As an idealistic young girl I always played the role of Ed Broadbent during our school yard political debates. Yes, that’s right, as a school girl I followed the 1984 campaign more closely than many of the double-dutch contests in my school yard. But that won’t surprise anyone who knows me well.
Flash forward over two decades and that same idealistic girl, who believed passionately in what Ed Broadbent represented, was honoured to become the first employee of the Broadbent Institute.
We met on a coffee shop patio in July 2011. I was filled with excitement and ambition as we discussed our ideas.
Ed and I had met many times before, during the coalition talks of 2008 and when the Institute was first announced in British Columbia, but this meeting was about a new challenge before us. How we would accomplish the task given to us and define what our goals were?
Starting the Institute certainly wasn’t easy, but good things seldom are.
It’s hard leaving an organization into which I have poured so much of my blood, sweat, and tears, but the time has come. I did what I set out to do. Now, it is time to turn my energies elsewhere.
I am proud to see how far the Institute has come in such a short period of time. We've successfully signed up thousands of members, received generous and sustaining contributions, and started an important national discussion about income inequality.
I can say with confidence and a great deal of satisfaction that we have a built a solid foundation from which progressive voices can be heard across Canada for years to come.
My heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone who helped us achieve this. From St. John’s to Victoria to Whitehorse, thousands of Canadians stepped up to support the Broadbent Institute from day one. It is only with our combined efforts that we have been able to transform the Institute into a strong, united voice for a more inclusive, fair, and just Canada.
Keep up the good fight.
And stay in touch!
