Buy Social Canada June Newsletter
Here's the latest in social enterprise and social procurement news
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Buy Social Canada launches Seal the Deal Fund |
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Are you a social enterprise, diverse-owned business or social purpose organization who needs financial support, consulting or expert advice to take advantage of a contract opportunity?
Buy Social Canada has established the Seal the Deal Fund to provide non-repayable grants to support consulting, engagement or capital purchases that will directly connect or conclude a supplier relationship with a social procurement opportunity.
Think of this grant program as a ‘last mile to the contract’ fund, giving you the fuel you need to take off on a new business endeavour.
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Voices of Industry: A Paradigm Shift in CBAs |
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Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) have seen a variety of construction industry responses, including an initial sector pushback to perceived issues of added costs and implementation inefficiencies. At the same time, segments of the construction industry welcomed CBAs as a means for engaging with community issues, improved project planning, and addressing industry needs to meet skilled labour demand.
In recent research funded by Employment and Social Development Canada, we found that we may be witnessing an evolution of positive positions and attitudes of the construction sector regarding CBAs.
Read our report to learn more about this paradigm shift in CBAs, and join us on July 21 at 11am PT / 1pm ET for a free webinar and panel discussion about our findings.
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Register by June 22 to save your spot in a comprehensive social procurement training course |
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The deadline to register for the July 2022 cohort of the Social Procurement Professional Certificate course is approaching.
Reserve your spot by June 22 to join a supportive cohort and learn everything from social procurement basics to implementation and culture change in your organization.
The Social Procurement Professional Certificate course is for you if you are:
- Starting or in the midst of your social procurement journey
- In the public or private sector
- Seeking support to create culture change in your organization
- Looking for best practice advice
The course cost is $495 per participant.
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Supporting Westbank CBA implementation on the 150 West Georgia Street Project |
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Buy Social Canada is proud to announce that we have been selected by Westbank as their Independent Third-Party Monitor contractor to support them in meeting the City of Vancouver’s Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) goals for construction of the 150 West Georgia Project.
“We look forward to collaboratively working with the City of Vancouver, community stakeholders, Westbank, Peak, and key sub-contractors to achieve a successful CBA on the 150 West Georgia Street Project.” - Elizabeth Chick-Blount, Executive Director of Buy Social Canada.
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Welcome to our newest purchasing partner in the construction sector, Michael + Clark. As a community-centric organization, Michael + Clark recognizes that building extends to the impacts in our communities and beyond. We are pleased to be working with Michael + Clark to build on team learning and understanding of social procurement and on the implementation of a voluntary CBA project. Find out more about project-specific support for social procurement in construction here.
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Buy Social Canada is working with the University of Toronto on the implementation of social procurement. The University of Toronto is exploring ways to implement social procurement across the University. Through their social procurement pilot program the University will be utilizing training and learning opportunities, building team capacity to formalize and implement social procurement. Congratulations to the University of Toronto on this leadership, we look forward to our continued work together.
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Christina Muia joins the Buy Social Canada team |
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From a young age, Christina has been passionate about social justice and poverty reduction. This has led her to work in Africa, Europe and Canada with the United Nations, the Ontario public sector and several Canadian non-profits. She recently worked with TakingITGlobal on the #RisingYouth program, developing and maintaining diverse partnerships in Ontario, Northern and Western Canada to reach underrepresented youth and communities. Christina co-founded BiaSHEara, a multi-faceted project that connects Black women entrepreneurs in Toronto and shares their stories and impact.
Christina is excited to join Buy Social Canada as Manager of Social Enterprise and Engagement to strengthen social enterprise through social procurement. She strongly believes that this work will have a large social impact that positively enriches diverse communities across Canada now and into the future. Christina loves traveling, a good adventure and solving complex and simple problems.
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Treasury board policy supporting social procurement celebrates 1 year anniversary |
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Social procurement is now an underlying component of the purchasing policy across the entire Federal government!
“The objective of this directive is that procurement of goods, services and construction obtains the necessary assets and services that support the delivery of programs and services to Canadians, while ensuring best value to the Crown.”
This policy is the foundation of the Public Service Procurement Canada, PSPC, policy on best value that came out last fall:
“The Government of Canada is one of the largest public buyers of goods and services in Canada, purchasing approximately $22 billion worth every year on behalf of federal departments and agencies. As the government's main buyer of goods and services (including construction), Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) plays a key role by helping federal departments and agencies define their requirements or scope of work, and obtain what they need at the best value.”
A special thanks to many partners, inside and outside of government, who have been instrumental over many years of advocacy, design and now enacting this policy. We look forward to supporting the next phase, implementation.
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Buy with impact to create employment opportunities for persons with disabilities |
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The complex and persistent need to create effective employment for persons with disabilities continues to be a compelling and very necessary challenge to solve.
We believe that social procurement offers a demand side, market-based solution to create employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. A connection to employment is a critical aspect of addressing related problems of poverty, health, and social inclusion.
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City of Vancouver's Community Benefits Agreement Policy creates positive impact and opportunity |
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The stories of success from the New St. Paul's Hospital (NSPH), the first development project to trigger the City of Vancouver's CBA Policy, continue.
EMBERS (the Eastside Movement for Business and Economic Renewal Society) is a social enterprise and registered community economic development charity located in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, one of Canada's poorest neighbourhoods.
EMBERS has provided day labour and staffing solutions for PCL since July 2021. Some staff were originally contracted on site as security guards/gatekeepers and have now been hired as full-time employees by PCL.
Doug Aason from EMBERS wrote about their experience of working with PCL and placing staff on-site at NSPH, a few of which have since been employed by PCL as full-time employees:
"Another recent hire a couple of months ago is Joe. Site Superintendent at PCL, Paul Devrendt, said to me recently, 'Joe was so amazing... always going out of his way to go the extra mile to help out wherever he could and do anything at all he could to help with never having to be asked.' Although Joe was 65 years of age, Paul said, ‘we saw in Joe what is important to PCL ...a great worker and someone who easily fits into our team...that's what's important to us.'
"EMBERS commends PCL for recognizing the value of each individual worker no matter their age, and for being non-judgemental and inclusive."
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British Columbia Social Procurement Initiative updates: P-Card training, welcome new member Town of Creston, and a Purchasing Power Recap |
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Join Scott Hainsworth and Tori Williamson at an upcoming British Columbia Social Procurement Initiative (BCSPI) webinar to learn about Infrastructure Canada's Community Employment Benefit program, with case study examples from Comox Valley Regional District and City of Surrey.
Register now (BCSPI Members join for free through the Member Home).
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This recently published Guidebook, "Measuring What Matters" accompanies the draft measurement framework for social procurement that is being co-developed with members of BCSPI.
The intention of the measurement framework and accompanying guidance is to provide a common basis for measuring social procurement at a regional level that is linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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Sign up for the BCSPI newsletter to stay informed about social procurement resources and events.
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D.I.C.E.D. Culinary Chefs receive Foodies of the Year award |
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Congratulations to the leaders of Buy Social Canada Certified Social Enterprise D.I.C.E.D. - Chefs Don Guthro and Quang Dang - for their recognition as 2022 Foodies of the Year by Western Living Magazine!
They were recognized for training up-and-coming chefs without saddling them with debt, all while serving up delicious and affordable meals.
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Scale Collaborative invites you to Connect Money Impact on June 29 |
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Do you have a social enterprise that needs investment? Are you an investor wanting to create impact? Are you eager to learn about what is happening in the impact sector?
Connect Money Impact (CMI) is a gathering of impact-focused entrepreneurs, organizations, investors, and ecosystem builders.
This one-day event on June 29, 2022 will feature three learning streams that have been developed to help you get the most value. Register based on the stream that resonates with you the most – Entrepreneur, Investor or Ecosystem Builder. During the event, you can remain within your corresponding program stream or you can mix-and-match sessions to create your own unique learning adventure. The day will culminate in a thoughtfully curated reception aimed at helping attendees cultivate meaningful connections. Entertainment and refreshments provided.
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Toronto Community Benefits Network celebrates champions of diversity in the construction industry |
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Congratulations to all Building Diversity Awards winners. Buy Social Canada's David LePage was pleased to participate in the awards ceremony in Toronto last month.
The Building Diversity Awards, hosted by Toronto Community Benefits Network, recognizes and awards exemplary contractors, unions and client/owners, as well as industry champions who are leading in diversity, equity and inclusion to increase the participation of Black, Indigenous and racialized workers, including youth, women and newcomers, within their organizations.
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Polished Cleaning Services
Polished Cleaning Services, a social enterprise based in Winnipeg, offers residential and commercial cleaning, construction site cleaning and hoarding and remediation services.
Established by Manitoba Possible, they provide meaningful work for people who face barriers to employment, including: people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, newcomers to Canada, and those living with disabilities.
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910-1050 West Pender St
Vancouver, BC V6E 3S7
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