Upcoming courses and events

October 29, 2025

Toronto, ON

A Ten Week Course for Union and Community Activists Facilitated by John Clarke, Former Organizer with the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP).

Unions and social movements today are operating in a very challenging situation. There is great economic uncertainty, the worsening impact of climate change and a global situation marked by the growing threat of conflict and war. When workers strike or communities under attack take to the streets, it seems that victories are much much harder to win and past gains more difficult to defend.

This course will grapple with these questions by looking at the forms of exploitation and oppression that exist in society and the means by which the power structure acts to limit and contain our struggles. The course will move towards a discussion of how our movements can overcome the factors that hold them back and to fight to win!

This is not a ‘how to organize’ course, as important as these are. It is intended for activists who realize that the methods of struggle that were developed at an earlier time need to give way to more powerful and effective forms of social resistance.
Instead of lengthy lectures, each session will involve in-depth and participatory group discussions of the issues under consideration. The knowledge and lived experiences of those participating will be a vital part of the course. This will be true both for longtime organizers and for those just now dipping their toes in the world of activism

All are welcome to apply to participate! If the applications reach capacity, participants will be selected to ensure a diversity of backgrounds and activist experience. There will be some optional readings and other sources but this is not an academic course and as such readings will not be mandatory.

When: Mondays 6pm-8pm beginning September 8 (See course outline for full schedule)
Where: Bloor-Yonge area of Toronto – Location to be shared upon registration

This course is being offered primarily as an in-person course. Participation options for those who may have to miss sessions of the course will be made available. The venue for the course has a scent-free policy and is wheelchair accessible.
To allow for broader participation, the course is being offered free of charge for all participants. However, donations from those with the means will be gratefully accepted. Contributions can be made by getting in touch with us or visiting
leopanitchschool.ca/donate .

Fighting to Win is presented by the Leo Panitch School for Socialist Education. Operating since 2023, the school strives to provide radical, accessible, and practical educational programming for those seeking to better understand and address the crisis of our current times.

October 29, 2025

Eyesore Cinema, Toronto

The Leo Panitch School for Socialist Education is excited to present Wall Street (1987) as the final installment in our special series of film screenings on the topic of money. 

“Greed, for lack of a better word, is Good” 

On the Wall Street of the 1980s, Bud Fox is a stockbroker full of ambition, doing whatever he can to make his way to the top. Admiring the power of unsparing corporate raider Gordon Gekko, Fox entices Gekko into mentoring him by providing insider trading. As Fox becomes embroiled in greed and underhanded schemes, his decisions eventually threaten the livelihood of his scrupulous father. Faced with this dilemma, Fox questions his loyalties. 

Directed and co-written by Oliver Stone, Wall Street is a classic portrayal of capitalist excess, power, and the desire for wealth above all else. A radical viewing of the film provides not just a critique of stocktraders who take their ruthlessness too far, but an indictment of the system that allows – and rewards – their greed in the first place. 

The film will be presented in English with subtitles. 

FilmSocial screenings are always presented free-of-charge. This is only made possible through contributions from our participants and supporters. We are grateful for any cash donations made at the event. Likewise, we encourage those who are able to consider becoming a monthly donor via leopanitchschool.ca/donate. 

Accessibility Information
Eyesore Cinema’s screening room is on the main floor of a storefront. While there is stair-free access, the floor is uneven and may not be suitable for mobility devices. Washrooms are located in the basement of the store and are not wheelchair accessible.

Please do not hesitate to contact us at info@leopanitchschool.ca with any questions or concerns regarding accessibility at this event.

October 25, 2025

Solidarity Place, Hamilton ON

The Leo Panitch School for Socialist Education is honoured to welcome longtime organizer Jonathan Rosenblum to Hamilton for the launch of his brand new book We’re Coming for You and Your Rotten System!

From inside Kshama Sawant’s historic tenure in Seattle City Hall comes a blueprint for twenty-first-century socialists, a counterpoint to the common strategies of mainstream progressives today.

Seattle was the first major city in the US to mandate a $15 minimum wage; the first to implement a payroll tax on Amazon to build affordable housing; the first to secure a bevy of renters’ rights laws, making good on the slogan, “Housing is a human right.” In a municipal government dominated by pro-business Democrats, Kshama Sawant and the popular street movements she led against major corporations headquartered in the region – including Amazon, Boeing, Microsoft, and Starbucks – won battles that would transform the city’s trajectory for years to come.

We’re Coming for You and Your Rotten System tells this extraordinary story from the inside. Jonathan Rosenblum, who worked in Sawant’s office and alongside community activists, weaves together intimate story-telling and political analysis to show how and why the movement succeeded where other progressive outsiders – such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – have failed. For political activists searching desperately to make sense of the world after the reelection of Donald Trump, the Seattle experience offers a vital framework for fighting our way out of the despairing miasma of twenty-first-century capitalism.

All are welcome to join us to hear directly from Jonathan about these experiences, as well as discuss how to apply the lessons from Seattle to our own cities and neighbourhoods!  

This event is a part of an ongoing tour to celebrate the release of the book. Please stay tuned for details regarding launch events in other parts of Ontario, as well as online events. 

Jonathan Rosenblum is a Seattle-based union and community organizer, and the author of Beyond $15: Immigrant Workers, Faith Activists, and the Revival of the Labor Movement (Beacon Press, 2017). He worked as a community organizer for Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant. More about him and his work can be found at jonathanrosenblum.org.

Copies of the book will be available for sale at a discounted price.


Accessibility
Friends House is accessible to wheelchairs via the automatic door at the Meeting Room entrance at the west side of the house. We kindly ask attendees to refrain from wearing scents to LPSSE events. Further accessibility information can be found here.
Any questions regarding accessibility, participation, or programming can be directed to info@leopanitchschool.ca. 

October 25, 2025

Friends House, Toronto ON

The Leo Panitch School for Socialist Education is honoured to welcome longtime organizer Jonathan Rosenblum back to Toronto for the launch of his brand new book We’re Coming for You and Your Rotten System!

From inside Kshama Sawant’s historic tenure in Seattle City Hall comes a blueprint for twenty-first-century socialists, a counterpoint to the common strategies of mainstream progressives today.

Seattle was the first major city in the US to mandate a $15 minimum wage; the first to implement a payroll tax on Amazon to build affordable housing; the first to secure a bevy of renters’ rights laws, making good on the slogan, “Housing is a human right.” In a municipal government dominated by pro-business Democrats, Kshama Sawant and the popular street movements she led against major corporations headquartered in the region – including Amazon, Boeing, Microsoft, and Starbucks – won battles that would transform the city’s trajectory for years to come.

We’re Coming for You and Your Rotten System tells this extraordinary story from the inside. Jonathan Rosenblum, who worked in Sawant’s office and alongside community activists, weaves together intimate story-telling and political analysis to show how and why the movement succeeded where other progressive outsiders – such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – have failed. For political activists searching desperately to make sense of the world after the reelection of Donald Trump, the Seattle experience offers a vital framework for fighting our way out of the despairing miasma of twenty-first-century capitalism.

All are welcome to join us to hear directly from Jonathan about these experiences, as well as discuss how to apply the lessons from Seattle to our own cities and neighbourhoods!  

This event is a part of an ongoing tour to celebrate the release of the book. Please stay tuned for details regarding launch events in other parts of Ontario, as well as online events. 

Jonathan Rosenblum is a Seattle-based union and community organizer, and the author of Beyond $15: Immigrant Workers, Faith Activists, and the Revival of the Labor Movement (Beacon Press, 2017). He worked as a community organizer for Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant. More about him and his work can be found at jonathanrosenblum.org.

All are welcome to stay following the end of the evening’s discussion for complimentary light refreshments. Copies of the book will be available for sale at a discounted price. A cash bar will also be operating throughout the evening with all proceeds supporting local Socialist Education programs. 


Accessibility
Friends House is accessible to wheelchairs via the automatic door at the Meeting Room entrance at the west side of the house. We kindly ask attendees to refrain from wearing scents to LPSSE events. Further accessibility information can be found here.
Any questions regarding accessibility, participation, or programming can be directed to info@leopanitchschool.ca. 

October 19, 2025

College Street United Church, Toronto ON

The Leo Panitch School warmly invites you to our very first annual fundraising party. Gather together with us as we celebrate three years of providing community based socialist education!

All are welcome at this family friendly event featuring live music, delicious food, raffles, prizes, activities for the kids, and much more! Make sure to bring along cash as there will also be beverages, merchandise, and plenty of books on offer. All proceeds of the afternoon will go directly to providing working class educational opportunities here in Toronto and beyond. 

While talks, courses, book launches, and workshops are all great, we need to remember that any organized movement has to be based on building common connections among each other. Let’s put the social back in socialism! 

When: Sunday October 19 4pm-7pm. Drop in for a quick chat or stay the whole time! 
Location: College Street United Church, 502 Bathurst St, Toronto. 
Tickets: PWYC $0-30. No one turned away for lack of funds. 

The Leo Panitch School for Socialist Education was launched almost three years ago with the goal of building a vehicle to provide radical and accessible political education programs to as many people as possible. In those three years we’ve seen enormous shifts in the political landscape, with the need for a confident, fighting, and organized socialist left more apparent than ever. We see making space for important discussions on the left and creating critical educational courses available to working class people as a vital element of building a movement towards a different world. 

The support of our many volunteers and financial contributors is what makes each of our programs possible. We are 100% backed by individual supporters and receive no outside funding from academic institutions or granting organizations. We invite you to consider becoming a regular supporter of the school via our website if you have the means to do so. We’ll also have volunteers on hand at the party who can answer any questions you may have about supporting our work or getting involved. 

Accessibility
College Street United Church is wheelchair accessible via the Bathurst Street entrance. Accessible and gender neutral washrooms are available. We kindly ask all attendees to refrain from wearing perfume, cologne, or other scented products at LPSSE events. 
Any questions regarding accessibility, participation, or programming can be directed to info@leopanitchschool.ca.

October 27, 2025

Octopus Books, Ottawa

The Leo Panitch School for Socialist Education is honoured to welcome longtime organizer Jonathan Rosenblum to Ottawa for the launch of his brand new book We’re Coming for You and Your Rotten System!

From inside Kshama Sawant’s historic tenure in Seattle City Hall comes a blueprint for twenty-first-century socialists, a counterpoint to the common strategies of mainstream progressives today.

Seattle was the first major city in the US to mandate a $15 minimum wage; the first to implement a payroll tax on Amazon to build affordable housing; the first to secure a bevy of renters’ rights laws, making good on the slogan, “Housing is a human right.” In a municipal government dominated by pro-business Democrats, Kshama Sawant and the popular street movements she led against major corporations headquartered in the region – including Amazon, Boeing, Microsoft, and Starbucks – won battles that would transform the city’s trajectory for years to come.

We’re Coming for You and Your Rotten System tells this extraordinary story from the inside. Jonathan Rosenblum, who worked in Sawant’s office and alongside community activists, weaves together intimate story-telling and political analysis to show how and why the movement succeeded where other progressive outsiders – such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – have failed. For political activists searching desperately to make sense of the world after the reelection of Donald Trump, the Seattle experience offers a vital framework for fighting our way out of the despairing miasma of twenty-first-century capitalism.
All are welcome to join us to hear directly from Jonathan about these experiences, as well as discuss how to apply the lessons from Seattle to our own cities and neighbourhoods! 

Jonathan Rosenblum is a Seattle-based union and community organizer, and the author of Beyond $15: Immigrant Workers, Faith Activists, and the Revival of the Labor Movement (Beacon Press, 2017). He worked as a community organizer for Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant. More about him and his work can be found at jonathanrosenblum.org.

All are welcome to stay following the end of the evening’s discussion for complimentary light refreshments. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.


Accessibility
We kindly ask attendees to refrain from wearing scents to LPSSE events. Any questions regarding accessibility, participation, or programming can be directed to info@leopanitchschool.ca. 

November 12, 2025

Online – Zoom

The Leo Panitch School for Socialist Education is proud to host Lia Pinheiro Barbosa and Peter Rosset for the online launch of their new book Lessons from the Zapatistas: From Armed Insurgency to People’s Autonomy.

Lessons from the Zapatistas is essential reading for anyone interested in liberation, democracy and radical social transformation. It tells the story of the Zapatista insurgency, including the contemporary breadth and depth of their territorial autonomy, tracing how an Indigenous uprising burst forth from southern Mexico’s Lacandon Jungle to stage the 21st century’s first and most electrifying example of autonomy in action.

The authors trace the movement from its clandestine origins to the 1994 uprising and failed negotiations with the Mexican government, through the development of their unique form of grassroots autonomy and self-government — all the while fending off the violence of the state. The book offers an original analysis of Zapatista political theory, attending to the prominent role of women, their practice of social autonomy and experiments in education, self-government and alternative economic development.
All are welcome to join us for this special online book launch as we hear from the authors and discuss the relevance of the Zapatista struggle in Mexico, North America, and beyond.


Lessons from the Zapatistas are available now from our friends at Fernwood Publishing. Fernwood has been generous enough to offer a discount code to all those who attend the launch. 


When – 12 November 7:00PM EST (Toronto) // 13 November 1:00AM CEST (Paris) // 13 November 7:00AM ICT (Bangkok)
Where – Online via Zoom
How – Register for free via TicketTailor to receive the Zoom link


Featuring the authors:

Lia Pinheiro Barbosa is an activist and professor of sociology at the State University of Ceará (UECE) based in Fortaleza, Brazil. She has written extensively on the Zapatistas in Mexico and the MST (Landless Workers Movement) in Brazil, including her book Educación, resistencia y movimientos sociales: la praxis educativo-política de los Sin Tierra y de los Zapatistas (Education, Resistance, and Social Movements: The Educational-Political Praxis of the MST and the Zapatistas) published in 2015 by the UNAM Press in Mexico.

Peter M. Rosset is an academic, author and activist. He is a university professor at the Ecosur Advanced Studies Institute in Mexico, as well as at universities in Brazil and Thailand, and the author of more than 10 books and more than 100 academic papers. He is a former secretariat staff member of the global peasant movement, La Via Campesina.


Accessibility
This event is being hosted exclusively on Zoom. Prior registration is required. This event will be presented primarily in English. Automated closed captions in multiple languages will be enabled for this event for those who wish to use them.
Any questions regarding accessibility, participation, or programming can be directed to info@leopanitchschool.ca.