(Originally published at The Breach)
By all accounts, this year has been a grim one.
Genocidal violence continues unabated in Palestine and Sudan. Authoritarianism is rapidly consolidating in the United States. In Canada, the housing crisis is worsening, while chaotic, tariff-driven policies from our southern neighbour deepen economic uncertainty. Meanwhile, the nationalist “elbows up” rhetoric that helped the new Liberal government secure a return to power has proven to be a veneer, concealing a policy agenda of militarism, austerity, and corporate favouritism on a scale not seen in decades.
As organizers gear up for what’s likely to come in 2026, it’s important to recognize that, despite everything, social movements still scored notable victories in 2025.
Continuing an annual Breach tradition, here are 15 wins from this year to celebrate and draw inspiration from as we head into the year ahead.
Forest defense: The CAQ government in Quebec had proposed Bill 97, legislation that would have significantly increased timber extraction, giving industrial loggers exclusive access to…