About
Why purple? Politically, it’s an independent colour; purple is neither Red nor Blue. It’s uncomfortable with false dichotomies and thinks truth comes in many shades. In a world with only a few primary colours, purple often feels lost. Needless to say, purple is an excellent metaphor for Canadian progressives.
Like its underlying philosophy, PSB is a reaction to the partisan chatter that permeates the Canadian blogosphere. Unlike many Canadian blogs (and MSM publications), PSB is more interested in ideas than personalities or strategies. We criticize the positions of all political parties and strive to do so in an articulate and constructive fashion.
PSB publishes its content in two main categories: blog and features. Blog posts are generally under 500 words in length and showcase the author’s thoughts on a timely issue. Features are generally longer, more thoroughly researched, and tackle issues in a comprehensive manner. Each post on the home page indicates the category above the headline, so you can organize your reading accordingly.
PSB encourages contributions from its readers, either through comments or submissions. If you would like to contribute text, photos, or video to PSB, please contact us at submissions AT purplesoapbox DOT ca.
Masthead
Mike, Editor
The most fun Mike had as an undergraduate was when he worked as an editor for his campus newspaper. He was also very active in various student organizations, sparking a more general interest in public affairs. PSB is probably a way for Mike to relive his early twenties. It also helps him stay abreast of developments in Canada during his sojourn in New York City, where he works as a lawyer. Mike has an MA in public policy and an LL.B.
Brendan, Contributor
Brendan is originally from Walkerton, Ontario. He is currently studying international law and international relations at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law and the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. He is a self-described super nerd with a passion for the study of international law. Brendan was a member of the team representing the University of Ottawa at the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in 2008. The team won the national championship and Brendan was awarded Top Oralist.
Tyler, Contributor
Tyler is a farmer from the Great Plains.
Damian, Contributor
Damian is from Ancaster, Ontario — the apex of the Golden Horseshoe. He cut his teeth studying history and political science in Toronto, and later earned an MSc in Comparative Politics in London, England. Damian then moved to Montreal to study law, and further developed his interest in Canadian politics, health law and karaoke. He is currently studying in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Andrew, Contributor
Andrew studied history and religion before attending law school in Montreal.
Toby, Contributor
Toby loves to travel within Canada and has lived all across the country. He is deeply interested in Canadian politics, public policy, and citizen engagement. He currently studies public policy both academically and professionally. In addition to many geeky interests he is also, stereotypically, a hockey fan.
Scott, Contributor
Originally from Nova Scotia, Scott is currently studying law in New Brunswick. He is very interested in Canadian politics and public policy and is a longstanding member of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Jason, Contributor
A student of life with intersecting interests in public policy, public administration, politics, and economics.
Érik, Contributor
Érik works at a large and shadowy organization in Ottawa where he practices international law. He holds degrees in English, History, Common Law and Civil Law from the University of Ottawa. A former debater, he’s always itching for a good fight.
