Upcoming courses and events

September 26, 2026

Toronto, ON

All are invited to participate in Solidarity is Strength, an organizing event reflecting on a defining chapter of Ontario’s history and what lessons we can carry forward to fight today’s austerity agenda. The event will include a conversation with Paul Kellogg, author of Austerity and Resistance: the Ontario Days of Action, 1995-1998, as well other labour leaders, rank and file education workers, and prominent activists.

A big fight is brewing over public education thanks to dedicated workers who’ve been reviving deep organizing methods. Education Workers’ see that their power and leverage is as a province-wide, strategically situated and coordinated group providing a highly valued public service. 

Broad solidarity from across sectors, unions, and locals, can make this fight unstoppable. In the process of defending our public schools and kids’ futures—a foundational issue for the entire working class— we also build a crucial wedge and the blueprint for a very different Ontario.

We need a majority coalition the likes of which we haven’t seen since labour and social movements jointly organized general strikes and massive actions across the province during the Days of Action of the 1990’s. This organizing event will provide attendees with concrete skills needed to make the most of this opportunity before us, one which could alter the course of our province for years to come.

EVENT DETAILS

When: Saturday September 26
Time: 10am-4pm, check-in at 9:30am.
Where: College Street United Church, 454 College Street, Toronto ON.
How: Please preregister online
Who: All those who want to support education workers and build a better Ontario! 

EVENT SCHEDULE

9:30am-10:00am – Check-in

10:00am-11:15am – Opening panel: 
The Ontario Days of Action and Building the Fight Against Ford Today

11:30am-12:15pm – Session 1:
A. Organizing Lessons from the Days of Action
B. Parents and Education Workers in Solidarity
C. Organizing to Win in School Board Fights
D. Connecting Labour and Community Struggles 

12:15pm-1:00pm – Lunch 

1:00pm-1:45pm – Session 2:
Organizing Toolkit to Defend Public Education

2:00pm-3:00pm – Closing Panel 
Building Solidarity Across Unions and Sectors


Lunch and on-site childcare to be provided. 

This event is being organized in solidarity with public education workers by an ad-hoc team of rank and file workers, local union leaders, and left organizers, in collaboration with the Socialist Project.

August 22, 2026

Toronto

Having problems at work and are not sure what to do? Do you work at a College Or University and want to get connected to union struggles? Do you want to build worker power both in union and non-union parts of the higher education sector? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the How to Organize Your Workplace course is for you!

This edition of the workshop catered especially for people working at colleges and universities. All workers in the higher education sector are welcome, including academic, non-academic, admin,  custodial, maintenance, campus housing, and student workers! Those who have worked in higher education in the past or are likely to again in the near future, including students, are also welcome!

Over two days participants will learn what it takes to go from zero organization at work to a functioning committee of coworkers that can take on the boss and win! Together we will learn and practice the ideas, methods, and skills necessary to build power at work. The course will also feature a general discussion of unions: strengths and weaknesses, potentials and limits, and why organizing at work should be a top priority for those who want a better world.

When: August 22-23 (morning until late afternoon)
Breakfast and lunch to be provided.
Where: Toronto, ON (Downtown – venue TBA)
How much: Free/by donation
Who: Anyone who works in higher education and wants to organize at work!

Registration deadline: August 8. We kindly ask that all participants register individually for this training. Coworkers and friends are welcome, please just let us know!

Please note that we are currently asking potential participants to register their interest. Space for this pilot version of the course will be limited and selections may be made to ensure a diversity of backgrounds and experience.

If you have questions or you’re unsure if this course is right for you, we’d be happy to answer any questions via info@leopanitchschool.ca
Not a higher education worker? We’d invite you to sign up for the general version of the course taking place August 15-16!

September 20, 2026

Toronto, ON + Online

An important note from the organizers: As this is a pilot version of the course, online participation may be limited in order to ensure a manageable class size for our instructors. In person participation is highly recommended for those in the Greater Toronto Area. 

Frustrated with capitalism and its impacts on human beings and the planet? Do you believe that a more equitable, democratic, and liberatory society is possible?

Waking up from the capitalist nightmare requires a clear understanding of what we are up against: how we understand capitalism, how it works, and how it compels us to act in certain ways – these all shape what kinds of strategies will be needed to move beyond it.

This course will approach these questions and others through An Introduction to the Three Volumes of Karl Marx’s Capital by Michael Heinrich, one of most approachable and understandable guides through Marx’s masterwork. Capital remains the most important work of critical analysis of capitalism in history, through its exploration of the economic principles that govern capitalism, and the problems faced by workers and society.

Why not just read Capital directly? Capital is infamously long and difficult! Many aspiring socialist activists over the years have plunged in head first, only to find the language daunting and the ideas hard to grasp. Heinrich’s book gives a compact, concise, and clear presentation of the main points, providing a solid understanding of how capitalism functions.

We will discuss the most common questions raised by Heinrich’s book (and Marx’s three volumes of Capital), as well the political and practical relevance of the material today. Understanding capitalism isn’t just an intellectual exercise, it’s a key part of how we begin to build a better world!

When – Sunday September 20, weekly until November 8. All classes 2-5pm
Where – Toronto ON + Online
How – Advance registration required
Cost – Free/recommended donation: $40

All are welcome to this introductory 7-week course. Whether you’re just dipping your toes into socialist politics and full of questions, or an experienced activist wanting to revisit your understanding of capitalism, we’d love for you to join us!
Participants will be asked to read along as we work our way through a 220 page book over seven weeks. A free PDF or at-cost physical copy of the book will be made available. 

The course will be taking place both in-person in Toronto, and online via Zoom, upon request. Please note that space for this course is limited and selections may be made to ensure a participant group with a variety of experiences.

Accessibility
The venue for this event is wheelchair accessible and features multiple gender neutral washrooms. We ask that participants refrain from wearing perfume or other scented products. Please contact us with any accessibility concerns.

August 28, 2026

Toronto, ON

The Leo Panitch School for Socialist Education is very pleased to present Memories Of Underdevelopment (1968) as the second film in the new FilmSocial series on Cuba. It is more important than ever to keep attention on Cuba and the crisis it is going through from US aggression.

Memories Of Underdevelopment was directed by the prolific Cuba director Tomás Gutiérrez Alea. It is Gutiérrez Alea’s most famous work and arguably Cuba’s most acclaimed film. It was elected one of the best film’s of all time in the Sight & Sound 2012 poll. It follows Sergio, a relatively wealthy writer, who decides to stay in Cuba after the revolution while his wife and many of his friends choose to leave for Miami. Sergio looks back over the changes in Cuba and the effect of living in what he calls an underdeveloped country.

Gutiérrez Alea’s work is representative of the greater New Latin American Cinema movement occuring in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Memories Of Underdevelopment is specifically an example of “Imperfect Cinema” which rejected the “perfect” style of Hollywood movies and the “art cinema” of European movies. Imperfect cinema rejects elitism and focuses on the process over the product. The movement’s main goal was to make films where the viewer becomes an active participant.

Memories Of Underdevelopment is a complex character study which is concerned with things like neocolonialism, cultural identity, and revolution. Viewers are presented with a snapshot of problems within Cuban society with the hopes of urging viewers to become actors of social change.

Accessibility
College Street United Church is located at College and Bathurst in Toronto. The building is wheelchair accessible and features multiple accessible, gender neutral washrooms. We kindly ask all attendees to refrain from wearing scented products at Leo Panitch School events. 
Any questions or requests regarding accessibility, participation, or programming can be directed to  info@leopanitchschool.ca. 


Poster design: Ben Davis

September 25, 2026

Toronto, ON

The Leo Panitch School is proud to present Che: Part One as the next entry in the special FilmSocial series showcasing films on Cuba. 

Film description and more details to come. For now, make sure to save your spot and stay tuned! 


Accessibility

College Street United Church is located at College and Bathurst in Toronto. The building is wheelchair accessible and features multiple accessible, gender neutral washrooms. We kindly ask all attendees to refrain from wearing scented products at Leo Panitch School events. 
Any questions or requests regarding accessibility, participation, or programming can be directed to  info@leopanitchschool.ca. 

Poster design: Ben Davis

November 12, 2026

Toronto, ON

Unions and social movements today are operating under incredibly dire circumstances. There is great economic uncertainty and we confront the worsening impact of climate change as well as 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 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.

When – Thursday November 12, weekly until December. All classes 6-8pm
Where -Downtown Toronto – Venue shared with registrants
How – Advance registration required
Cost – Free/recommended donation $20

This edition of the course has been condensed from its original 12 session form, into a new 4-week condensed course. Previous Fighting to Win students are welcome to take part, though space is limited and selections may be made to ensure a group with a variety of experiences is present.

Accessibility 
The venue for this event is wheelchair accessible via an elevator that is available upon request. It features multiple gender neutral washrooms. We ask that participants refrain from wearing perfume or other scented products. Please contact us with any accessibility concerns.

September 27, 2026

Burnaby, BC

Curious about socialism? Interested about if it is really possible and taking a sober look at the problems it will face? Want to discuss how to begin affecting change right now? 

In these uncertain and dangerous times, The Leo Panitch School for Socialist Education is a space to listen, discuss and challenge the contemporary relevancy of socialism.  

The School’s flagship course, Introduction to Socialism, is designed for both those experienced activists always looking to learn more, and those newer to socialist ideas and full of questions. It will not only provide a unique venue for collectively tackling important topics, but also a welcoming space where any question relevant to socialist organizing, no matter how basic or advanced, can be raised and discussed.

Instead of providing exact definitions and historical readings, the course will focus on understanding the structures of capitalism in order to challenge it and begin building a better world. We will rely on the ideas and lived experience of participants to enhance the presentations, examples, and collective discussions that make up each session.

Over 8 weeks we’ll explore topics such as what and who is the working class, what makes socialism different, how we can overcome political barriers, how socialists can approach elections and winning reforms in the existing state, what role trade unions and political parties have played for working class struggles, and much more! 

When: Sunday September 27, weekly until November 22. All classes 2:30-5pm (skipping Thanksgiving weekend)
Where: Jubilee United Church – 6000 Sussex Ave, Burnaby, BC V5H 3C2
Who: Anyone and everyone curious about socialism!

The Leo Panitch School has been running this and a number of other political education courses across Canada and online, as well as in our home base of Toronto since 2023. Now we’re very pleased to be hosting the course for a second time in the Greater Vancouver Area!

Please note that space for this course is limited. Therefore, individual participation will be confirmed after registration in order to ensure a variety of experience levels are present for the course. 

Feel free to reach us with any questions at info@leopanitchschool.ca.