By Sam Demby and Mike Balkwill
Stories about successful campaigns offer hope and inspiration for grassroots community
organizing. Too often, however, we hear discouraging stories about campaigns that fail.
Examples abound of corporations and governments imposing socially and environmentally
harmful projects against communities’ objections or without their consent. Examples of
residents successfully protecting their communities and ecosystems from powerful private
interests are harder to find.
A Winning Campaign is a case study that features the winning story of how the residents’
group Get Concerned Stratford, defeated a factory slated to be built on prime farm land. The
proposal had not been subject to any public review by the residents or environmental
assessment. Stratford City Council, and the Ontario government worked in secrecy over a two-
year period to make the Xinyi Canada Glass proposal a ‘done deal’. However, once this
proposal was revealed, Get Concerned Stratford were able to reverse those plans in a little
more than fifteen weeks. The Stratford residents’ victory was so complete, the Minister’s
Zoning Order imposed by the Ontario government was rescinded, a planner associated with
the project was disciplined by his professional association, and Stratford Council was rebuked
by the Integrity Commissioner for its secretive behaviour.
A ’Textbook’ Campaign
It is rare for grassroots campaigns to accomplish such a complete victory in such a relatively
short period of time. For these reasons, the authors describe this fight as a ‘textbook’
campaign which illustrates several lessons about effective grassroots campaigns. The main
message of this story is that there is a method to winning campaigns that people in
communities anywhere can use.
Andrea Muehlebach –
This is a gem of a book – short, sweet, and with a host of remarkable take-home lessons. A
Winning Campaign makes clear what it takes to succeed: Build relationships, identify targets,
tell a convincing story, design a spectrum of wins and, above all, stay with it! Get Concerned
Stratford has done us all a service by clearly spelling out a remarkable win against a corrupt
city council and corporation. Outstanding!
– Andrea Muehlebach, author of A Vital Frontier: Water Insurgencies in Europe
Kerrie Blaise –
The Small Change Fund does a tremendous job challenging the mindset that ‘resistance is
futile’ by showing how community-driven, solution-focused efforts can make a difference. A
Winning Campaign is a welcome good news story in addition to being a how-to guide for
public participation that encourages us all to embrace the power of public participation and
collective action.
-Kerrie Blaise, environmental lawyer and founder, Legal Advocates for Nature’s Defence (LAND)
Tim Gray –
There are virtually no roadmaps for helping residents and communities understand how to
win. This book is the exception. By highlighting the key tactics, tools and strategies used to
oppose the opaque decision-making of government and corporations, the authors have
written an indispensable resource. It will enable residents and communities to effectively push
back against powerful interests and win in big ways.
Tim Gray, executive director of Environmental Defence Canada
Maya Menezes –
Get Concerned Stratford is a gorgeous example of what is possible when communities, no
matter their size, take protecting the public good and building local power seriously. So often,
the forces we are organizing against understand that there is no battleground too small –
before we do. Get Concerned Stratford is a clear, power-mapped and locally executed example
of how communities can apply this lesson early and secure multi-generational wins. The ‘done-
deal’ you think you’re fighting against is never done, so long as you call your people, clarify
your theory of change, and keep knocking on doors. To young and first-time organizers, no
battleground is too small if your community has something to win.
Maya Menezes, No One Is Illegal – Toronto Organize
Tom Liacas –
A Winning Campaign is a quick and essential read for any grassroots organizer squaring off
against established powers with a lot more resources. With its ‘how it was done’ approach to recounting the hard-earned victory of Stratford citizens against a multinational glass-making
company and their own municipal council, this guide makes clear that ordinary folks can
become effective activists when they take time to study the power structures they are working
with, map out their own networks and assets, and find out where and when to seek outside
support. Key organizing takeaways, clearly drawn from a vast body of lived experiences, are
woven into each chapter of the narrative, making the recipe clear for those who want to try
this at home. May this story and its lessons spark many righteous uprisings wherever the
powerful are meeting behind closed doors to conspire against public interests!
-Tom Liacas, founder of the Climate Justice Organizing HUB and the Global Grassroots Support
Network