With the help of our readers, rabble.ca is ready to begin a process of transformation.

Today we end the remix fundraising campaign (though of course it is never too late to give) and we announce that rabble is officially incorporated as a non-profit organization. We are also announcing the new board of directors that will guide rabble‘s future growth.

One of Canada’s most influential writers, thinkers and activists, Duncan Cameron has accepted an appointment as rabble‘s Associate Publisher. Duncan adds rabble to a long list of influential and successful progressive publishing endeavours, including the venerable Canadian Forum magazine, where he was editor and the influential Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), where he was the first chair of the board from 1988 to 2000.

Diane Touchette, director of operations for the CCPA, will be rabble.ca‘s new secretary treasurer.

Joining Duncan and Diane on the rabble.ca board are:

  • Kim Elliott, rabble‘s managing editor
  • John Hall, former rabble rouser and now a writer for the NDP
  • Wayne MacPhail, a pioneer in online journalism
  • Judy Rebick, rabble‘s publisher
  • Lisa Rundle, former editor of rabble and freelance journalist
  • Glenn Schentag, has more than 20 years of computer industry experience as a network engineer and technology executive
  • Chad Lubelsky, policy officer with the Millennium Foundation
  • Jane Will, rabble‘s web mistress

The announcement of the board is rabble‘s first step in the restructuring we call rabble:remix. The remix campaign was an unprecedented success — with over $40,000 contributed by individual readers from Newfoundland and Labrador to the Northwest Territories, and from many locations in between and beyond. The rabble:remix will move rabble from a donor and partner supported site to a self-sustaining site with more original and diversified content, that is also supported by sales, membership and advertising.

As we begin this new journey, our warmest thanks first and foremost to our readers who have made rabble an incredible success with 250,000 unique visitors a month. We also want to thank Alternatives and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives who have sponsored us over the last four years and without whom rabble could not have survived. Finally a thank you to our donors who have consistently been there when we’ve asked for their support.

A taste of what’s coming

Next week, rabble.ca will be launching the rabble stall, a first step towards what we call the rabble marketplace. The stall will give visitors a taste of what’s to come with the rabble-reads bookstore and some tasty rabble merchandise. The stall will launch with a special edition of a “best of rabble” book and the new book Ten Thousand Roses: The Making of a Feminist Revolution (by rabble.ca publisher, Judy Rebick). Our partner in the rabble stall will be the York University Bookstore, the first of many progressive commercial partners.

Through babble and in cahoots, rabble has always been a gathering point for different groups and currents in the progressive communities. With the rabble:remix, we take that a step further providing a space for commercial exchange that has value beyond making a buck. Over time you will be able to buy, sell and trade, find an ethical gift or a job or a like-minded date. The rabble marketplace will be a kind of town hall square for progressive people across Canada — just as our news and babble pages have been for people looking for alternative views.

Soon you will also start seeing more advertising on rabble.ca. We’ll keep the ads as unobtrusive and unobjectionable as we can in the usual rabble style.

We will be introducing a new members salon where, for a small monthly subscription fee members will get access to special services and surprises, while we maintain what you know and love about rabble.ca for free.

The new rabble board brings new energy and expertise to rabble.ca. We hope you will notice and enjoy the changes to the site. If you do or if you donâe(TM)t, you can always tell us what you think on the always thought-provoking babble discussion forum.

Judy Rebick

Judy Rebick

Judy Rebick is one of Canada’s best-known feminists. She was the founding publisher of rabble.ca , wrote our advice column auntie.com and was co-host of one of our first podcasts called Reel Women....