HAMILTON, ON – The brand new Ross and Davis Mitchell Prize for Faith and Writing has unveiled its first shortlist of entrants. A panel of judges, including 7th Parliamentary Poet Laureate George Elliott Clarke and former PEN Canada President Randy Boyagoda, reviewed work from 250 entries. They selected the following group of Canadians as finalists for the prize’s two categories: Short Story Tendisai Cromwell (Edmonton, AB) – The Common Believer Susan Fish (Waterloo, ON) – Easter Water Fraser Tingle (Calgary, AB) – Home Brandon Trotter (Calgary, AB) – Saint 148 Jessica Walters (Langley, BC) – Glass Jars Poetry Suite Yuliya Barannik (Toronto, ON) – Ramadan Letters Wanda Campbell (Gaspereau, NS) – The Book of Hours Sarah Klassen (Winnipeg, MB) – Rise and Go< Rowda Mohamud (Oakville, ON) – Please Find Yourself a Space Shane Neilson (Oakville, ON) – Loss Sonnets The prize will award a total of $25,000 for faith-themed writing – $10,000 to the winner and $2,500 to the runner-up in each category. “It’s so exciting to be part of something new that will enrich the breadth of Canadian literature, celebrate diversity, and promote new voices,” said Doug Sikkema, project lead for the Mitchell Prize. “Faith is an important part of Canadian literature, and we want to really take the time to celebrate and encourage that in a unique way.” Judging the short story category are: Dr. Randy Boyagoda, Principal and Vice President of the University of St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto Susan Lynn Reynolds, award-winning writer and novelist Dr. David Staines, Professor of English at the University of Ottawa Judging the poetry suite category are: George Elliott Clarke, 7th Parliamentary Poet Laureate (2016-17) and 4th Poet Laureate of Toronto (2012-2015) Dr. Deborah Bowen, Professor Emerita of English at Redeemer University Dr. Todd Swift, Writer-in-residence for Pembroke College, University of Cambridge, England The winners and runners-up will be announced on October 30th at a reception in Toronto’s Aga Khan Museum with authors, judges, and members of the Mitchell family in attendance. The reception will be open to the public and media. Tickets for the reception are available for purchase. Members of the media may request a media pass by contacting Daniel Proussalidis, Cardus – Director of Communications at dproussalidis@cardus.ca or 613-241-4500 x508. For further contest details, please, visit the Faith in Canada 150 website. -30- About Cardus Cardus is a non-partisan, not-for-profit public policy think tank focused on the following areas: education, family, work & economics, social cities, end-of-life care, and religious freedom. It conducts independent and original research, produces several periodicals, and regularly stages events with Senior Fellows and interested constituents across Canada and the U.S. To learn more, visit: www.cardus.ca and follow us on Twitter @cardusca. About Faith in Canada 150 Faith in Canada 150 is a program of Cardus that exists to celebrate the role of faith in our life together during Canada’s anniversary celebrations in 2017. For more than 450 years, faith has shaped the human landscape of Canada. It has shaped how we live our lives, how we see our neighbours, how we fulfill our social responsibilities, and how we imagine our life together. To learn more, visit: faithincanada150.ca and follow us on Twitter @FC150.

TORONTO – Fifteen families in the Greater Toronto Area will have safe, decent, and affordable housing, thanks in part to the Faith 150 Build. More than 30 leaders from a variety of religious backgrounds gathered at the Habitat for Humanity GTA east-end Toronto build-site at 140 Pinery Rd. today for a special day of volunteering for the construction. Faith in Canada 150 – a program of think tank Cardus – organized the effort in partnership with Habitat for Humanity GTA. “Canada has a rich faith heritage that we’re celebrating in this 150th anniversary year,” says Ray Pennings, executive vice president of Cardus. “Through Faith in Canada 150 we’ve been able to build friendships across religious lines, and now we’re seeing a tangible expression of that in building the common good through the provision of housing.” Toronto’s faith communities won’t stop at one day of building by their leaders, however. Members of various faith communities will gather at the same site on October 25th to continue volunteering on the construction of the units. And on October 26th, a Women of Faith build is planned at 140 Pinery Rd. By 2019, the site’s stacked townhouses will become home to 50 working, low-income families. “The spirit of multiple peoples with differing beliefs and traditions coming together in peace, friendship and shared responsibility sets a wonderful backdrop for Faith 150 builds,” says Ene Underwood, CEO of Habitat for Humanity GTA. “Beyond the physical building of Habitat homes for families that will occur over these three days, this time together will enable us to build new relationships and deeper understanding around the fundamental right of everyone - to a safe, decent place to call home.” Habitat for Humanity GTA’s model of affordable homeownership provides a hand up for working, low-income families with the opportunity to become Habitat home owners. Habitat does not give away free homes – families pay an interest-free Habitat for Humanity mortgage geared to their income and volunteer 500 hours with Habitat for Humanity GTA on their build sites and ReStore. -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Noah Kravitz Habitat for Humanity GTA - Communications Manager Office: 416-755-7353 ext. 243 Cell: 647-828-6171 noah.kravitz@habitatgta.ca Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613.241-4500x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca About Habitat for Humanity GTA Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is a non-profit housing organization that brings communities together to help working, low-income families build strength, stability and independence through affordable homeownership. With the support of donors and volunteers, Habitat GTA builds homes alongside partner families in Toronto Brampton, Caledon and York Region. Since 1988, Habitat GTA has built more than homes for more than 330 families, including over 1,000 children. About Faith in Canada 150 Faith in Canada 150 is a program of Cardus that exists to celebrate the role of faith in our life together during Canada’s anniversary celebrations in 2017. For more than 450 years, faith has shaped the human landscape of Canada. It has shaped how we live our lives, how we see our neighbours, how we fulfill our social responsibilities, and how we imagine our life together. To learn more, visit: faithincanada150.ca and follow us on Twitter @FC150. .

OTTAWA, ON – The debate over income inequality and poverty in Canada is a hot topic that has long had the attention of leaders at the highest levels. Even so, the inequality debate in Canada among politicians, policy analysts, the academic community, and the media has largely ignored the role of a monumental social change over the last four decades: increased family fracturing. The new Cardus study Missing Family Dynamics by policy analyst Mark Milke, PhD, notes that divorce and separation shot up by 134% in Canada between 1971 and 2016. Yet there has been relatively little study of how social and cultural factors affect families, which then in turn affect statistics on poverty and income inequality. For example, female lone-parent families had median after-tax incomes 52% lower than two-parent families in 2011 – only a modest improvement from the 61% gap of 1976. And male lone-parent families had median after-tax incomes 39% lower than two-parent families in 2011. That’s worse than the 25% gap that existed in 1976. In other words, family makeup matters to poverty statistics and potentially to inequality data. “With the focus in the public debates often only on economic data, the debates on inequality and poverty are unnecessarily limited,” says Milke. “When one family splits into two, there is the potential to increase poverty because two households are typically more expensive to maintain than one.” Another factor in inequality is the rise in unattached individuals – rocketing up by three quarters between 1976 and 2014 to 16% of the population. Unattached individuals, however, have median after-tax incomes almost 70% lower than a two-parent family. “It appears the large rise in fractured families and folks living alone could affect inequality in Canada,” says Andrea Mrozek, family program director at think tank Cardus. “Not choosing to acknowledge this and study it further hinders our search for solutions. This is a fertile field for further study by policy makers and academics and with the release of this paper today we are opening up that discussion.” Missing Family Dynamics recommends that policy-makers and the academic community do the following: Focus thought, study, and analysis on the non-economic causes of family fracturing. Recognize that family fracturing is itself a cause of poverty and can affect inequality statistics. Take policy steps toward family stability, for example, by reducing financial pressures on families. Encourage individuals, religious institutions, non-profits, and other non-government institutions to support families and help those who struggle with poverty or inequality because of family fracturing. Download a complimentary copy of Missing Family Dynamics from here. -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613.241-4500x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

OTTAWA, ON – The latest Canadian family census data show that Canada is charting a course toward increased family instability and social isolation. According the 2016 census, 78.7% of all couples in Canada are married, down from almost 84% of couples since 2001. Meanwhile, just more than 21% of all couples are simply living together in a Common Law relationship, up almost 5% in the last 15 years. Andrea Mrozek, Family Program Director at public policy think tank Cardus, notes that researchers have found cohabitation to be generally less stable that marriage. “Fortunately, marriage still remains the most common form of relationship for couples,” says Mrozek. “But the trend is toward less stable relationships. That implies more break-ups, more drastic changes in domestic life, and more turmoil – things that can harm physical and mental health, not to mention any children who may be in the picture.” However, the news was not all negative. The proportion of children living in single-parent homes appears to have levelled off in Canada at 19.2% in 2016, barely changed from 2011. While still high, it remains lower than rates in the United States and the United Kingdom. “The research is abundantly clear that children do best in stable families with two parents, so it’s encouraging not to see a rising proportion of kids in single-parent homes,” says Mrozek. “It would be even better if we could see that proportion decline – something that could happen if Canada could raise its marriage rates.” -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613.241-4500x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

OTTAWA – Many factors make Canada the country it is – with hockey, maple syrup, and the beauty of nature often topping the list in the popular imagination. But with the Angus Reid Institute scratched below the surface in a poll conducted in partnership with Faith in Canada 150, Canadians acknowledged that religious faith has played an important role over the last 150 years. “When it comes to the delivery of healthcare, whether through hospitals, homes for the elderly, programs for those with special needs, or health clinics, anywhere from a third to half of Canadians see faith communities playing a positive role,” says Ray Pennings, Executive Vice President of think tank Cardus. “Fewer than one in 10 Canadians see faith communities playing a negative role.” Canadians also see faith communities playing a positive role in other, including providing social services to those in need, running community programs, directing overseas aid and development, and welcoming refugees and immigrants. “Faith communities are more integral to our everyday life than is usually acknowledged,” says Pennings. The poll also presents an interesting regional picture. British Columbia is the only province where the impact of religious and faith communities isn’t considered more positive than negative. Saskatchewan and the Atlantic provinces are where religious and faith communities are seen most positively in Canada. Full poll results and information on sample size, methodology, and margin of error are available here. About Faith in Canada 150 Faith in Canada 150 is a program of Cardus that exists to celebrate the role of faith in our life together during Canada’s anniversary celebrations in 2017. For more than 450 years, faith has shaped the human landscape of Canada. It has shaped how we live our lives, how we see our neighbours, how we fulfill our social responsibilities, and how we imagine our life together. To learn more, visit: faithincanada150.ca/about and follow us on Twitter @FC150. MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613.899.5174 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

In 2017 four awards were awarded: Group Excellence Award: a group award of up to $8,000. Excellence in Elementary Teaching Award: an individual award of $5,000. Excellence in Secondary Teaching Award: an individual award of $5,000. Excellence in the Teaching of Creative and Performing Arts: an individual award of $5,000. Elementary Dunnville Christian School - Winner Margaret Kamping Timothy Christian School, Etobicoke Barbara Ubbens Secondary Chatham Christian School - Winner Anneke Gretton Hamilton District Christian High Owen Webb Group Unity Christian High School - Winner Jeff Weening and Kim Furtney Orillia Christian School Marianne Frielink, Curtis Dulmage, Yvonne Buck, Kathy Brown, Rhonda Dykxhoorn, and Danae Yeboah Strathroy Community Christian School Joan Alexander, Shelley Berg, Natalie DeSchiffert, Jeanette Dykstra, Stephanie Gowan, Julie Reitsma, Susan Noordermeer, Diane Schelhaas, Stephanie Tiffin, Jennifer VanMinnen, Jean Verburg, and Kim Winia Arts Smithville Christian High School - Winner Gord Park King's Christian Collegiate Timothy Veenstra Kingston Christian School Ruth Giffin Sarnia Christian School Mary Abma Toronto District Christian High Richard Peters Trinity Christian School Leanne Bulthuis Woodland Christian High School David Graham

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BURLINGTON, ON – Five Ontario teachers are the latest recipients of the John Rozema Awards for Teacher Excellence. Now in their second year, the Rozema Awards recognize teachers who surpass expectations in their work at Christian schools in Ontario. Michael Van Pelt, President and CEO of Cardus, and Dr. Beth Green, Education Program Director at Cardus, along with John and Stephen Rozema, presented the awards at a gala June 8, 2017 at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, ON in partnership with the Christian School Foundation. The awards went to five teachers in four categories: EXCELLENCE IN ELEMENTARY TEACHING Margaret Kamping, a Grade 3 & 4 teacher at Dunnville Christian School, takes home a $5,000 prize. She got her students involved in helping to spur the restoration of Hamilton sculptor Elizabeth Bradford Holbrook's work at a local fountain. EXCELLENCE IN SECONDARY TEACHING Anneke Gretton, a math teacher at Chatham Christian School, takes home a $5,000 prize. Her Grade 11 students used their mathematical skills to research poverty in their community and to develop realistic financial plans for a young person living on their own. GROUP EXCELLENCE Kim Furtney and Jeff Weening, who teach history and English respectively at Unity Christian High School in Barrie, ON, split an $8,000 prize. Their students developed a Canadian history exhibit at the Simcoe County Museum. EXCELLENCE IN THE TEACHING OF CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS Gordon Park, an English and drama teacher at Smithville Christian High School, takes home a $5,000 prize. Known for instilling creativity in his students, Gordon runs the school's theatre program, which produced Woody Allen's play "Don't Drink the Water" last month. "I'm thrilled with the caliber of teachers we've seen win the Rozema Awards this year," said Dr. Beth Green. "Clearly their passion for teaching drives them to bring learning to life for their students, creating memories and lessons that will last a lifetime." Michael Van Pelt notes that the Rozema Awards have added a new category this year. "This is the first time we've included an award for a teacher involved in the arts," said Van Pelt. "That's an important step forward because it's an area where the seeds of culture are planted, the results of which we'll see in the lives of their students." The John Rozema Teaching Excellence Awards recognise excellence as an ongoing investment into the life of a Christian school community and a positive public contribution to the common good. The awards are named for and sponsored by Sarnia business leader John Rozema, esteemed for his commitment to both local and global issues, and for his support of institutions such as Sarnia Christian School. The Awards are presented in partnership with the Christian School Foundation. www.cardus.ca/excellence -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613.899.5174 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OTTAWA – For the first time in Canada, cities, towns, and villages are able to estimate how much of a social contribution – or “HALO Effect” – their religious congregations have. What’s the HALO Effect? Put simply, it’s the dollar value of everything that congregations do for their neighbourhoods, including providing space for community events, childcare, suicide and crime prevention, and housing, among a long list of other things. City councillors, researchers, and residents can simply go online to use the HALO Calculator to find out what the HALO Effect is for their community. Looking at just 15 urban centres in Canada, their total HALO Effect is worth almost $20 billion dollars! St. John’s, NFLD: $96.4 million Winnipeg, MB: $1.5 billion Saint John, NB: $151.4 million Regina, SK: $387.4 million Halifax, NS: $334.5 million Saskatoon, SK: $489.2 million Montreal, QC: $2.1 billion Edmonton, AB: $2 billion Ottawa, ON: $1 billion Calgary, AB: $2.2 billion Toronto, ON: $6.7 billion Vancouver, BC: $1.6 billion London, ON: $811 million Victoria, BC: $304.3 million Windsor, ON: $270 million TOTAL: $19.9 billion “Imagine what it would cost for cities to replace the value of what churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other places of worship are providing,” said Milton Friesen, Social Cities Program Director at Cardus. “They could never afford it.” Canadian pioneering work on this began in late 2015 with the HALO Project in Toronto, which examined 10 religious congregations. What researchers found was that every dollar those congregations spent produced a conservatively estimated $4.77 in value to the community. The new HALO Calculator taps into Canada Revenue Agency financial data (vetted by McMaster University’s Public Economics Data Analysis Lab) for every registered charitable congregation or place of worship in about 5,000 different communities across Canada. With that information, and the multiplier effect established through the HALO Project, the HALO Calculator is able to estimate the total HALO Effect in thousands of communities nation-wide. “This is ground-breaking work about just how socially and economically productive places of worship are in Canada,” said Friesen. “My hope is that the HALO Calculator will spark discussion, exploration, and further research, which will in turn prompt even greater awareness of the value of religious congregations in their communities.” -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613-241-4500 x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

INTERNAL DOCUMENTS DETAIL TORONTO’S DAYCARE SURPLUS Freedom of information request uncovers 89% increase in city’s institutional daycare vacancy rate. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 26, 2017 OTTAWA – Internal City of Toronto documents accessed through a Freedom of Information request indicate that the city has a growing daycare surplus. In fact, between 2009 and 2017, average daycare vacancies jumped 89%. Even if we remove the first three months of 2017 from consideration, there is still a 45% increase in the average number of vacant spaces between 2009 and 2016. This means that right now in Toronto, the average vacancy rate of daycare spaces is in excess of 4,600. The City of Toronto recently put forward a plan to create 30,000 more institutional daycare spaces over the next decade. The funding requirements for the new vision could run as high as $2.6 billion, 80 per cent of which city officials expect provincial and the federal taxpayers to cover. To help develop better policy on this issue, Cardus has released a new report outlining Toronto’s institutional daycare surplus and various options to help meet families’ real needs for childcare. Two policy options can most quickly offer help to those with the greatest need: Offer daycare subsidies directly to families in need to help them use already available spaces. Subsidize various forms of care – not just institutional spaces – allowing families to choose the most appropriate type of care for their own needs. “It is clear that the City of Toronto has been unable to meet parents’ needs with its current approach, so expanding a broken system won’t help,” says Mrozek. “There is room to try some different solutions.” -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus – Director of Communications 613.241.4500 x.508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca