Buy Social Canada December Newsletter
Here's the latest in social enterprise and social procurement news
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SETSI and Buy Social Canada partner to support Black-led and diverse businesses in Toronto |
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Buy Social Canada is proud to work in collaboration with SETSI - Social Economy Through Social Inclusion - to support the development of an enhanced ecosystem and policy support for Black-led and other diverse businesses through social procurement mobilization and activities. This work is being done for AnchorTO, The City of Toronto’s anchor network that aims to leverage procurement to achieve inclusive economic development outcomes.
Through this partnership, SETSI and Buy Social Canada will establish a Black-led Social Procurement Action Plan by engaging with a broad community of stakeholders to understand current barriers and to assess opportunities, identify best practices, and develop vendor support resources.
This partnership aims to amplify and position Black-led and other diverse businesses to scale-up, connect pre-existing Black business networks, and bridge existing divisions between the supply and demand sides of the ecosystem.
Stay tuned for more updates as this work progresses!
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Save your space in the April 2022 cohort of the Social Procurement Professional Certificate |
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"These training sessions are about a practical approach to implementing social procurement! An overview of social procurement fundamentals is provided and there is opportunity to network and learn with industry experts and social procurement practitioners." - Training Participant
Spaces are filling up for the April 2022 cohort of the Social Procurement Professional Certificate course! Register soon to save your spot.
Here are the details:
April 2022:
Thursdays April 7, 14, 21, 28
10am – 12pm PT / 1 – 3pm ET
$495 per participant.
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New on the blog: Social procurement perceptions |
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At Buy Social Canada, we are always talking about social procurement. Recently we’ve been conducting interviews to assess the current understanding of social procurement across public and private sectors. Perceptions range from extortion to essential.
Read our latest blog post to see what we heard, and our response.
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Are you interested in working in social procurement? |
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Buy Social Canada is shaping some exciting new roles and would love to connect with you or anyone you know who might be interested in working with us.
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Public Services and Procurement Canada seeks information from businesses owned or led by persons with disabilities |
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Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) invites Canadian businesses owned or led by persons with disabilities to complete an online questionnaire to provide information about their businesses by:
January 21, 2022
11am PST / 2pm EST
The information gathered through this questionnaire will help PSPC develop initiatives to increase the participation of businesses owned or led by persons with disabilities in federal procurement. It will also ensure that initiatives to increase participation reflect the realities and needs of these businesses.
The questionnaire uses software that adheres to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 level AA. You may also download an alternative Word version of the questionnaire to complete and submit your responses by email. If you require additional accommodations to access or participate in the questionnaire, or if you have any further questions about the questionnaire, please contact this email address.
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Save the date: Buy Social Canada Symposium March 29, 2022 |
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The Buy Social Canada Symposium will take place on Tuesday March 29, 2022.
We’re planning an engaging and celebratory agenda and we need your help! At the Symposium, we’ll scan all of the emerging social procurement policy and actions across corporates, governments, institutions and non-profits — across all regions in Canada. Can you let us know which issues and topics need attention, whose story we should share, and what topics you want to dive deeper into? We'd love to hear your ideas.
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Catch up on previous BCSPI Purchasing Power events |
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In the first half of British Columbia Social Procurement Initiative's 'Purchasing Power' series, we've been privileged to learn from and share with six speakers who are leaders in their fields of procurement and social value supply.
Engage Indigenous businesses:
In October, we heard from Judy Kitts (Greater Victoria Harbour Authority) and Ron Arcos (Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation) about building relationships and successfully contracting with your local Indigenous businesses.
Support my local economy:
In early November, we spoke with Amy Robinson (LOCO BC) and Alisha Masongsong (City of Vancouver) about supporting small local businesses and social enterprises, and the social value multiplier effect those purchases can have.
Increase food security:
Just last week we had a timely discussion on food security and adding social value to your food procurement and supply chain with Heather O'Hara (BC Farmers Markets) and Jennifer Reynolds (Nourish).
Interested in learning more?
Join us for upcoming sessions in January and February 2022, where we will explore how social procurement can support diversity and inclusion and address climate change, followed by a wrap-up event featuring BCSPI members who are implementing these practices in their communities already.
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Marcia Nozick, founder of EMBERS, recognized with BC CEO Award |
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Congratulations to our esteemed colleague Marcia Nozick, founder and CEO of EMBERS, for her recognition in the BC CEO Awards this year!
"The first of its kind in the Downtown Eastside, EMBERS started out by empowering low-income entrepreneurs to turn their talents into small businesses. In 2008, she broke ground again, launching EMBERS Staffing Solutions (ESS), Canada’s only multi-award winning, non-profit temporary labour company that connects people facing employment barriers with transitional jobs, bridging them to full-time employment and helping them reintegrate into society."
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The Story of Dream Cuisines |
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Watch this beautiful video from Buy Social Canada certified social enterprise Flavours of Hope about their Dream Cuisines program, which will support a second cohort of newcomer refugee women entrepreneurs to build and launch their food businesses in Spring 2022.
In addition to mentorship and cooking space provided by the Dream Cuisines program, Flavours of Hope supports and empowers newcomer and refugee women to earn a livable income and make connections and community through food, cooking and storytelling.
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Social Traders say social enterprise is here to stay |
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Social Traders, our colleagues in Australia whose mission is to work collaboratively to integrate social enterprises into business and government supply chains, have launched a new campaign to raise awareness about social enterprises as they urge us to include them in the "new normal" of business.
"Social enterprise was made for this moment in history. It’s a ready-made solution that’s been breaking disadvantage and changing lives for decades. We need to spread the word that there’s another way to do business that works. Better." - Tara Anderson and Bella Borello, Social Traders
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#GiftSocial this Holiday Season |
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As you reflect on the holidays and what they entail this year, consider a gift that creates community capital - and purchase from a social enterprise!
We encourage you all to #GiftSocial and give gifts that create community capital this year - whether it's corporate gifts for staff or colleagues, or gifts for family and friends.
Read our blog post to learn more about how you can make an impact when you #GiftSocial.
Find gift ideas, searchable by province or social value, in our directory.
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Buy Social Canada Certified Social Enterprises featured in specialty gift box from BudgieBox |
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One of our newest certified social enterprises, BudgieBox, is spreading the social enterprise love with the Buy Social Canada BudgieBox - a high-quality, ethical gift box featuring a rotating selection of products from other members of the certified social enterprise family!
You can expect to see treats like coffee or chocolate from East Van Roasters, pottery from JustPotters, and so many other goodies. These gifts truly keep giving, and provide opportunities for community members who are facing personal and systemic barriers.
Visit BudgieBox to learn more about their story and explore the full range of gift boxes. |
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Circle of Eagles Trading Post
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COELS supports Indigenous Brothers and Sisters leaving federal institutions and those disconnected from society, to reintegrate into community by providing respectful wholistic services and culturally safe spaces.
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The SAAAC's mission is to support families impacted by Autism through providing employment support, educational resources, and skills support.
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Launch Pad Youth Activity and Technology Centre
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Launch Pad is a social enterprise of the Youth and Activity Technology Centre in Hanover, Ontario. They provide skill training programs to at-risk youth.
Launch Pad sells goods created by the youth they work with including: picnic tables, bike racks, flower boxes and park benches.
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FSEAP - or Employee and Family Assistance Program Canada - are a national provider of employee assistance programs (EAP), employee and family assistance programs (EFAP), workplace health & wellness solutions.
Their mission is to promote resilient workplaces, inspire healthy families, and build strong, thriving communities. They are the only national EAP provider structured as a social enterprise, meaning 100% of profits generated go toward supporting mental health and community-based programming in communities across Canada.
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New Path Foundation is a social purpose real estate development organization that improves the efficiency of social and charitable organizations through the operation of shared facilities and support services. They also offer capacity development through the allocation of resources to support coaching, provide strategic advice, training or services that further enhance the work of the social services sector to respond to community needs.
All profits made through the provision of these services go back to the Foundation’s programs.
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910-1050 West Pender St
Vancouver, BC V6E 3S7
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