognition of her leadership advancing an inclusive Canadian society and intersectional justice for all.
Broadbent Institute Member of the Board of Directors, Stephanie Nakitsas (L), embraces Amira Elghawaby (R) upon presenting her the 2026 Jack Layton Prize.
Elghawaby is a visionary leader advancing inclusive, intersectional social justice in Canada. As the first Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia and through roles with the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, the National Council of Canadian Muslims, and the Canadian Labour Congress, she has elevated marginalized voices, fostered intercommunity understanding, and championed equity in policy and practice. Her work prioritizes Muslim women, racialized communities, and youth, combining advocacy, mentorship, and public education to strengthen civic engagement and human rights. Through media, public speaking, and grassroots initiatives, Amira consistently inspires collective action, leaving institutions stronger and communities more empowered.
2026 Charles Taylor Prize for Excellence in Policy Research
Andrew Jackson is the recipient of the 2026 Charles Taylor Prize for Excellence in Policy Research in recognition of decades of labour movement research that has shaped the next generation of thought leadership on Canada’s political economy.
The Prize was received on behalf of Andrew Jackson by Toby Sanger, former Executive Director of Canadians for Tax Fairness and friend of Andrew.
Broadbent Institute Member of the Board of Directors, Rob Gillezeau (R), presents the 2026 Charles Taylor Prize to Toby Sanger (L), on behalf of recipient Andrew Jackson.
Jackson is a towering figure in Canadian political economy who has shaped decades of labour movement strategy and social democratic thought as Chief Economist of the Canadian Labour Congress. A prolific writer, mentor, and institution-builder, he helped influence generations of researchers and policymakers, advancing a powerful critique of neoliberalism and a lasting vision for fair labour markets, social protection, and full employment.
2026 Ellen Meiksins Wood Prize & Lecture
Bhaskar Sunkara is the 2026 Ellen Meiksins Wood Prize recipient and Lecturer. Ellen Meiksins Wood believed deeply in the importance of encouraging a new generation’s rethinking of socialism, keyed to the class and social movements of the time. As the founding editor of Jacobin, president of The Nation, and publisher of Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy, Sunkara helped lay the intellectual foundations for this generation’s socialist movements, including the movement behind Zohran Mamdani’s historic campaign for Mayor of New York City.
Remarks from Broadbent Fellow and Ellen Meiksins Wood Prize selection committee member Frances Abele were delivered, presenting Sunkara’s outstanding contributions to the Canadian left.
We invite you to join us on Wednesday, April 22 for the 2026 Ellen Meiksins Wood Lecture, delivered by Bhaskar Sunkara, at Toronto Metropolitan University, at the Sears Atrium (3rd Floor, George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre), starting at 6pm EDT, followed by a reception with light refreshments. The event is hosted by Toronto Metropolitan University, Faculty of Arts and is sponsored this year by the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung – New York Office.
About the Ellen Meiksins Wood Prize & Lecture
In January 2016, the Broadbent Institute lost our dear friend and inspiration Professor Ellen Meiksins Wood.
The Institute founded the annual Ellen Meiksins Wood Prize & Lecture to honour Ellen’s legacy as an internationally renowned scholar and to bring her work to new generations of Canadians. At this troubling political moment, Ellen’s belief that democracy means “nothing more nor less than people’s power, or even the power of the common people or the poor” is more relevant than ever.
Ellen Meiksins Wood was one of the left’s foremost theorists on democracy and history, and often promoted the idea that democracy always has to be fought for and secured from below, never benevolently conferred from above. Challenging the prevailing logic and assumptions in her field, Ellen’s scholarship emphasized the importance of political processes and class conflict in shaping historical change. Meiksins Wood authored nine influential books throughout her career, served on the editorial committee of the British journal The New Left Review and was a much-respected member of Britain’s radical left. She was inducted into the Royal Society of Canada in 1996.
In recognition of Ellen’s distinguished legacy of historical scholarship on political thought, the Ellen Meiksins Wood Prize is given annually to an academic, labour activist or writer and recognizes outstanding contributions in political theory, social or economic history, human rights, or sociology.