Pivot on Purpose: Reimagining business models to solve social problems
Pivot on Purpose is a biennial celebration and conference that recognizes and nurtures Canadian social enterprises and social entrepreneurs. This two-day event offers opportunities for connection, learning and celebration. This year's event will be held on November 18 & 20, 2021.
On Day 1, join a full day of exciting speakers to discuss and explore the best practices and latest innovations in social enterprise. In the evening, the awards gala will celebrate social enterprises and social entrepreneurs in various stages of growth and impact. Watch ten ventures live pitch to claim top honours in The Trico Foundation’s What’s Next YYC Award. Applaud the top Canadian social enterprise demonstrating outstanding impact and innovation as they receive recognition from The Trico Foundation’s Social EnterPrize Award. New in 2021, the NU Student Social Entrepreneurship Awards will recognize student social entrepreneurs.
On Day 2, support youth as they pitch their ideas on how to apply business models to social issues. The student case competition is open to teams with at least one student registered at a post-secondary institution, the rest of the team may include recent graduates.
This year, the Association of Cooperative Educators is hosting an interactive, virtual ACE Institute for Co-op Educators, Managers and Developers across North America. This conference will bring together co-operators in English, French and Spanish speaking nations, to look at the steps involved in rebuilding, educating and co-operating in a post-pandemic world.
Samuel Minde is tribal citizen of the Ermineskin Tribe. The Ermineskin Cree Nation is located side by side by side of the Samson Cree, Louis Bull Tribe and the Montana First Nation(s), collectively are the Maskwacis Cree. The Maskwacis Cree are Treaty 6 Nations located in what is now known as central Alberta in between the major cities of Edmonton and Calgary. 
The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly exposed systemic vulnerabilities in our current economic systems. These vulnerabilities have exacerbated social inequalities, health, and the climate crisis, and exposed how deeply intertwined our social, environmental, and economic systems are. It is with this realization that we must reimagine the structures that failed us with increased intensity, urgency and creativity, if we are to catalyze solutions for a sustainable recovery. Governments, NGOs, and civil society will each play critical roles in shaping this transition. This conference uses an ecological economics lens to engage with these various actors to inform workable, effective, and inclusive public policy solutions that address the ecological challenges our society faces. We recognize that these solutions are inherently complex, like the system they work in. We encourage presenters to discuss transformative policies that address social and ecological inequalities across regions and between generations.
