Ray Sawatsky
Based in British Columbia, Ray Sawatsky is the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Global Aid Network (GAiN) Canada. Ray has served in a variety of non-profits as a Director of Operations, a Director of Fundraising, and a President, and has volunteered on numerous non-profit boards.
Bio last updated June 17th, 2021.
Articles by Ray Sawatsky
Rethinking Christmas Charity
By Ray Sawatsky
December 1, 2015
Christmas ought to be a time for thoughtful giving, not giving that is easy or benefits the giver.
Another example: over the past couple of decades, a number of international development organizations have popularized filling up a shoe box with various items during the season of Christmas generosity and sending the boxes overseas to impoverished children From the toy to the hygienic items to the school supplies, the local economy is harmed by the influx of shoe boxes following the Christmas campaign We all love a gift, right? But like the fathers who disappeared when the hampers arrived, who in that international environment recoils in fear when the truck with the shoe boxes arrives? Who must bear the consequences in ways that we don't think about because we do not seek to "act justly" before we "love mercy"? These people would be paid a living wage of course (think much less than $10 to ship a shoe box); local markets and economies would experience growth and much-needed product turnover; cultural sensitivities would be managed by people in the culture; and the local community would manage who the recipients would be based on a true assessment of need or other factors local to that environment
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Justin, Listen to Your Father
Ray Sawatsky
November 17, 2015
"There are a lot of bleeding hearts around who just don't like to see people with helmets and guns," Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau said when Canada was terrorized by the FLQ crisis 45 years ago Did those behind this movement not know with whom they were dealing? Or, much worse, did they know...
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Solutions to the education dispute in British Columbia
Ray Sawatsky
September 9, 2014
Maybe something like 7 percent over 5 years or 8 percent over 6 years would get it done? For the future, why not establish an independent salary arbitration body for teachers the way BC Premier Gordon Campbell did a few years ago for MLA salaries? An independent body can weigh all the factors involv...
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What Kind of Teachers Do We Want?
Ray Sawatsky
August 30, 2013
As we heard in the recent discussion here on the Cardus blog about the Loyola high school case, the designers of Quebec's Ethics and Religion Culture (ERC) curriculum suggest that we want teachers who are disinterested or neutral I hope we send our kids (back) to good high school teachers who will e...
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It Matters
Ray Sawatsky
June 21, 2013
From the small jokes that disarm the fear of pretentiousness to the hand written note I received in the mail today, I am reminded that amidst all our grandiose posturing, it is the little human touches that separate ordinary from extraordinary ...
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Reconsidering Limitations on Free Speech in Canada
Ray Sawatsky
May 20, 2013
If we asked any high school social studies or civics class to identify the most important rights in a democratic society, it's a fair bet freedom of speech and freedom of belief would top the list The Whatcott decision raises three essential questions that must become part of the debate on free spee...
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The Challenge to Triviality
Ray Sawatsky
October 5, 2012
And it’s not only cultural stories being bottomed out ...