There were many really important charity stories in 2018; here's a look back at the highs (and lows).

One of the most surprising, and far-reaching impacts, was the decision by the courts to  lift the ban on charity advocacy.  While many sector leaders cheered this change, others were concerned about the unintended consequences of this change.

One of the welcome, but unexpected benefits of the #MeToo Movement has proven to be the pressure to call the charitable sector to reckon for our own misdeeds. This has included opening up much needed  conversations.  An appalling number of sex scandals hit the international development sector this year. This is the most horrible manifestation of sleazy activities where charities took advantage of women and really call into question their values and abilities to serve responsibly. Closer to home, groups like MsRupt and AFP International are active in confronting sexual assault at work for women charity employees in Canada.

In a less personal arena, the Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector has provided an important window into the issues and challenges facing charities. Two Senators, Hon Terry Mercer and Hon Ratna Omnivar, have both served as employees in the charitable sector and have a clear sense of the nuts and bolts of running a charity.

While the Senate has been looking at the charitable sector, Common Good has been spearheading an initiative to build a shared, portable pension plan for the nonprofit sector. This is going to be a valuable area to watch in the upcoming year.

The charitable sector is ever changing. These areas suggest that we are on a road to new challenges in the upcoming year. What do you think? What do you think was the biggest Canadian charity story in 2018? Add your ideas below.

Ann Rosenfield is the Editor of Hilborn Charity eNews and has the pleasure of both working directly as a charity employee as well as the honour of sharing the best (and worst) of the charity sector with you each week.