Douglas-Coldwell Foundation

Media Releases

DOUGLAS-COLDWELL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2009 AWARD $25,000 CASH PRIZE COMPETITION

March 10, 2008
For immediate release

Ottawa, Ontario – The Douglas-Coldwell Foundation has announced the call for submissions for the 2009 Douglas-Coldwell Foundation Award - a project recognizing Tommy Douglas’ Vision for Canada. The prize will be awarded in 2009.

Following the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s contest in which Tommy Douglas was named the ‘Greatest Canadian’, the Douglas-Coldwell Foundation held its own ‘contest’ in 2006 for a special grant valued at $25,000, to be awarded to the project that “best captures Tommy Douglas’ Vision for Canada and makes it known to the public at large”.

In 2006, the Foundation awarded $25,000 to the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee for its 1% Solution Campaign against homelessness and in 2007, another $25,000 to the Canadian Health Coalition in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives for the “Tommy Douglas’ Vision of Medicare Conference - S.O.S. Medicare 2: Looking Forward” held in May 2007 in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Projects are invited to interpret Tommy’s vision as it pertains to their work, whether the field is labour rights, poverty, housing, the environment, gender inequality, health care, economic policy, or any other pressing social justice imperative. Submissions should make clear how their project captures Tommy’s vision for Canada.

The Board of the Douglas-Coldwell Foundation will make the selection of the winning project in mid-October of 2008. The winner will be announced at the federal convention of the New Democratic Party of Canada in November, 2008.
To be considered, project submissions must be received by the Douglas-Coldwell Foundation no later than Friday, September 26, 2008. Submissions should be sent to the DCF office by either mail or email.

Founded in 1971 and based in Ottawa, the Douglas-Coldwell Foundation promotes education and research into social democracy. The Foundation was named for, and continues to be inspired by Tommy Douglas, the first federal leader of the New Democratic Party, and M. J. Coldwell, leader of its predecessor the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). The Foundation has awarded more than $350,000 in grants and scholarships over the past ten years.

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For further information:
Doug Massey, Douglas-Coldwell Foundation
(613) 232-1918

Douglas-Coldwell Foundation Awards Two $25,000 Cash Prizes

Tuesday September 12th 2006
For immediate release

Ottawa, Ontario – The Douglas-Coldwell Foundation has announced the winners of the 2006 Douglas-Coldwell Award and has given two $25,000 prizes to two projects that best demonstrate Tommy Douglas’ vision for Canada. The winners of the 2006 Douglas-Coldwell Award are the Canadian Health Coalition (www.healthcoalition.ca) in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee (www.tdrc.net) for its 1% Solution Campaign against homelessness.

These awards were given at the NDP Federal Convention in Quebec City. Accepting the award on behalf of the Canadian Health Coalition was Mr. Michael McBane. The Canadian Health Coalition (www.healthcoalition.ca) will use the funds to put on a national conference on Medicare in Canada. SOS Medicare 2. Mr. Michael Shapcott accepted the award on behalf of the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee (www.tdrc.net) who will put the funds to work in the fight to end homelessness in Canada.

Tessa Hebb, President of the Foundation and Foundation Board member Alexa McDonough, M.P. awarded the prizes. “It is our pleasure to be able to help support two such worthwhile projects that promote the vision of Canada that Tommy Douglas represents, these are both projects that help deliver the kind of Canada we want to live in.”

The Douglas-Coldwell Foundation is a Canadian think-tank that promotes education and research into social democracy.

Founded in 1971 and based in Ottawa, the Foundation was named for and inspired by Tommy Douglas, the first federal leader of the New Democratic Party from 1961 to 1971, and M. J. Coldwell, leader of its predecessor Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) from 1942 to 1960. The foundation has awarded $350,000 in grants and scholarships over the past ten years.

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For further information:
Tessa Hebb, President, Douglas-Coldwell Foundation (613) 232-1918
Alexa MacDonough, MP Halifax Centre, DCF Board of Directors (613) 232-1918

Douglas-Coldwell Foundation Launches DVD and $25,000 Cash Prize

Monday, 13 March 2006 - For immediate release

Ottawa, ON - In recognition of his being named “the Greatest Canadian” the Douglas-Coldwell Foundation made two important announcements today, both paying tribute to its celebrated founder, the late Tommy Douglas.

The Foundation released a new DVD “The Speeches of Tommy Douglas – Volume 1”. The DVD, introduced by Shirley Douglas, contains eight speeches made by Tommy Douglas from 1959 to 1984.

Douglas’ speeches range from early 1960’s broadcasts as Saskatchewan’s Premier to his 1983 NDP Convention speech that received a twenty minute standing ovation. The DVD closes with a rendition of Mouseland introduced by Tommy’s grandson, Kiefer Sutherland.

The second initiative announced by the Douglas-Coldwell Foundation is a competition for the project that best captures Tommy Douglas’ vision for Canada. The Foundation is offering a cash prize of $25,000 for the winning project and is currently accepting submissions. The results of the competition will be announced at the end of June 2006.

“In today’s Canada, where Tommy’s vision for this country is coming increasingly under attack by American-influenced ideology, we felt it appropriate that Canadians chose Tommy as the “Greatest Canadian,” said Tessa Hebb, President of the Douglas-Coldwell Foundation. “That choice tells us Canadians want to preserve and strengthen the Canada Tommy Douglas left us, not sell it to the highest bidder,” she added.

Foundation board member Alexa McDonough said the DVD and cash prize were an important message to Canadians that “We will not sit by and allow the dismantling of our social programs that Canadians hold so dear. It’s time to revitalise and re-energise. This DVD reminds us of the struggle we won, and the consequences if we lose,” she said. “The competition will encourage active thinking and engagement around Tommy’s vision that has shaped our Canada in such a profound way,” she said.

The Douglas-Coldwell Foundation is a Canadian think-tank that promotes education and research into social democracy.

Founded in 1971 and based in Ottawa, the Foundation was named for and inspired by Tommy Douglas, the first federal leader of the New Democratic Party from 1961 to 1971, and M. J. Coldwell, leader of its predecessor Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) from 1942 to 1960. Both envisioned a Canadian counterpart to the British-based Fabian Society.

In 1987, the Douglas-Coldwell Foundation merged with the Ontario Woodsworth Memorial Foundation of Toronto, named for former CCF leader, J. S. Woodsworth.

The foundation has underwritten biographies of Douglas, Coldwell, Clarence Gillis, Stanley Knowles, and Grace MacInnis, scholarships and lectureships at Canadian post-secondary institutions, and awards to numerous projects across Canada.

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For further information:
Tessa Hebb, President, Douglas-Coldwell Foundation (613) 232-1918
Alexa McDonough, MP Halifax, DCF Board of Directors (613) 232-1918