Before we begin today’s groundbreaking podcast, I want to clear up any misconceptions that readers and listeners might have that my Small Change site is somehow affiliated with Small Change Fund, or that I am employed by them or that they fund my work.
Small Change is based in my 2003 run for Burlington, ON city council when my slogan was, “A little Nicoll [nickle] can make a lot of change.” That slogan was shortened to, “Small Change” and has no connection what so ever to the Small Change Fund.
My Substack site, Small Change, is an independent media site supported by folks who pay a monthly or yearly subscription and that’s how I’m able to provide readers and listeners with honest reporting free of corporate influence.
Now, on to more important issues.
Mike Balkwill, VP Campaigns and Engagement, Small Change Fund Credit: Mike Balkwill
Mike Balkwill, is a community worker with more than forty years’ experience. Mike is Vice President of Campaigns and Engagement with the Small Change Fund. Mike and Rob Fairley co-authored the Toronto and York Region Labour Council’s Campaign Planning Handbook. Mike is also the publisher of Commonact Press.
Sam Demby, manager of communications at Reform Gravel Mining Coalition and community organizer and storyteller Credit: Sam Demby
Sam Demby is a community organizer and storyteller. They manage communications at Reform Gravel Mining Coalition.
Together, Sam and Mike published, A Winning Campaign — a case study featuring the remarkable story of how Get Concerned Stratford (GCS) stopped a glass factory from being built on prime farm land.
Xinyi Glass Holdings Limited, a multinational corporation based in Hong Kong, China, manufactures float glass, automobile glass, and architectural glass. The Xinyi Canada Glass proposal was considered a done deal after Xinyi spent two years crafting the secret deal with Stratford City Council and the Ontario government.
GCS member protesting Xinyi Glass plant Credit: A Winning Campaign
When local media leaked the deal Stratford residents jumped into action creating GCS and mobilizing members and allies who shut down the stealth deal in just over 15 weeks.
GCS’s victory was so complete that the minister’s zoning order (MZO) issued by the Ontario government was rescinded; a planner associated with the project was disciplined by his professional association; and Stratford Council was rebuked by the Integrity Commissioner for its secretive behaviour.
Sign distributed throughout the GCS campaign Credit: Photo supplied by Mike Balkwill
Despite that overwhelming win, GCS is continuing its fight for access to documents city council refuses to make public even after GCS filed freedom of information requests.
It’s safe to say transparency is not the forte of Stratford council. In fact, in February 2022, the Centre for Free Expression (CFE) awarded Stratford council the 2021 Code of Silence Award for "outstanding achievement in government secrecy" for the way council handled the Xinyi Glass plant proposal.
It's rare for grassroots campaigns to accomplish such a complete victory in such a short period of time. For these reasons, Sam and Mike describe this fight as a ‘textbook’ campaign that illustrates several lessons about effective grassroots campaigns. The main take away from GCS’s success is that there is a method to winning campaigns that people in communities everywhere can use.
Celebratory GCS member outside Stratford City Hall Credit: A Winning Campaign
Find out how Stratford residents stopped a $400 million glass plant that would have impacted water consumption, air quality, prime farmland and labour rights. And, how GCS ensured the democratic process was not bypassed by Stratford City Council and the Ford government.
Book cover of A Winning Campaign Credit: Photo supplied by Mike Balkwill
A Winning Campaign is the ultimate template for grass roots organizations to use to stop business deals that are harmful for the environment, have unjust labour practices and side-step democracy.
A Winning Campaign is available for purchase at smallchangefund.ca or from commonact.com where printed copies copies cost $25 and ebooks are available for $15.
Be sure to check out other available publications and ebooks at commonact.com.
Thanks to everyone who read today’s article and listened to my podcast. With your continued support, a little Nicoll can make a lot of change.
Music: Real Estate by UNIVERSFIELD is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. freemusicarchive.org.
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