Atkinson Field Notes
Learning Through Action
News, presentations and reflections from Atkinson’s Chief Executive Officer Colette Murphy and the rest of the Atkinson team.
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by Media: Blog
19 Dec 25
I’ve been looking at the world through the lens of a new iPhone camera a lot this year. My collection of photos reveal what slows me down and gives me pause. Always my kids and garden. Often public art like street murals and graffiti with raw wisdom like “Fear. Less. Care. More.” and “The World Survives on Hope”. And occasionally... Read more >
27 Nov 25
Good evening, my name is Wendy Chan. I’m the Chair of the Atkinson Foundation Board of Directors. It’s my honour to welcome you to this celebration of the 2025 Good Fight Prize. We are gathering tonight on the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation as well as the traditional territory... Read more >
28 Oct 25
By now, you will have seen signs that Atkinson is upping its contribution to the fight for decent work. We’ve been in it for a long time now. More than eighty years. So, we know the weight needed to tip the scale toward justice. Change is possible when at least 3.5 % of the population is engaged. Read more >
9 Jun 25
In May, I attended the annual conference for Environment Funders Canada in Whitehorse—to continue sussing out opportunities for cross-movement power building. I had the chance to hear others reflect on the future of environmental philanthropy, and to help make the connections between environmental sustainability and equity. Read more >
8 May 24
Thank you for the invitation to join you for your conversation about worker power – why worker power is important and the role funders can play in generating more of it. I’m joining this call from Toronto – the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation as well as the traditional territory of... Read more >
2 May 24
I appreciate this opportunity to think aloud with you about this day and the way ahead. Since leaving home early yesterday morning, I’ve been thinking about expectations – mine, yours and ours.
I expected to have a long day of travel with a transfer in Vancouver on Wednesday. That flight was delayed and I ended up on a direct flight to Victoria... Read more >
2 Feb 24
The reality of Ed Broadbent’s death is sinking in slowly. He seemed ageless and invincible at 87. A much respected main character in the story of this country – and in the lives of many individuals and communities with whom he made common cause. Atkinson was one of the organizations with whom Ed collaborated over several decades to advance a broad, shared vision... Read more >
1 May 23
“We’ve lost a giant,” wrote Pedro Barata on the day after we learned that Dr. Charles Pascal had died suddenly. “Charles was relentless. He leaves us such a rich legacy of progressive policies and strong organizations pushing for social justice. So many of us benefited from Charles’ wisdom, time and belief.” Ever since I heard the news last Monday... Read more >
21 Oct 22
The exorbitant price we pay for inequality is rising faster than the current rate of inflation these days. When I first heard the logic of inflation many years ago, it sounded like a naturally occurring phenomenon like gravity and tides. I soon discovered that the cost of essential goods and services, and the cost of borrowing money... Read more >
11 Feb 22
This week, we heard that the Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers, Armine Yalnizyan, was named to Maclean’s 2022 Power List as “the caring person’s economist.” When I went to take a look at the list, I was so pleased that Bilal Baig, the creator and star of CBC’s Sort Of, also made the list. In the show, Baig’s character Sabi navigates their work as a nanny and bartender... Read more >
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