Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building
222 Bremner Boulevard

Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE), in partnership with the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth (MEDG), will host the fourth Social Enterprise Zone and Pitch Competition at Discovery 2018 on April 30 and May 1, 2018.

Nineteen Ontario-based companies will be invited to exhibit their socially innovative solutions on the Discovery show floor. This will build awareness of the companies that exist in this niche market, provide exposure to potential private investors, and engage the broader innovation ecosystem.

Register for the Social Enterprise Zone and Pitch Competition

Successful applicants will receive a complimentary 6’x8’ foot booth, two attendee passes, and travel costs covered if outside the GTA.  This exclusive opportunity gives you access to experts, industry, government funders, investors, engaging keynote speakers, fascinating panel discussions, networking opportunities and an opportunity for face-to-face meetings with sector experts.

Further, the Pitch Competition at this year’s Discovery will provide a platform for five to eight of the showcase companies to pitch during Discovery for a $20,000 award. The award will consist of $10,000 from the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth (MEDG) and a $10,000 legal services package from Norton Rose Fulbright to assist with the further development of their business. Participation in the Pitch Competition is completely optional. However, we encourage any business applying for the Social Enterprise Zone to consider this incredible opportunity to further expand the development of your company.

8am to 12pm
Hanlon Convention Centre

The Ontario Co-operative Association (OCA), in partnership with Lerners LLP, is hosting an educational seminar on April 25th, 2018. Join us for a full morning of discussions on common board pitfalls and how to prevent them.

Both OCA Members and Non-members are welcome to attend, for a nominal registration fee of $25 (Members) and $50 (Non-members).

Register for Best Practices for Co-operative Businesses

AGENDA

If time permits, there will also be an opportunity to share other issues that co-operatives may require assistance with.

The Convention Centre is conveniently located off Hwy 6, about 10 minutes north from the 401, and parking is free. A hot buffet breakfast and refreshment break will be included. Space is limited to 100 seats, so be sure to register early! 

3:30pm to 5:00pm
McMaster Innovation Park
175 Longwood Rd S #105

The workshop costs $60 (plus taxes and fees).

You are encouraged to sign-up early. To provide an optimal experience with the method, the workshop is limited to 10 people.

This workshop will provide hands-on training in using the Group Priority Sort method to identify stakeholders’ priorities (Jacobson et. al. 2011). In particular, this workshop will show attendees how to use the method to ensure stakeholders’ priorities guide evaluations of social programs or initiatives. Attendees could also apply the method for other tasks, such as strategic planning or needs assessments.

Selecting the right set of items to measure and assess a social program or initiative’s performance is a difficult but important process. The reality is that most organizations only have the capacity to try to improve in a few areas at any one time, and collecting data that organizations do not have the capacity to act on takes away from achieving their social mission.

Register for A Method for Identifying Stakeholders' Priorities

Further, different stakeholders often have different priorities for what performance information is most important. For example, staff may prioritize feedback from participants, while a funding agency may prioritize a set of longer-term outcomes, and another funder may prioritize a different set of measures.

We have found the Group Priority Sort method to be very useful in rapidly identifying a manageable set of performance measures that balances stakeholders’ priorities. Essentially, the Group Priority Sort method brings stakeholders together to come to a consensus on how to rank their priorities on a 1 to 5 scale. During the workshop, we’ll show attendees how to use existing logic models or theories of change to create a list of potential performance measures. Then, we’ll review how the Group Priority Sort method can help focus your measurement efforts on stakeholders’ priorities. Lastly, we will complete a practice run of the method.

If you have any questions, you can contact melanie at socialimpactsquared.com

Social Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (SEE), Northern Region Partnership, is gathering business development officers, non-profit organizations, social entrepreneurs and community members to network, and strengthen the North’s capacity to address local social and environmental issues through sharing, training, and resources.

• Increase your understanding of social enterprises
• Build connections for funding opportunities
• Strategize for social enterprise development
• Become part of a mentorship network
• And much more!

Register for the Social Enterprise Round Table 

Key note speaker is Danielle Levine BA, MBA,, of Danielle Levine Consulting is a business educator, innovative program designer, business advisor and social enterprise practitioner. Danielle operates her own consulting practice where she works with various organizations to design programming that works in community. She is currently working on indigenous entrepreneurship programs in Canada’s North focusing on country foods and entrepreneurship and she is the Director of Technical Assistance and Capacity building with Raven Indigenous Impact Fund.

Travel subsidies for social enterprises are available on a first come first served basis.

$35 includes taxes.

For more information please contact: caitlin.wieja at algomau.ca

Come together on October 10 & 11 to take action on building a strong nonprofit sector and an equitable future for all.

Ontario’s nonprofit sector is uniquely positioned to seize opportunities. Our joint experience, skills and capacity make us the leaders and allies our communities need. We have an ear to the ground when it comes to identifying the challenges and opportunities to make positive change.

Register for Nonprofit Driven 2018

We’ll have all new content, addressing fresh questions and opportunities, and building on successes and strengthening movements for positive change for Ontario’s nonprofits, charities, and communities.

More info to come...