Atkinson Foundation

02/12/2026

Last Sunday morning, Atkinson's Chief Executive Officer Colette Murphy took a trip on Line 5 Eglinton with some of our long-time collaborators. It gave her the chance to reflect on what's possible when we share a vision that puts equity at the centre of Ontario's public infrastructure process. Toronto Community Benefits Network Labour Education Centre - Employment Services Toronto & York Region Labour Council Metcalf Foundation Maytree United Way Greater Toronto

The Atkinson Foundation promotes social and economic justice in Ontario. We build movement power for decent work.

12/11/2025

For the past eight weeks, we’ve spread the word about The Good Fight Prize in the Toronto Star. And even more importantly, shared a deeper message: decent work matters.

It matters to workers who go unheard and undervalued. It matters to the many fearless campaigners fighting to make work more decent every day. And it matters to everyone who wants to live in a country in which work is respected, workers are treated fairly, and opportunities are shared. Where all workers have the foundation for a good life.

Here is the collection of messages we shared throughout the fall. Calling for nominations, announcing our top campaigns, and most of all, making enough noise to let workers know that their voices are being heard.

The prize campaign may be wrapping up, but the work continues. Join us at GoodFightPrize.ca.

12/06/2025

The fight for decent work isn’t a sprint. It isn’t a marathon. It’s a relay race, where each generation picks up the baton to move the cause forward.

Decent work is the foundation of a good life and a healthy society. But looking at the working world today, you can’t help but wonder – what will it look like when our children and grandchildren have grown up?

That’s why, for over 80 years, the Atkinson Foundation has been in the fight for decent work with others who care about the next generation of workers. And today, we’re doing whatever we can to create hopeful futures — and asking you to join us.

Because the fight for decent work can never take a day off.

Join us at GoodFightPrize.ca

12/04/2025

This week, we’ve been reliving our Good Fight Prize event through the many photos taken that evening.

The sight of every hand in the air after taking stock of who was there. The moment when Worth More! campaigners took the stage, waving their rainbow parachute to the big beat of “Because We Can”. And, the buzz of conversation that continued long after the party had officially ended.

It was a wonderful celebration that replenished our reserves for another year. We’re already looking forward to gathering again in November 2026. In the meantime, we’ll be with you in the good fight and keeping our eye on the prize of decent work for all.

11/29/2025

11/28/2025

On Wednesday our Child Care Workers are Worth More! campaign won the 2025 Good Fight Prize, a $50,000 award for "fearless campaigns for decent work" from the

11/27/2025

WE WON!!! We are very excited to announce that our ! campaign won this year’s from 🥳

We are incredibly grateful (and proud!) to be able to work with early childhood educators, child care workers and advocates across the province advocating for for our sector.

It’s an honour to with all of you!

11/27/2025

Thank you all for a fantastic evening yesterday at our Good Fight Prize event – where we had the great pleasure of announcing our 2025 winner: The Worth More! Campaign for Child Care Workers!

Congratulations to the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario, and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario for this win. You’ve given all of us an incredible example of what Joseph Atkinson called a “good fight”.

Congratulations also to our two finalist campaigns, the Investors for a Fair Economy Campaign and the Youth Climate Corps campaign. To all everyone who is fighting for decent work in all its dimensions – we stand with you.

We’re excited about the victories to come in 2026 and beyond.

11/26/2025

Today is the day! Tonight we’ll be awarding the 2025 Good Fight Prize to one of our three deserving finalists in the fight for decent work.

This moment couldn’t arrive at a more meaningful time. We know that, reading the news today, it’s easy to think our economy serves the bad guys. And nowhere is that more evident than in our workplaces, where workers always seem to come last.

For over 80 years, the Atkinson Foundation has stood with those on the front lines of the fight for decent work. And tonight we can’t wait to share with Canada the proof that, yes, the good guys can finish first.

11/22/2025

Our shortlist of 2025 finalists has officially been shared – congratulations again to the Investors for a Fair Economy Campaign, the Worth More! Campaign for Child Care Workers, and the Youth Climate Corps Campaign.

On Wednesday, we’ll be announcing which of them is our 2025 winner. But the conversation doesn’t end here - and neither does the fight.

Historically, we’ve awarded the Good Fight Prize every five years. But going forward, we’ve committed to awarding it annually in November. Because this fight doesn’t take a day off, nevermind a year.

Please join us in continuing to celebrate all those who speak out about decent work, including our 2025 championship fight club.

11/21/2025

We’re excited to round out our group of 2025 Good Fight Prize finalists by Introducing the Youth Climate Corps Campaign, led by the Climate Emergency Unit, Climate Action Network - Réseau action climat Canada, and the Small Change Fund.

The Youth Climate Corps campaign mobilizes young people across Canada to demand a bold federal jobs program guaranteeing living-wage, unionized work in the green economy. YCC reframes climate action as a jobs strategy for a just transition – one that creates long-term career pathways in renewable energy, building retrofits, ecosystem restoration, emergency response, and community aid. The campaign has achieved significant political traction: after earning cross-party support and a House of Commons motion, YCC secured a two-year, $40-million federal pilot in Budget 2025 – the first step toward a national permanent public jobs program.

See all the finalists at GoodFightPrize.ca/The-Prize and stay tuned for the announcement of our winner following the 2025 Good Fight Prize Event next week!

11/20/2025

Introducing the next finalist in the running for the 2025 Good Fight Prize, chosen from many worthy nominations. Today we’re highlighting the Worth More! Campaign for Child Care Workers, led by the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC), Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO), and the CUPE Ontario.

The Worth More! campaign unites frontline early childhood educators and child care workers, employers, unions, families, and allies to demand fair wages and decent work under the $10aDay child care plan in Ontario. The campaign has organized and mobilized thousands of supporters and helped raise the floor of ECEs’ wages by nearly $5 per hour with annual increases, while advancing calls for a funded wage grid, benefits, and pensions in child care.

See the finalists at GoodFightPrize.ca/The-Prize and stay tuned for our third profile tomorrow.