Ontario

You are here

Home

Principles for Responsible Investment Conference

York University in Toronto
October 1-3, 2012. 

The Principles for Responsible Investment, the  Responsible Investment Initiative and the Canadian Business Ethics Research Network are delighted to announce that full registration to the 5th Annual Academic Network is now open. 
 You may take advantage of the early bird fee of Canadian $285+HST tax ($322.05 with HST) for regular admission and  $155+tax ($175.15 with HST) for students until September 14th. Please click here to register. 
The conference agenda is also now available on the event website. Among  the exciting  topics are aligning incentives along the investment chain and the value-add of shareholder engagement.   
Participants who have pre-registered will be notified soon to confirm payment details. 
If you have any questions please contact us at academic@unpri.org. 

>> Visit the Conference website

2013 Sustainable Communities Conference and Trade Show

Hundreds of cities and communities across Canada are leading the charge towards local sustainability and the shift to a green economy. Every year, they come together to share their experiences and discuss the latest strategies for sustainable community development.

Be part of this exciting forum for municipal sustainability champions. Attend the 2013 Sustainable Communities Conference (SCC) and Trade Show hosted by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Themes and Streams for 2013

This year's conference theme, "Building Blocks for the Next Generation", focuses on best practices in sustainable development from a wide range of Canadian communities and regions, and highlights innovative projects. Sustainable communities are built upon sustainable infrastructure, including high-efficiency facilities; leadership to envision and implement change; the skills to manage physical and human assets; and a willingness to test and develop new technologies.

This year's Conference will explore three content streams:

  • The Culture of Leadership: Share examples of how leadership can effect changes in policy, process, scope, timelines, or partners, in the pursuit of local sustainable development. We encourage profiles of leadership driven by diverse stakeholders-including mayors, councillors, municipal staff, community groups, residents, businesses, etc.-that have increased citizen engagement, reached new constituencies, improved efficiency in managing public assets, and demonstrated new approaches to sustainable development.
  • Sustainable Infrastructure: Demonstrate viable options for building, retrofitting, repairing and maintaining infrastructure, to help it last longer while reducing its environmental impact and fostering sustainable living. We encourage examples that account for cost over the full lifecycle of the investment.
  • Innovation and Technology: Introduce new technologies and innovative approaches to advance sustainability in changing times. We invite demonstrations of technology in action, focusing on prototypes, pilot programs and applications that have been tested in a Canadian municipality. We encourage municipal practitioners and partners to share examples of innovation through processes, technologies and approaches that advance sustainability.

>> Visit the Conference website

Co-ops: the 'Swiss Army Knife' of Community Economies (Webinar Recording)

This session explored how co-ops are catalyzing economic development where all else fails -- building local economies and stronger communities in Canada and around the world.

BACKGROUND

In central Bolivia, an oregano co-op has reversed rural out-migration and created new income for more than a thousand families.  In the Philippines, the National Federation of Co-operatives for Persons with Disability unites 16 co-ops that provide employment to over 600 people -- entirely owned and staffed by people with disabilities.  In Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, the 31 independently owned and controlled Inuit and Dene business members of Arctic Co-ops employ over 900 people and establish local control in key economic sectors. 

Building on the International Year of Co-operatives, this webinar shared insights from these three examples of co-operative innovation:  what made them so successful, lessons for CED efforts in any context, and what’s next for co-op development in Canada and the world.

SPEAKERS

  • Gretchen Hernandez, Simon Fraser University
  • Jason Frittaion, Canadian Co-operative Association
  • Sherry Hennessey, Arctic Co-operatives Limited

WEBINAR RECORDING

This session, part of the Canadian CED Network’s International Committee webinar series, is made possible in partnership with Uniterra

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

EUKN Annual Conference: Shrinking Areas - Front Runners in Innovative Citizen Participation

On December 7, 2012, The European Union Knowledge Network's (EUKN) 5th annual conference will take place in Essen, Germany. The conference will be organised in close co-operation with the Ruhr Regional Association and the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.

The EUKN conference is built around an interactive exchange on citizen participation in shrinking urban areas. To overcome the consequences of shrinkage, joint action is needed. Local authorities need to co-operate with citizens to find ways to maintain the quality of life in their city or town.

EUKN will present innovative examples of citizen participation with regard to their daily life in shrinking areas: health, education, employment, mobility, shopping and sports. Interactive on-site debates are an important part of the conference. They provide a deeper insight in successful policy approaches and offer insight into participatory process facilitated by local authorities.

For more information >>
 

2012 Social Finance Forum: Measuring up

 

November 8 and 9
MaRS Discovery District
101 College Street, Toronto, ON

The MaRS Centre for Impact Investing is excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2012 Social Finance Forum.
 
Embracing the theme of "measuring up," the 2012 Social Finance Forum will delve deeply into the opportunities and challenges of growing impact investing in Canada. A key focus this year is how impact measurement makes a “good deal” a success for ventures, investors and society alike.

Featuring:

  • Exceptional keynote speakers from across Canada and internationally, including Bart Houlahan, co-founder of B Lab, and Jeremy Nicholls, CEO of The SROI Network International
  • Solution-focused and skill-building workshops on social impact measurement and impact investing in Canada 
  • Showcases of leading social enterprises from the SVX
  • Spotlight on Canada's most influential social finance players at the announcement of the Social Finance Awards winnerGood Deals Café

Who will you connect with?

  • Many of Canada’s leading decision-makers and thought leaders from across sectors will attend the Social Finance Forum, including: funds, foundations and private investors; non-profits, co-operatives and social enterprises; finance professionals; academics; representatives from government; professional service providers; and impact measurement and valuation practitioners.

Why attend?

Impact investing has emerged as an innovative investment strategy during a time of significant economic instability and distraction. Momentum continues to build in Canada and globally, with the economic and social imperatives to move this agenda forward more compelling than ever.  
 
Recent progress is encouraging due to $324 million in new capital raised for impact investing in 2011/2012 and increased engagement from a wide array of sectors and stakeholders. With social and environmental benefit at the core of this transformational shift in economic activity, comes the importance of measuring and valuing these impacts.
 
A number of key questions need to be addressed: What is impact? Who is impacted? How is impact measured? How should we value impact? What makes a good deal?

About the Social Finance Forum

The annual Social Finance Forum drives the development of the impact investment market in Canada by convening key players from across sectors to collectively address social and environmental challenges. 

>> Learn more

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Ontario