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It is with mixed feelings that we announce Canada25 will close its doors after
six wonderful years of bringing the voices and ideas of young Canadians to our
country's public policy discourse.
Since its founding in 2001, Canada25 has published four widely-acclaimed
national policy reports, produced numerous policy briefs, hosted countless
policy roundtables, and received praise in speeches, newspaper editorials and
policy discussions across the country and abroad. It inspired thousands of
young Canadians to feel that, together, they could build a better country.
Most importantly, Canada25 proved that a group of young people who are passionate
and organized can help shape public policy debates both locally and
nationally. Among the highlights were:
- Involving several thousand Canadians living across the country and around
the world in the production of four innovative national policy reports: A New Magnetic North: How Canada can Attract and Retain Talent (2001); Building Up: Making Canada's Cities Magnets for Talent and Engines of Development (2002); From Middle to Model Power: Recharging Canada's Role in the World (2004) and Canadians and the Common Good: Building a Civic Nation Through Civic Engagement (2007) ;
- Completing dozens of regional policy projects on issues from healthcare to Kyoto to urban development, including: Investing in the Next Alberta (2005); Cooling the Hot Air: Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol (2002); Batîr pour l'avenir : A Montréal renaissance (2002); Ripe With Potential: Vancouver as a Destination For Talent (2002) and Views From Young Talent In Winnipeg (2002);
- Participating in numerous policy consultations at the federal, provincial and municipal levels, including: the Privy Council Office, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade; The Standing Committee on National Defense and Veteran Affairs; The Canadian Government's Innovation Strategy; The Romanow Commission; the TD Bank Conference on Canada's Standard of Living and the City of Toronto Official Plan meetings;
- Facilitating local engagement in national affairs through 16 chapters located across Canada, in the US and the UK;
- Receiving favourable media coverage in print, radio and TV, including a cover story in Maclean's magazine and a CBC special, and praise for our forward-looking approach to the country;
- Being an important partner to policy influencers in the public, private and non-profit sectors, including having our material used in speeches by political and non-profit leaders and CEOs; and
- Receiving the Public Policy Forum's Young Leader Award for leadership and commitment in the area of public policy and civic discourse (2006).
Although Canada25 had a broad base of volunteers and a strong network of
supporters, we were unable develop a sustainable funding base to support the
growth of the organization across the country. Canada25 worked hard to involve
those who wished to contribute and to support the work of governments and other
organizations who sought our input, but it became too difficult to continue to
do this effectively with volunteers alone.
In spite of this situation, Canada25 would like to recognize and salute
an exceptional group of financial partners who have supported our work
over the years, including many of Canada's leading businesses and foundations.
Above all, we'd like to honour the incredible contributions of our volunteers
from across the country and around the world. These exceptional individuals
gave countless hours to the organization leading projects, arranging
speakers, engaging new members, researching and writing policy reports,
attending and facilitating policy roundtables and presenting ideas to
decision-makers in government, businesses and non-profits. Thank you
all for your contributions. They have made a big difference to many people.
Effective July 31st 2007, Canada25 will cease to operate as a
national organization and the work of our chapters will shift
to being local in focus. We will retain a permanent presence
on the web at www.canada25.com, where the story of the organization,
its policy work and media coverage will remain available.
At its core Canada25 is a self-organizing, emergent,
network. If a group of young Canadians wish to pick up the
standard and organize a project, please contact us. We possess
the contacts and experience to help advance such a project. To
that end we will continue to monitor info [a] canada25.com, and encourage
anyone with questions or comments to contact us.
Finally, we encourage everyone who has been a part of Canada25
to stay in touch and stay involved. There are many excellent
organizations that need your support, both with time and money.
To achieve its goals, Canada needs a critical mass of people who care,
who are networked, and who can work across the geographical, cultural,
and professional boundaries that have traditionally kept us apart. In
our own small way, this has been the contribution of Canada25, and we
hope everyone will continue the work of building this dynamic, inclusive
place we are proud to call home.
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