Dear Friends,
As we approach the end of the year, I want to reach out to you, our community of Broadbenters, in this pivotal moment.
Earlier this year, we said goodbye to our visionary founder, steadfast guide, and dear friend, Ed Broadbent. Ed’s absence is felt deeply by us all. His lifelong fight for a Good Society—one built on the values of compassion, justice, and integrity—continues to inspire our work.
Today, the fight for the Good Society is more urgent than ever. The cost-of-living crisis is deepening inequality. As Ed so accurately observed, an unequal society breeds cynicism and apathy, leaving people vulnerable to the lure of right-wing extremism. It is the environment where Doug Ford, Danielle Smith, Pierre Poilievre, and Donald Trump thrive. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Thankfully, Ed purpose-built the Broadbent Institute to defend ordinary Canadians.
Challenging Times Demand Action: Our Work
Ed lived through the Great Depression, the rise of fascism, the Second World War, and the Vietnam War, he saw how inflation gutted working-class wages in the 70s and 80s and the crushing impact of the 2008 Financial Crisis. Through it all, Ed always believed that “great things can still be done” – even in periods of crisis. So do I. Your ongoing support makes this belief a reality.
Thanks to support from people like you, we’ve been able to deliver wins:
We are influencing public policy for the betterment of everyday Canadians. Our research addresses Canada’s most pressing issues, from housing affordability and the cost-of living, to privatization in health care. With our in-house economist, we’ve costed out ideas, spoken to policy experts from around the world and published them in our podcast and Perspectives Journal. Your continued support allows us to deliver the thought provoking, practical yet bold solutions Canada needs.
Independent media outlet PressProgress shines a light on the hidden agendas of powerful politicians and corporations. We are proud to report that this year PressProgress reached millions of Canadians, won a prestigious investigative journalism award, and was cited by every major news outlet in Canada. With your support we can keep delivering pay-wall free news to all Canadians.
Our Emerging Leaders Program cultivates a new wave of progressive leaders, providing them six months of mentorship with hands-on training in community organizing, strategic thinking, storytelling and leadership fundamentals. With your support, we’re equipping the next generation with the tools to continue building Ed’s vision for the Good Society.
Shining a light on right-wing extremists, training the next generation of leaders, and crafting the solutions to Canada’s cost of living crisis are critically important tasks—and it is needed now more than ever. That’s why we are asking you to come together and give today.
Help us continue our mission by amplifying your impact with a generous one-time gift.
Our vision for 2025:
Your donation will power the next stage of our work:
- Media: Expand PressProgress’s reach by hiring two new full-time reporters to cover stories that other media outlets won’t.
- Training: At the 2025 Progress Summit, train new organizers and a new cohort of emerging leaders who are prepared to work towards a better future. We want to be able to afford to host 20 new leaders from across the country.
- Policy: Host exceptional thinkers through Perspectives Journal’s video series and podcasts, tackling healthcare, housing, groceries, and other cost-of-living issues.
Carrying forward Ed’s mission to the next generation is about more than just envisioning change—it is about making it happen. Contributing today is an act of solidarity, a declaration that you believe in a Canada where fairness, equity, and justice reign. Ed’s life-long work will continue through us all.
Together, let’s make 2025 a year of solidarity and shared resolve.
Wishing you peace, prosperity, and hope this holiday season,
Jen Hassum, Executive Director