COVID-19 Update: Join us for the online Symposium!

At Buy Social Canada's core our goal is to help shape healthy communities.

Now, more than ever we are seeing the importance of shaping thriving and resilient local economies. Things will change after the dust has settled from this crisis and the importance of social value procurement can not be understated. Join us to learn from industry experts and the Social Procurement Champion Award winners.

Currently the best action we can take to help our community is to adapt our in-person Symposium to a digital event as we practice social distancing and isolation to limit the rate of infection of COVID-19.

With gratitude for the technology that makes this possible we look forward to connecting with you at the Buy Social Canada Digital Symposium.

View the program and register

Join a conversation to explore how local organizing principles and approaches can contribute to the creation of more sustainable, fair and inclusive economies.

The Local Organizing for Fair Economies Community of Practice met twice in Fall 2019, exchanging ideas, learning, and experiences. We're looking forward to invigorating conversation and expanding our circle in 2020 with an exciting calendar ahead.

January's conversation will be on "Local Organizing for Responsible Development":

The Toronto Community Benefits Network is a leader in local organizing for equitable economic opportunities and inclusion for all, directly impacting the development process in the City of Toronto. Learn from their tangible examples about how to build grassroots support to enable policy reform and in the process transform local economies.

Kumsa Baker, Campaigns Manager for the Toronto Community Benefits Network, will share knowledge and experiences, followed by facilitated discussion and group conversations. 

Join us from 1:00-2:30pm Eastern Standard Time on January 31, 2020.

Register now and connection details will be emailed to you, as well as a reminder a few days before the session.

PRESENTER

Kumsa Baker - Campaigns Manager, Toronto Community Benefits Network

Since getting involved in the labour movement organizing for a union at his workplace, Rogers Centre a.k.a the Skydome, Kumsa Baker has been an advocate for decent work and equitable employment opportunities for all in Toronto. In 2015, Kumsa joined the Research Department at his Hospitality and Food Service worker union, UNITE HERE, supporting key campaigns across North America. He has also organized with the Toronto 15 & Fairness Campaign who were successful in organizing for and winning major changes and improvements to the outdated Ontario Employment Standards Act. In 2017, Kumsa was recognized for his advocacy being selected for the 2017 Young Workers Award by the Ontario Federation of Labour. Kumsa currently works as Campaigns Manager with the Toronto Community Benefits Network, supporting Toronto neighbourhoods in organizing for fairer economies and equitable, local economic development through Community Benefits Agreements

LOGISTICS

• The Local Organizing for Fair Economies Community of Practice is an online conversation space, held through video conferencing on Zoom.
• This session is in English.
• You will need speakers or a headset on your computer.  To ensure your system will be compatible with our webinar platform, look at the Zoom quick start guide prior to the session. 
• Further login details will be sent along with a registration confirmation.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

The Local Organizing for Fair Economies Community of Practice faciliates conversations with people from across Canada and Indigenous territories to:

• Curate resources (Community Benefits page)
• Facilitate conversations about challenges and solutions
• Track policy updates (municipal, provincial, federal, Indigenous, etc.)
• Help identify resources available

Business doesn’t have to be just about the bottom line. Community leaders know that business can be done differently, and can be a tool for social innovation that unlocks effective solutions to pressing social, cultural and environmental concerns.

The Investment Readiness Program (IRP) aims to support them. Successful applicants will get between $10,000 - $100,000 to invest in their social enterprise and help make an even greater positive change in their community. These funds can be used to research, launch, design, measure and scale up your social enterprise to achieve your sustainability plan to take on investment in the future.

This free webinar is intended for social purpose organizations interested in applying to the IRP.  Find out more about the program and the steps to apply.

Register Now

Saskatchewan Co-operative Association (SCA), in partnership with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC), and the Co-operative Council of Regina, is organizing a full day workshop January 15, 2020, in Regina, at the Atlas Hotel.

This event is for co-operative and credit union board members, managers and staff (and anyone else interested) to:

• provide in-depth information on Truth and Reconciliation, Treaties, and the Calls to Action, and
• discuss how co-operatives and credit unions can effectively engage in Truth and Reconciliation. 

The one day session will provide context and understanding as to how the Calls to Action and the goal of Reconciliation came into existence. This will be done through educational sessions focused on the History of the Indigenous Treaty Partners, History of the Treaties, History of the Breach of Treaties and the development of Systemic Racism, and then moving forward in to Reconciliation initiatives and understanding and applying the Calls to Action. In order for Reconciliation to be successful in Saskatchewan, we must explore the truths of our shared histories as Treaty Partners. 

This workshop will provide participants with the information and tools they need to engage their organizations and the communities they serve in substantially responding to Truth and Reconciliation, and the Calls to Action. Examples of how other organizations, including co-operatives and credit unions, have responded to Reconciliation and the Calls to Action will be provided. Facilitated discussions will be held with participants about options they have for effectively engaging their organizations and their communities in Reconciliation.  

This workshop is being organized in response to the very positive feedback we received from our April 2019 version of this event in Saskatoon, and requests from attendees of Saskatchewan Co-operative Association Tools for a New Reality conference held in 2018, where a session was held on Responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action.

The workshop is being provided without charge for the first 50 people to register (one per organization will have access to free registration). Additional registrants from organizations and registrations after the first 50 tickets will be $50 per person, to cover food costs.  Limited space available -so register ASAP to secure your spot!

Register now!

If your co-operative is looking to grow, introduce new offerings to its members, or expand into new markets, the innovative financing solutions from Canadian Co-operative Investment Fund (CCIF) could be the resource you need. CCIF is also an incredible resource for Opportunity Development Co-operatives to access additional capital to finance larger projects to make a greater impact in your community! Also, if you are a lender or involved in local economic development, this webinar offers a ton of value. This (free) lunch and learn webinar is hosted by CCIF’s Director of Community Lending, Christina Baker. Learn more and register for this FREE event today!

Event Details:
• When: December 11th from noon to 1PM MST
• Where: Online
• What: Learn how the CCIF financing can be used to advance your goals
• How: Register Now

Learn more about the webinar: Click here

The World Social Forum on Transforming Economies continues to unfold and move forward, with challenges more urgent than ever in a world in full reconfiguration. In the framework of the new conditions, the registration of participants, organizations, activities and initiatives has been reopened!

The WSFTE process will take place in two stages in 2020: a Virtual Forum at the end of June (25/06 - 01/07) and a blended Forum in October (23-25) in connection with the Solidarity Economy Fair of Catalonia in Barcelona.

Learn more and register