From the Catalyst, Winter 2017
On the Hill
CPJ staff attended the National Poverty Conference organized by Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jean-Yves Duclos. It was an opportunity to share updates on the recent consultations for the Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Natalie Appleyard, our new policy analyst, and Sarah DelVillano, one of our public justice interns, met with NDP MP Cheryl Hardcastle to discuss our Dignity for All campaign following her reference to CPJ’s Poverty Trends 2017 report in the House of Commons. During our Chew on This! event, Dignity for All was joined by Liberal MP Julie Dabrusin, NDP MP Brigitte Sansoucy, and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.
Karri Munn-Venn, CPJ’s senior policy analyst, was joined by our social work intern Josephine Adeosun to meet with Conservative MPs Ed Fast and Michael Chong as well as NDP MP Fin Donnelly for conversations about next year’s Give it up for the Earth! campaign and how Canada can best address climate change.
In the Community
In October, CPJ’s executive director, Joe Gunn, spoke on a panel during Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada’s 2017 National Conference and Lobby Days in Ottawa. Joe also gave a talk entitled “Suddenly Doing the Impossible: Social Justice Challenges Facing Canadian Churches Today” at St. Joseph’s Parish in Hamilton.
CPJ’s Karri Munn-Venn led a workshop entitled, “Climate Justice in Action” as part of an exciting day of learning and networking at the Anglican Diocese of Toronto.
Joe Gunn and Deb Mebude, one of CPJ’s public justice interns, made a presentation to the Sacred Heart Fathers in Kingston, who have adopted a specific focus on refugee rights work in their communities across Canada and in the United States.
Natalie Appleyard presented at a symposium hosted by the Religious Social Action Coalition of Newfoundland and Labrador in St. John’s. Her keynote address focused on poverty in Canada, the forthcoming Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy, and suggestions for moving ahead.
Welcome to Our New Staff Members!
CPJ is very excited to have four new staff members join our team this fall (below). Natalie Appleyard is our new socio-economic policy analyst. She will lead our work on poverty in Canada, especially around the Dignity for All campaign. For the second time, CPJ has two public justice interns who will be with us for a full year. Sarah DelVillano has been working on poverty in Canada and the Dignity for All campaign, while Deb Mebude focuses on refugee rights. Meanwhile Josephine Adeosun, a social work intern from Carleton University, is assisting CPJ in our ecological justice work.