History

Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice (CUSJ) began to form in 1996 when about 70 members of five Unitarian Universalist Congregations and Fellowships of Greater Toronto met to discuss their concern with government cuts to social services, and in a separate movement at the same time on the West Coast.  It was birthed at the annual meeting in Halifax in 1998.

The founding group, of about 35 members in Toronto, felt that more must be done by Unitarians within their churches and the greater community to protect the social programs that define Canada as a civilized and compassionate nation. From its modest beginning, the CUSJ grew into a national organization with membership coast to coast. At its peak,  membership numbered approximately 350 (in 306 households) representing 44 Congregations and Fellowships.

Unitarians have a proud history of being in the forefront of the struggle for social change and justice. CUSJ follows in the footsteps of our forebears by keeping their spirit very much alive.

The Following Story of our History was begun by Norm McLeod of Toronto and edited and embellished by Christine Johnston of Victoria and Frances Deverell of Nanaimo.

History of CUSJ up to about 2005
(click to download pdf and look in your download folder on your computer)

 

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