The Canadian Auto Workers is providing a $1 million endowment to Ryerson University for the CAW-Sam Gindin Chair for Social Justice and Democracy. It is the first time a labour union in Canada has made such a donation to a post-secondary institution.

A committee composed of former Canadian Labour Congress president Bob White, Rosemary Brown, former Chair of the Ontario Human Rights Commission and Carol Phillips, current director of the CAW International Department spent several months reviewing submissions from various universities across Canada before deciding upon Ryerson.

"Ryerson is in the very heart of the 'new Canada,' in the most diverse city in our country," said CAW president Buzz Hargrove. "It's a proudly working class university that fits best with our union's traditions. Ryerson is very close to the soul of the CAW itself."

The chair is named for Sam Gindin, a renowned trade union economist, activist, author and assistant to the first CAW president Bob White and current CAW president Buzz Hargrove. Gindin recently retired after 26 years with the CAW.