Upcoming courses and events

July 17, 2026

Toronto, ON

The Leo Panitch School is proud to present the launch of Out of the Impasse? Debating Class Politics and Canadian Unions. It represents the latest in the long running series of pamphlets published by the Socialist Project. It features four pieces of striking analysis, all drawing from Rosenfeld’s decades of experience as an autoworker, educator, and socialist activist. 

“These interventions remind us that worker power depends not only on shop-floor solidarity, but on building a capacity for independent collective political action by unions and workers…” 

All are invited to join as we celebrate this new entry into the debates on  Canadian socialism and working class politics! 
 
When – Friday July 17- doors open: 6:30pm, talk starts 7pm, social to follow
Where – College Street United Church – 502 Bathurst Street, Toronto ON
How – Advance registration required. Free – donations accepted with gratitude.

Those in attendance are warmly invited to gather afterwards to socialize and celebrate Herman’s contribution to the socialist movement. Complementary refreshments will be on offer. Beverages, merch, and literature will be available with all proceeds going to the LPSSE’s educational programming!


About the author

Herman Rosenfeld is a Toronto-based socialist activist, educator, organizer, and writer. He is originally from Newark, New Jersey, and came to Canada in 1972. He is a retired national staff person with the Canadian Auto Workers (now Unifor) and worked in their Education Department. Before, he worked for 15 years in a General Motors Assembly Plant in Scarborough, on the assembly line and as an elected union committeeperson. 

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. 

August 10, 2026

Toronto, ON + Online

What is going on in El Salvador and how does this matter to Canada? 

In March 2022 the Nayib Bukele administration in El Salvador invoked an emergency measure called a “state of exception” in reaction to a spike in gang violence.

Under the pretext of protecting public order, this measure suspends freedoms of assembly, association, and expression, as well as fundamental rights surrounding arrest and detention. These include the right of habeas corpus, the right to be informed of the reasons for detention, access to legal assistance, and numerous guarantees of due process.

Though the Constitution allows for such exceptional measures on a temporary basis, the state of exception has been renewed continuously on a monthly basis, making it a permanent security policy. It is also wielded as a tool of repression against environmental defenders, human rights workers, lawyers, journalists, political opposition members, and others.

Over 91,000 people have been imprisoned under the emergency regime, making El Salvador’s incarceration rate the highest in the world at 2% of the population.

There has been a dramatic drop in gang-perpetrated murders, but at the cost of a human rights catastrophe. National and international organizations have documented dismaying patterns such as arrests for alleged gang membership with no evidence, often in poor communities, persecution and arrest of courageous defenders of human rights, environment, and democracy, severe mistreatment in detention amounting to torture, and preposterous and cruel collective trials of hundreds at a time on gang-related charges. According to the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) there have been 483 deaths in custody. 

Join us on August 10, Prisoners’ Justice Day, for a panel discussion and educational Q&A session on who is being affected by unjust imprisonment in El Salvador, and Canada’s stake in the erosion of democracy and human rights in El Salvador.

When – August 10 – doors open: 6:30pm, event starts 7pm
Where – College Street United Church – 502 Bathurst Street, Toronto ON | + Online
How – Advance registration required – Free

This event will be taking place in person in Toronto and online. Please register for further details and online meeting link.  

This informational event is being co-organized by the Leo Panitch School and the Committee in Solidarity with the Victims of the State of Exception in El Salvador. 

Event endorsements:
Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC) at York University. 
Comité pour les droits humains en Amérique latine (CDHAL)

Our featured speakers

 Samuel Ramirez, activist with the The Movement of Victims of the Regime (MOVIR)

Ingrid Escobar, human rights defender, and Director of Socorro Juridico Humanitario (Humanitarian Legal Aid)

Those in attendance are warmly invited to gather afterwards to continue this important conversation. Complimentary refreshments will be on offer. 

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.

August 15, 2026

Toronto

Having problems at work and are not sure what to do? Have you heard about unions and want to know how to get started? Do you lack the confidence to talk to your coworkers about forming a union? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the How to Organize Your Workplace course is for you!

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 15-16 (morning until late afternoon)
Breakfast and lunch to be provided.
Where: Toronto, ON (Downtown – venue TBA)
How much: Free/by donation 
Who: Anyone curious about how 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
Do you work at a College or University? We’d invite you to sign up for a special higher education edition of the course taking place August 22-23! 

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!

July 31, 2026

Toronto, ON

The Leo Panitch School for Socialist Education is very pleased to present I Am Cuba (1964) as the first entry in the FilmSocial series showcasing films on Cuba. It is more important than ever to keep attention on Cuba and the suffering experienced by the Cuban people  due to U.S. aggression. 

I Am Cuba was the first co-production between the Soviet Union and Cuba led by regular collaborators Mikhail Kalatozov (director) and Sergey Urusevsky (cinematographer) who had previously won the Palme d’Or in 1958 for their film The Cranes Are Flying. The film follows four distinct stories about the Cuban population that chronicles Cuba’s ascent from colonialist degradation and the totalitarian rule of Batista’s regime to a revolution that spreads across the country.

The film was not well received by either Cuban or Soviet audiences when it originally premiered in 1964 and. The film was pulled quickly from theatres and largely forgotten until it was re-discovered and rescued by American filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola 30 years later. Since then it has gotten a new appreciation, especially for its dazzling images.

While initially panned, I Am Cuba has since been much more appreciated. Not only for its incredible visuals but for the film’s optimism, its belief in Cuba, and the desire to spread the revolution. 

The film will be presented in Spanish with English subtitles.

Leo Panitch School events are always presented free-of-charge. This is only made possible through contributions from our participants and supporters. We encourage those who are able to consider becoming a monthly donor via leopanitchschool.ca/donate. 

Accessibility Information

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

August 28, 2026

Toronto, ON

The Leo Panitch School is proud to present Memories of Underdevelopment 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