Toronto, December 7, 2010 – Progressive economist Hugh Mackenzie has been elected as the Atkinson Charitable Foundation’s new board Chair and President. Mr. Mackenzie will head the Board in pursuit of the Foundation’s mission to champion social and economic justice.
"We have much work to do in continuing to advance the Foundation’s vision for a kinder, more prosperous and just future for all Canadians,” said Mr. Mackenzie. “It is a great honour to work with Trustees and staff who are so invested in seeing through the kinds of public policies and programs that can lead to greater social justice.”
Hugh Mackenzie has worked for more than 35 years in a variety of public policy capacities in labour, civil society and at all three levels of government in Canada. Mr. Mackenzie is a prolific author on a variety of public policy issues and an expert on education finance reform. He is a research associate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and is principal at Hugh Mackenzie & Associates, specializing in economic analysis and public policy analysis. Previously he has held roles as Executive Director of the Ontario Fair Tax Commission and as Research Director in the Canadian National Office of the United Steelworkers of America.
Effective today, Mr. Mackenzie becomes the fifth President and Chair of the Foundation. He also chairs the Foundation’s Finance and Investment committee and has served as trustee since 2000. Mr. Mackenzie follows Peter A. Armstrong, who held the role since 2007 and will continue to sit on the Board.
“Mr. Mackenzie’s extensive experience and sound strategic judgment will be an invaluable asset as the Foundation charts its course in the years ahead,” said Executive Director Olivia Nuamah. “We look forward to working together with our partners to build on our successes and forge bold new initiatives to realize our mission.”
Established in 1942 by Joseph E. Atkinson, former publisher of The Toronto Star, the Atkinson Charitable Foundation is a private Canadian foundation with the mission to "promote social and economic justice in the tradition of our founder.” It has granted more than $60 million in the categories of health, social welfare, economic justice and education. Current priority areas are Poverty Reduction, Early Learning and Development, and the Canadian Index of Wellbeing.
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For more information:
Pedro Barata, Outreach and Communications Coordinator, 416-869-4800.
