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Buy Social Canada June Newsletter
Here's the latest in social enterprise and social procurement news
This Thursday: Net-Zero Procurement webinar with guest speaker Bob Willard
The impacts of climate change are already being felt by communities across Canada. Procurement is a key tool to engage your suppliers with your organization’s goals to reduce carbon emission and slow global warming. 

Join Buy Social Canada and guest speaker Bob Willard (Founder, Sustainability Advantage) to discuss what Net-Zero Procurement is, and how you can incorporate it into your procurement practice using the free, open source Net-Zero Procurement Toolkit. 

June 6, 2024
10-11am PT / 1-2pm ET
Online via Zoom

Reflections from Marketplace Impact: Social Procurement in Action
Marketplace Impact: Social Procurement in Action shared social procurement implementation best practices and innovation while nurturing conversation between engaged purchasers, suppliers, and community members across Canada. Participants engaged in community discussion and networking between sessions that highlighted federal progress on social procurement, how to build relationships between supply and demand, and celebrated Social Procurement Champion Award winners.

One participant said this was the best virtual event he has ever been to! Thanks to everyone who was part of making this time so engaging.

Read our key takeaways from the event here, or watch the full session recordings.

Thank you to Chandos Construction for sponsoring this event.
New free resource: Community Benefits in Construction Guide
At the Marketplace Impact event we launched a new free resource, Community Benefits in Construction: Mandate, Design and Implement Guide, which supports community advocates, policy makers and project owners who want to create community benefits in construction, infrastructure, and development projects. 

Read the Guide for best practices to include community benefits in construction projects.
Next CLASP meeting on June 25 will explore diverse supplier verification
CLASP – Community Learning to Advance Social Procurement – brings together social procurement practitioners with access to exclusive content to power your purchasing. CLASP is a quarterly learning and networking event for Buy Social Canada Social Purchasing Partners and BCSPI members.

Social Purchasing Partners and BCPSI Members can join Buy Social Canada on June 25 to explore the highly requested and nuanced topic of Complexities of diverse supplier self-attestation, verification and certification.

Social Purchasing Partners and BCSPI members will receive calendar invitations to join the event.

Not working with us already? Learn more about Social Purchasing Partnerships or BCSPI Membership.
Sharing memories of David LePage
The Buy Social Canada team continues to grieve the sudden death of our founder David LePage last month.

We shared an In Memoriam with our own reflections on David's life, legacy and immense contributions to the social procurement and social enterprise sectors, and we appreciate seeing so many other outpourings of love and memories about David.

Future of Good shared an article full of tributes to David, Vancity Community Foundation (VCF) shared kind words and amplified the Social Enterprise Policy Fund he created at VCF, Social Enterprise World Forum remembered his impact as a chair of the board, Scale Collaborative celebrated his commitment to BCSPI, and United Way East Ontario thanked him for helping to shape their approach to Community Wealth Building.

These, along with so many more comments, posts, and personal emails and calls demonstrate the impact David made in everything he did. He is truly missed.

Donations in David's memory can be made to the Social Enterprise Policy Fund to help continue his lifelong passion for building a more equitable society.
Buy Social Canada Community Champions are the individuals and organizations that support a shared mission to grow the social value marketplace and social economy within their networks and communities.
Common Approach develops flexible, community-driven standards to change the underpinnings of impact measurement.

They are committed to centering impact measurement on the needs of operating charities, nonprofits and social-purpose businesses and those they serve rather than foundations, grant-makers and impact investors.
Join City of Edmonton for a Purchase with Purpose event on June 6
Purchase with Purpose: Opportunities for Indigenous, diverse and social businesses to sell to the public sector

June 6, 2024
1:30-4:00pm
Edmonton Expo Centre

Purchasers and procurement professionals from Edmonton and surrounding municipalities will host booths. Your organization will have from 1:30 - 4 p.m.
to connect with these purchasers, build up your network and learn more about how to make the most of different procurement opportunities. You’ll be able to learn about the types of goods, services and construction purchasers are actively sourcing, the bid opportunities for the coming year and a better understanding of their purchasing
requirements.

Currently reading: An Opinion piece about wealth distribution and the Canadian budget
Matthew Mendelsohn, CEO of Social Capital Partners, shared his reflections on recent remarks by Mark Carney about the concerning rise of wealth inequality in Canada as an opinion piece in the Toronto Star.

"MP Nate Erskine-Smith asked Carney what he would do about Canada’s growing wealth inequality. Carney’s answer was a bit unfocused, but he made two points clearly: 1) Let’s hope wealthy people give more to charity, and 2) We shouldn’t only focus on redistribution," writes Mendelsohn.

Read the full Op-Ed to hear more from Mendelsohn on why this answer misses the point.

Upcoming Buy Social Canada webinars
Introduction to Community Bonds: Enabling Community Ownerships of Assets
July 10, 2024 | 10-11am PT / 1-2pm ET
With guest speaker Suzanne Faiza (Knowledge Lead, Tapestry Community Capital)

Community finance is one piece of the social value marketplace. Come to this webinar to learn about what community bonds are and how they work.


The Power of Storytelling: Tips and tools for social enterprises
July 25, 2024 | 12-1pm PT / 3-4pm ET

This webinar is right for you if:
  • You are a social value supplier. You could be a social enterprise, a diverse-owned business or you could incorporate social value creation in your business activities.
  • You are engaged in communications activities at your business.
  • You want to learn some simple tools to share your stories of impact.

Join Buy Social Canada at ECPAR's Forum ISA 2024 on June 13
Join Buy Social Canada to discover the innovations and benefits of socially responsible purchasing as part of ECPAR's Forum Innovation Solutions Procurement (ISA) 2024.

June 13, 2024
9am - 6pm ET
Maison du Loisir et du Sport
Salle Le St-Laurent
7665, boul. Lacordaire, St-Léonard, Québec

Essential for managers and professionals in procurement and sustainable development, the Forum ISA 2024 aims to disseminate concrete and inspiring social purchasing practices for all sectors.

Operation Grow

Operation Grow is a social enterprise located in Midland, Ontario. They are owned by Huronia Transition Homes, a non-profit that supports women and families experiencing domestic violence. 

The social enterprise combines a hydroponic farm, retail store, yoga studio, training centre and inspected kitchen to provide a variety of programming to women. The social enterprise gives the women skills training and employment opportunities and a sense of connection.
Outdoor Learning School & Store

The Outdoor Learning School & Store is located in Invermere, BC. They sell books, courses, toys and other educational materials and ship across the country.

100% of proceeds go back to supporting outdoor learning non-profit initiatives.

Buy Social Canada
910-1050 West Pender St
Vancouver, BC V6E 3S7