CPJ staff have been making the most of this very short election window to connect with communities across the country on our Election Tour! Through virtual and in-person events, we have had the pleasure and privilege to engage with members “inspired by faith to act for justice,” as well as reaching new audiences who had not heard of CPJ before.
Through our election resource Public Justice at the Polls: Election Bulletin 2025 and our Election Tour events, we’ve been considering together what faith and public justice look like in the unique context of this election. And, yes: people are concerned about the impact of tariffs. But we have heard from people across the country that what ultimately matters to them is building a more just, affordable, and sustainable future for all. At the same time, we are also hearing a lot of frustration with our current political landscape. For us at CPJ, this underscores the importance of engaging beyond elections, and adding our voices to broader movements for the social and political change we need. It also highlights the invaluable support of CPJ members over the past 61 years and the great potential to engage new members who share our commitment to justice!
Our tour kicked off in mid-March with a series of three virtual events over three weeks hosted by the Jesuit Forum of Toronto exploring affordability, climate justice, and labour. The day before the election was called, CPJ co-hosted an in-person event with the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg and Campaign 2000, looking at advancing rights in uncertain times. We partnered with Student Christian Movement and Ottawa Campus Chaplaincy to host a virtual student event with watch parties in Calgary and Ottawa.
In BC, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, we joined congregations in Surrey, Abbotsford, Saskatoon, and Ottawa, and Montreal. Also in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, we partnered with Martin Luther University College for our largest in-person event with over 200 participants exploring faithful election engagement, highlighted in a CBC morning radio interview with CPJ’s Anna Miedema.
In Alberta, we visited Ambrose University in Calgary for a panel event with partners at the Canadian Poverty Institute, the Ploughshares Calgary Society, the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, and Métis scholar and professor Yvonne Poitras-Pratt of the University of Calgary to explore peace, justice, and security. We co-hosted a student-facilitated event in Edmonton at The King’s University and then spent the evening graciously hosted at the home of Jim Visser and Donna Tigchelaar surrounded by many who have faithfully supported and advocated alongside CPJ since our beginnings 61 years ago! Our trip out West wrapped up with a podcast recording with The Harmonious Gentlemen at Blindman Brewing in Lacombe, Central Alberta, followed by a meet and greet with local CPJ members.
And while we didn’t manage to finalize an in-person event in Atlantic Canada during this short election period, we are already looking forward to a visit to Antigonish, Nova Scotia in June, and are grateful for the partnership of faculty and students at St Francis Xavier and the Coady Institute in Nova Scotia for our virtual student event.
Whether you joined us in-person, virtually, or in spirit as a CPJ member, thank you for your faithful witness and support! You can share your feedback on virtual and in-person events here. We hope the Election Bulletin shares valuable insights and questions as you discern your vote, and we continue to encourage you to share it with others, encouraging them to add their voice as members of CPJ.
We would also love to visit more congregations and communities, knowing our work continues on beyond the election with whomever forms our next government. If you’d like to host CPJ, please reach out, and as always, stay tuned for more resources and engagement opportunities. Thank you for journeying with us towards a more just and sustainable future, through this election and beyond!
