The modern misunderstanding of human dignity devalues the inherent and equal worth of all people.         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        October 28, 2019 OTTAWA, ON – Canada needs to regain a full and robust understanding of human dignity as something that is inherent to a person’s being, cannot be taken away, and does not depend on external factors such as intellectual or physical abilities. Who are You? Reaffirming Human Dignity, a new report by the Cardus Religious Freedom Institute (CRFI), finds this understanding of human dignity has been lost in a culture focused on individual autonomy. “The dignity as autonomy position makes personal choice the highest good at the expense of other goods. In this view, nothing is inherently good. Things are only good if an individual chooses them,” write co-authors Rev. Dr. Andrew Bennett, the director of the CRFI, and Aaron Neil, a Cardus researcher, in their report. “Freedom is not simply the ability to choose. It is the ability to choose rightly.” The paper also points out a potential danger: As Canadian society moves further away from a proper understanding of human dignity, increasing violations of that dignity will take place. This will lead to an impoverished public square and diminish the fundamental freedoms that flow from human dignity, such as freedom of religion and conscience. Rev. Dr. Bennett says faith leaders need to grapple with the issue of human dignity within their congregations. “Canadians of faith are not immune to current cultural trends, including the modern misunderstanding of human dignity,” says Rev. Dr. Bennett. “That’s why it’s so important to reinforce – and in some cases re-learn – what human dignity is from a basic, theological perspective.” Who are You? Reaffirming Human Dignity comes following a CRFI symposium in Ottawa on September 26, 2019 to address questions about what human dignity is, where it comes from, and how it is put into practice. Participants included: Dr. Moira McQueen from the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute Prof. Douglas Farrow from the School of Religious Studies at McGill University Prof. Faisal Bhabha from Osgoode Law School at York University Prof. Victor Muniz-Fraticelli from the Faculty of Law at McGill University Dr. Lucas Vivas from the Canadian Federation of Catholic Physicians and Societies Leslie Rosenblood from the Canadian Secular Alliance Who are You? Reaffirming Human Dignity is freely available online. -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus – Director of Communications 613-241-4500 x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

Think tank releases new report on the contribution private schools make to the public good       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE          October 9, 2019 WASHINGTON D.C. – America is ripe for a more inclusive definition of public education, a new report from public policy think tank Cardus finds. Based on a decade’s worth of research, Rethinking Public Education: Including All Schools that Contribute to the Public Good, argues that private schools contribute to public education in tangible and measurable ways. “All education is public education when it contributes to the public good,” says Ray Pennings, Executive Vice President of Cardus and report co-author. “A modern, inclusive, and pluralistic public education system would take those contributions into account and include all types of school – public and private.” Rethinking Public Education: Including All Schools that Contribute to the Public Good is based on the Cardus Education Survey (CES) – one of the most significant measures of private school outcomes as compared against public school outcomes. Pennings presented the findings in Washington D.C. during an October 8 panel discussion moderated by Anne Snyder, editor-in-chief of Comment Magazine. The key findings of the latest CES include: Evangelical Protestant schools in the United States tend to produce graduates who are at least as civically engaged as their public school counterparts and are generous in charitable giving. Catholic school graduates are more likely than your average American public schooler to have a greater proportion of friends of a different race and ethnicity. Non-religious private school graduates are more likely than public schoolers to donate to charity and to volunteer in health care, arts and culture, and political and international causes. “Sixteen percent of American education is delivered through schools that are Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, charter, non-religious, and homeschools,” says Pennings. “Some of the most progressive countries in the world, like Finland and the Netherlands, provide some level of public funding for such private schools. America should open up to a new way of thinking about education and school funding.” Marisa Cassagrande, a Cardus researcher, and Dr. David Sikkink, associate professor of sociology at the University of Notre Dame, co-authored Rethinking Public Education: Including All Schools that Contribute to the Public Good with Pennings. -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus – Director of Communications 613-241-4500 x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

Grandson of Chedoke’s last private owner urges Hamilton to reach lease agreement with Cardus       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      September 25, 2019 HAMILTON, ON – Cardus’s proposal to restore and re-open Chedoke has received a new vote of confidence. David Balfour, grandson of Ethel Southam Balfour and St. Clair Balfour who lived in the house through the first half of the 20th century, says he’s “delighted” by the Cardus restoration proposal. “Cardus has created the type of plan all of us who’ve lived in or visited Chedoke have longed to see,” said Mr. Balfour. “I urge the city to move quickly on reaching an agreement with Cardus. They have a vision for restoring this beautiful home to its former glory so that this piece of Hamilton history is not lost.” Mr. Balfour’s endorsement comes a week after Hamilton city councillors voted overwhelmingly to direct city staff to negotiate a lease agreement with Cardus for Chedoke. Cardus has offered to restore and re-open the historic property at no cost to the city while using the restored building for office and retreat space. Cardus has also committed to facilitating public access to the property in keeping with the low traffic and low impact requirements of the surrounding neighbourhood.  “I deeply appreciate Mr. Balfour’s support for Cardus and our proposal to restore the home that’s so important to his family,” said Michael Van Pelt, President and CEO of Cardus. “Our proposal to help bring Hamilton’s history to life again is bringing people and communities together. It’s a concrete way to say that everyone has a place – and a space – in a city as diverse and beautiful as Hamilton.” Cardus has offered to take the full financial burden off the shoulders of taxpayers and the City of Hamilton by restoring and occupying the unused and deteriorating Chedoke. The property is currently owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust, while the city manages it. The goal of the project would be to ensure a beautifully restored and meticulously maintained property for the Ontario Heritage Trust in 2039. For more details, visit OpenBalfour. -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus – Director of Communications 613-241-4500 x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

Respected Hamilton-area employer offers to financially back Cardus’s heritage restoration plan         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       September 19, 2019 HAMILTON, ON – On the heels of Hamilton City Council’s decision to accept Cardus’s OpenBalfour proposal, a respected local employer has agreed to help finance the work of restoring and re-opening Balfour House. Almex Group, based in Stoney Creek, says it is joining other philanthropic partners in the OpenBalfour plan. “Hamilton City Council sees the benefit of the Cardus plan for Balfour House and so do we,” said Tim Shaw, CEO of Almex. “We’re proud to be able to contribute to the preservation of Hamilton’s heritage and history in a way that takes the burden off the backs of city taxpayers.” On September 18, Hamilton councillors voted overwhelmingly to direct city staff to negotiate a lease agreement with think tank Cardus for Balfour House. Cardus has offered to restore and re-open the historic property at no cost to the city, while using the restored building for office and retreat space. Cardus has also committed to facilitating public access to the restored property in keeping with the low traffic and low impact requirements of the surrounding neighbourhood.  “I’m so grateful for Almex Group’s willingness to participate with us in this grand project for Hamilton,” said Michael Van Pelt, President and CEO of Cardus. “It’s encouraging to see the city’s good corporate citizens join our other partners in restoring and re-opening Balfour House.” Almex Group is a Canadian corporation with eighteen strategic locations worldwide. It provides solutions for Android Tablets and instrumentation; dust suppression; the carpet and textile industry; tire repair; vulcanizers and presses for conveyor belt manufacturing and installation; and adhesives and consumables for conveyor belt splicing.  Almex joins three other local employers – Invizij Architects, Schilthuis Constrution, and lead philanthropist Budget Environmental – already cooperating with Cardus on the heritage restoration project. For more details, visit OpenBalfour. -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus – Director of Communications 613-241-4500 x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

Cardus looks forward to negotiating a lease agreement with the City of Hamilton    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  September 18, 2019 HAMILTON, ON – Think tank Cardus is welcoming a decision by Hamilton city councillors to accept its proposal to restore and re-open the historic Balfour House, and to direct staff to negotiate a lease agreement. “I’m very grateful to Hamilton City Council for having the vision and the courage to accept a truly unique, win-win proposal for the restoration and re-opening of Balfour House,” said Cardus President and CEO Michael Van Pelt. “Hamiltonians ought to take note that council acted in the best interests of taxpayers and the city as a whole.” Balfour House gives Cardus the opportunity to give back to Hamilton, the city it calls home. The next step in the process will be to sit down with city officials to hammer out the details of a lease agreement so that restoration work can begin. “Council’s decision on Balfour House is a big step forward toward preserving and promoting Hamilton’s rich heritage,” said Van Pelt. “Allowing Cardus to cover the costs of restoring and re-opening Balfour House to serve as our head office is a major part of keeping this city’s historical and architectural legacy alive.” Cardus has offered to take the financial burden of restoration work off the shoulders of taxpayers and the City of Hamilton by restoring and occupying the unused and deteriorating Balfour House. Cardus has also committed to facilitating public access to the restored property in keeping with the low traffic and low impact requirements of the surrounding neighbourhood. The property is currently owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust, while the city manages it. The goal of OpenBalfour would be to ensure a beautifully restored and meticulously maintained property for the Ontario Heritage Trust in 2039.  For more details on the propsal, visit OpenBalfour. -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus – Director of Communications 613-241-4500 x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca About CardusCardus is a non-partisan, faith-based think tank, and registered charity dedicated to promoting a flourishing society through independent research, robust public dialogue, and thought-provoking commentary. To learn more, visit our website, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook.

67% of parents with kids in Ontario independent schools made major financial changes to afford tuition FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 10, 2019 OTTAWA, ON – There are more than 138,000 students in Ontario independent schools, rising 21% over the last decade. Today, the groundbreaking report Who Chooses Ontario Independent Schools and Why? is offering new insight into this phenomenon. Researchers who surveyed parents with kids in Ontario independent schools found the three top-ranked characteristics parents sought in a new school were a safe environment, a supportive and nurturing atmosphere, and an emphasis on character development. “You don’t get this kind of growth in independent schools unless parents are genuinely – and in some cases desperately – looking for solutions that meet their kids’ needs,” says report co-author and Cardus Senior Fellow Dr. Deani Van Pelt. “When parents tell us they’re looking for school safety, it’s more than just safety from bullying; it’s a sense of confidence in the curriculum and trust in teachers and staff.” Who Chooses Ontario Independent Schools and Why? also confirms previous research that found the parents who send their kids to Ontario independent schools are mainly regular folks: 75% of them attended public schools growing up, with about 6 in 10 attending only public schools 67% of them have had to make major financial adjustments to afford tuition, including adding a part-time job, taking out a loan, making other budget sacrifices, or getting help from family or friends 54% of them have to come up with $8,000 or more  annually just for tuition for their kids’ schooling “The fact that enrolment in Ontario independent schools continues to grow is notable, in part, because families that need this option have to pay every penny of it out of their own pockets,” says report co-author David Hunt. “But there are likely many more Ontario families that simply can’t afford an independent school, yet need one. It’s a matter of fairness for the provincial government to ensure that all families have equitable access to the full range of educational options in the province.” Who Chooses Ontario Independent Schools and Why? is freely available online. -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus – Director of Communications 613-241-4500 x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

 Budget Environmental joins Cardus as lead philanthropic partner in OpenBalfour project       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      August 28, 2019 HAMILTON, ON – A proposal by think tank Cardus to restore Hamilton’s historic Balfour House has taken a big step forward. Major Hamilton-based company Budget Environmental has now joined Cardus as lead philanthropic partner for the heritage preservation project. “We’re thrilled to join Cardus and its partners in support of the restoration of the Balfour Estate,” said Ian Bartels, President of Budget Environmental. “The restoration plan is solid and beneficial for Hamilton – a city that has been good to our company and family. So, we want to show our gratitude by getting involved in preserving this important piece of city heritage.” As lead philanthropic partner in the recently launched project to restore Balfour House, Budget Environmental joins two other local employers – Invizij Architects and Schilthuis Constrution – already cooperating with Cardus on the heritage restoration proposal.  “This signature gift is a major boost for the Cardus proposal to restore Balfour House,” said Michael Van Pelt, President and CEO of Cardus. “Budget Environmental is a highly respected company in Hamilton.  Their major gift adds credence to our request to Hamilton City Council for approval of our proposal.” Cardus has offered to take the full $1.5 million burden off the shoulders of taxpayers and the City of Hamilton by restoring and occupying the unused and deteriorating Balfour House.The property is currently owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust, while the city manages it. The goal of OpenBalfour would be to ensure a beautifully restored and meticulously maintained property for the Ontario Heritage Trust in 2039.  For more details on the propsal, visit OpenBalfour. -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus – Director of Communications 613-241-4500 x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 21, 2019 OTTAWA, ON – A new report by think tank Cardus has found that more than half the parents of kids in British Columbia’s indpendent schools have had to make major financial changes to access that educational option. Who Chooses Independent Schools in B.C. and Why? found that many parents have had to change jobs, take a part-time job, or make other budget sacrifices in order to send their kids to these schools. “The vast majority of independent schools in B.C. cater to average folks,” says report co-author and Cardus Senior Fellow Dr. Deani Van Pelt. “Our research has found that 65% of parents with kids in a B.C. independent school attended only public schools growing up. These are parents who’ve decided an independent school best meets the diverse needs of their kids, which is a family decision that deserves respect and support.” Among the key findings in Who Chooses Independent Schools in B.C. and Why? are the top three reasons parents choose an independent school: a caring and nurturing environment for their kids school safety an emphasis in character development. Researchers also found that B.C. independent schools cater to the growing diversity of the province: Nearly half (48%) of British Columbia independent school parents were born outside Canada, compared to less than a third (31%) of British Columbians. B.C. parents with kids in independent schools are more than twice as likely as the average British Columbian to speak mostly a language other than English or French at home. “It’s so important to understand what parents are looking for in education, their kids’ needs, and how a diverse range of schools can meet those needs,” says co-author David Hunt. “Equitable access to a range of educational options is a matter of fairness to average folks in B.C. and a recognition of the province’s growing social diversity, which is why public funding for independent schools is so important.” Who Chooses Independent Schools in B.C. and Why? is available online. -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus – Director of Communications 613-241-4500 x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

Dr. Lynn E. Swaner to contribute research acumen to think tank’s study of independent schools       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 10, 2019 HAMILTON, ON – Dr. Lynn E. Swaner has joined Cardus as a senior fellow in its education program, bolstering an already strong roster of senior fellows. Dr. Swaner’s work will help strengthen Cardus research on the value of North American independent schools and the civic contributions their graduates make. Dr. Lynn Swaner  “Dr. Swaner knows education inside and out,” said Ray Pennings, Executive Vice President of Cardus. “We’ve relied on her in the past to help focus our education research and give it heft, so to bring her on formally as a senior fellow is a special privilege.”  Dr. Swaner is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), which strengthens and equips more than 25,000 schools in 108 countries, helping to give her a global perspective on education. At ACSI, she leads initiatives to address compelling questions and challenges Christian education faces – work that’s complementary to what she’ll do through Cardus. “Cardus research has been instrumental in establishing how much value independent and Christian schools bring to North American society, as well as to students themselves,” said Dr. Swaner. “I’m thrilled to be part of the effort to bring that research to school administrators and educators so that they can better articulate and achieve their mission, while engaging with the broader culture in winsome ways.” Prior to joining ACSI in 2015, Dr. Swaner served as a Christian school administrator and a graduate professor of education in New York. She is the lead editor of several books, including MindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education (forthcoming 2019) and PIVOT: New Directions for Christian Education. She is also co-author of Bring It to Life: Christian Education and the Transformative Power of Service-Learning, editor of the ACSI blog, and host for the podcast Moving Forward in Christian Education. She holds an Ed.D. in Organization and Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University,  a master’s degree in counselling from Long Island University, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Binghamton University. -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Rachel DeBruyn Cardus – Communications Officer 613-241-4500 x506 rdebruyn@cardus.ca