Buy Social Canada July Newsletter
Here's the latest in social enterprise and social procurement news
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From the Buy Social Canada team |
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Correction: In our statement last month on the discovery of 215 unmarked graves at the Kamloops Residential School on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc land, Buy Social Canada mistakenly referred to the school as the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Residential School. Our sincere apologies to anyone this harmed. |
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Announcing Buy Social Canada's new Social Procurement Professional Certificate
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Buy Social Canada is excited to announce the Social Procurement Professional Certificate, our new professional development education program for social procurement, which will provide both private and public sector participants with in-depth knowledge of social procurement fundamentals and implementation.
Participants can expect to learn: how to create a social value culture within your organization; steps needed to develop social procurement policy; and how to implement social procurement practices into your current RFx processes, to leverage procurement spending to drive increased social value.
This program is ideal for:
- Senior government leadership looking to use procurement to improve social value and community outcomes.
- Senior private sector leadership looking to use social value as a competitive advantage and drive business growth.
- Procurement staff (public and private) conducting the purchase of goods & services, consulting, construction and IT.
- Mid level managers aiming to deliver on the social value goals of their organization.
Cost: $495
Workshop Schedule
September 2021 Cohort – September 9, 16, 23 and 30, 2021 from 10am - 12pm PT / 1 - 4pm ET
The course consists of four 2-hour virtual trainings with interactive hands-on activities and homework.
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Successful social procurement initiative CCSPI expands across British Columbia |
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Social procurement is a powerful tool to help achieve overarching goals and strategies to shape inclusive, healthy and vibrant communities. Buy Social Canada, working along side SCALE Collaborative, Presentations Plus, and Vancouver Island Construction Association, looks forward to growing the Coastal Communities Social Procurement Initiative (CCSPI) from the current 29 local municipalities on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast to municipalities across British Columbia with the British Columbia Social Procurement Initiative (BCSPI).
“When municipalities focus on prioritizing social and local purchasing, they’re essentially reinvesting tax dollars back into the local economy, local jobs, and healthy communities – BCSPI is designed to provide the tools and support to accelerate that activity.” – David LePage, Managing Partner, Buy Social Canada.
Attend a BCSPI Information Session
Learn more about the expanded initiative at a free information and learning session.
Wednesday July 7, 2021
2:00 - 2:30pm PT / 5:00 - 5:30pm ET
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Social procurement in action as York University contracts with social enterprises |
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York University is now one of Canada's first Universities to have a Social Procurement Policy. The institution has committed to using its purchasing power to benefit local economies and to provide fair access to its procurement services by providing additional opportunities to underrepresented businesses and communities.
"This policy has given York the framework to engage suppliers who generate positive social value in their communities, including social enterprises. As COVID-19 disrupted the ways in which we did business, we were able to engage with social enterprises who could help us navigate the challenges of running a University remotely while at the same time knowing that the money we spent would be reinvested in the communities who were often disproportionately affected by the pandemic. York looks forward to engaging with Toronto's social enterprises for future opportunities." - Dexter King, Director of Procurement Services at York University
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Edmonton Construction Association highlights potential of social procurement |
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The Edmonton Construction Association has published two articles on social procurement in their magazine, Breaking Ground.
The first article explores the opportunities that social procurement provides for individuals and businesses, and highlights the work of Buy Social Pledge Leader Chandos Construction.
The second article shows the growth of social procurement in the construction industry in Edmonton, aided in part by the City of Edmonton's policy decisions.
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Champion of social procurement to advise BC Government |
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We're excited to see Mariana Mazzucato, a world-renowned economist from University College London, teaming up with the Government of British Columbia to advise on building a sustainable, inclusive and innovative economy in B.C.
Here's a quote about social procurement from Mission Economy, her latest book:
"Imagine, for example, using public-sector procurement policy to stimulate as much innovation as possible – social, organizational and technological – to solve problems as diverse as knife crime in cities or loneliness of the elderly at home.
But it requires building new capabilities in public institutions – including redesigning procurement contracts to foster new ideas for solving problems – and changing government culture so it is less risk-averse and more open to portfolios containing a wide array of ambitious projects."
Read the full statement about Ms. Mazzucato's involvement with the Government of B.C.
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Meet Mariana: Buy Social Canada's summer intern |
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Mariana Jiménez Ojeda is a candidate for the MBA in Social Enterprises and Entrepreneurship at Memorial University of Newfoundland, and has joined Buy Social Canada this summer as an intern.
From Mexico, she is an advocate for people-driven innovation and passionate teams that create new pathways to enable equitable opportunities. She believes that personal and community development are the transformational bridge for a more conscious, integrated, and fair society.
An enthusiastic volunteer since a young age, Mariana is a biomedical engineer with a master’s in social responsibility. She has worked in the medical device industry, insurance services and higher education. In each of her activities, she focused on bringing purpose and people to the core.
We are thrilled to have Mariana join us. Check out our social media where she is sharing her enthusiasm for community building through #FiredUpFridays.
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Social enterprise grows to meet demand in Halifax |
In recognition of the number of Canadians that continue to face barriers to being fully included in their communities, workplaces and the economy, the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia are each investing $75,000 to help social enterprises like Stone Hearth Bakery, part of the organization MetroWorks Employment Association, upgrade equipment, reach new markets and expand vocational opportunities for those who face barriers to employment.
“MetroWorks has stepped up in a big way, addressing barriers to allow more Nova Scotians to take part in social enterprises that help build strong communities. The expansion of their kitchen has enabled them to increase production capacity, while creating work opportunities for people of various abilities. We will continue to invest in projects like these that support diverse, inclusive economies.”
- The Honourable Suzanne Lohnes-Croft, Nova Scotia Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage
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Elections Canada seeks Buy Social Canada Certified Social Enterprises for suppliers |
Elections Canada's Product and Service Submission Form for Local Suppliers now includes a space for businesses to indicate that they are a Buy Social Canada Certified Social Enterprise.
All Certified Social Enterprises are encouraged to register.
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Vancouver Social Value Fund Invests in East Van Roasters |
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East Van Roasters, a Certified Social Enterprise, recently received an investment of $200,000 from the Vancouver Social Value Fund and other angel investors to support the work they do providing support and employment opportunities for at-risk women in the Downtown Eastside - all while serving excellent coffee and chocolate.
In the above video, watch testimonials about the impacts of this social enterprise, the importance of this investment, and learn more about what went into this deal from the National Social Value Fund.
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Community Builders supports affordable housing at Orillia post office building |
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Raising the Roof is partnering with the Certified Social Enterprise Community Builders on a new project to add 40 housing units - 24 of which will be affordable - on top of a pre-existing post office in Orillia, ON.
The project is part of Raising the Roof’s Reside program, which aims to “create social impact through the renovation of vacant real estate,” says Adrian Dingle, director of housing development.
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Green Shield Canada was founded in 1957 as a non-profit with a mission to make it easier for people to live healthier lives. They provide extended health and dental benefits across Canada and invest in meaningful solutions to improve community health and well-being.
“As Canada’s only national non-profit health benefits provider, we’re very proud to join the ranks of Certified Social Enterprises with Buy Social Canada. Our purpose is to make it easier for people to live their healthiest lives, and while this mission has been embedded in our DNA since GSC was founded over 60 years ago, this certification represents an exciting next step in our journey as a leading social enterprise.” – Zahid Salman, CEO of Green Shield Canada.
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503-535 Thurlow St
Vancouver, BC V6E 3L2
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