New cohorts added for 2024! Register now to save your spot in a cohort of the Social Procurement Professional Certificate course and take a deep dive on social procurement design, implementation and culture change.

Upcoming cohorts:

February 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2024 from 10am – 12pm PT / 1 – 3pm ET

(Application deadline: January 24; Early bird deadline: December 27)

April 9, 16, 23 and 30, 2024 from 10am – 12pm PT / 1 – 3pm ET

(Application deadline: March 26; Early bird deadline: February 27)

Register now to save your spot.

Open Door Group, a founding partner in Buy Social Canada as well as a social enterprise and Social Purchasing Partner, recently put 17 staff through the Professional Certificate course. Participating in this private cohort helped to embed an understanding of the principles of social procurement as they launch their social procurement policy - potentially becoming the first major Canadian non-profit to do so. Beyond training, Buy Social Canada is supporting the design of Open Door Group's policy, reviewing their current spend for opportunities, and working with their team on establishing the implementation plan, metrics, and reporting processes.

"This course not only expanded my understanding of procurement but also deepened my commitment to socially responsible and sustainable organizational practices... One of the most significant takeaways from this course was the realization that social procurement is not just a theoretical concept but a practical strategy that can make a real difference. All Open Door Group folks who completed the training including myself feel equipped to make a real impact through socially responsible procurement practices at Open Door Group. Highly recommended!’’ - Boutaina Elateri

Get in touch with us to learn more about how we can support your organization on your social procurement journey.

Join BCSPI at an upcoming webinar for social procurement insights and learnings:

Trish Kelly (Managing Director, Untapped Accessibility) and Keely Kidner (Equity and Inclusion Coordinator, District of Squamish) will share an overview of what accessibility means, what local governments need to know about the Accessible BC Act, and how to incorporate the requirements of the Act in procurement programs and processes. The District of Squamish, a BCSPI Member, has been proactive in implementing the Act's requirements, and can share additional learnings and best practices.

Register now.

Live captioning will be provided during the session.

We're happy to welcome AtkinsRéalis and Region of Peel as new Social Purchasing Partner - Engage Members.

We'll be supporting both organizations to learn more about social procurement and opportunities for social procurement implementation.

Are you looking to better understand social procurement, social enterprise or Buy Social Canada? Look no further than our new Frequently Asked Questions page.

This FAQ is also a useful resource if you're looking for language to explain key concepts from the social value marketplace to others.

Explore answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

We were pleased to be at the Sustainable Finance Forum in Ottawa to discuss the role of social and sustainable procurement.

Buy Social Canada Chair of the Board David LePage spoke with Minister Anand and Minister Duclos, and facilitated a panel of social procurement champions: Tim Coldwell of Chandos Construction, Jeffrey Cyr of Raven Indigenous Capital Partners, Aatif Baskanderi of The Northpine Foundation, and our CEO Elizabeth Chick-Blount.

A common theme from all conversations was the need for connection, collaboration and partnerships.

“It’s not the cost we need to focus on but the value the purchase brings to people, planet and partners” - Minister Duclos

“We can’t buy at lowest price, we need to buy at best value. Climate change costs $15 billion per year and rising.” - Elizabeth Chick-Blount

Thank you to MP Ryan Turnbull and CCEDNet for organizing this event.

Martin Loosemore, a Distinguished Professor of Construction Management in the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building at University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and the world’s most cited researcher in the field of social procurement, recently shared his praise for a Buy Social Canada book chapter exploring social procurement, construction and the UN SDGs.

"I think this statement will be quoted many times: 'With the integration of social procurement and community benefit agreements in construction, we are transitioning from an industry whose purpose was to merely build structures “on time and on budget” to an industry that is building healthy communities and achieving multiple UN SDGs.'"

"Keep up the great work and thanks for quoting our work too... I think by linking social procurement to the SGDs this chapter will help to mainstream the subject in many peoples’ eyes."

Thank you for the kind words Martin!

Read the book chapter.

We're proud to support the organization of an upcoming information session hosted by Procurement Assistance Canada - National Capital Region, focused on social, green and youth owned or led businesses.

Come and learn more about key support programs that you may not have been aware of or perhaps had misconceptions about.

This is an opportunity for small businesses to have access to key support programs tailored to their needs and specifically to social, green and youth owned or led businesses.

The Government of Canada and partners will be there to present the programs and services available to industry.

Register now, free event.

November is Financial Literacy Month, and you and your network are invited to join Consolidated Credit Canada as they celebrate.

Consolidated Credit Canada, a Certified Social Enterprise, is passionate about helping people across Canada avoid and get out of stressful debt situations. Join them at weekly webinars throughout the month.

Click this link for full webinar details and registration links (PDF).

Buy Social Canada attended SEWF23 (Social Enterprise World Forum 2023) in Amsterdam on October 11-12 to connect with thousands of other purpose-driven people and be part of the world’s largest social enterprise conversation.

In addition to the main event, we participated in an international Social Procurement fringe event with global corporate purchasers and social procurement intermediaries from several other countries, including England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and USA.

Some highlights from the event include learning more about a steward ownership model for social enterprises, seeing the commitment of City staff in Amsterdam to support social enterprise business growth and capacity, and a tour of local social enterprises.

Additional insights from speakers:

“Social enterprise is a solution for business. We need to educate corporations on how social enterprises can help achieve their objectives across the value chain.” - Mo Yusuf, SAP

“If you are not measuring the outcomes that matter the most to the communities you serve, why are you here?” - Awerangi Tamihere, Whānau Ora

“Diversity is counting people and inclusion is insisting people count.” - Atif Choudhury, D&A

“Businesses need social enterprises to achieve their goals.” - Asa Skogström Feldt, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship

Congratulations to Certified Social Enterprise PASS Marketplace for winning the Social Enterprise Workplace Inclusion Champion Award at the Untapped Workplace Inclusion Awards last month!

Here's what PASS had to say about the experience:

"What an honour. Thank you Open Door Group and Buy Social Canada.

"The real champions are our extraordinary members who make PASS Marketplace a safe, welcoming, inclusive (and fun!) workplace. Thank you to our team and to everyone who shops our social enterprise. Your support provides meaningful employment for adults with autism."

Join Vancouver Certified Social Enterprises at two upcoming fundraisers to support their community capital creation.

On November 23, join Binners' Project to enjoy a catered reception, hear stories from binners, and support their goal to raise $40,000.

Get your free ticket.

On November 28, join Megaphone for a Breakfast Fundraiser with special guest Melanie Mark, former MLA for Vancouver - Mount Pleasant.

Get your ticket for the Breakfast.

MSS Ltd. is an Indigenous-owned Certified Social Enterprise that is on a Journey of Reconciliation to promote Indigenous entrepreneurship; create supply chain equity; and to deliver a social value and benefit to health organizations, governments and Indigenous communities throughout Canada.

James Hiebert, who is part of the Turtle Clan, Mohawk Nation, and President of MSS Ltd., recently presented a social benefit cheque for $15,000 from Turtle Island Health and Research Society, the social enterprise arm of MSS, to the Chief and Council of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation last week.

The money comes from profits MSS earned from a contract with Niagara Health to supply acute care nitrile medical gloves. Part of MSS’s business model is to reinvest its profits in Indigenous communities as scholarships for youth, to develop business opportunities and provide greater access to healthcare through local Indigenous healthcare centres.

“Indigenous people have always been about sharing and caring about one another, and moving money in this manner is the Indigenous way. Whenever you can give back to a community, it’s a very good thing,” Hiebert said during the presentation. “MSS is about giving back to the communities where we’re doing business. The profits from our new partnership with Niagara Health will be shared with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.”

The Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada have invested to help Broadening Horizons renovate and enhance their existing training and recycling facility.

The Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, announced an investment of $59,133 to Broadening Horizons in a non-repayable contribution from the Regional Development Fund to assist with their renovations to promote greening and diversity. The Government of Canada has also contributed $531,393 in support.

“Inclusion is the cornerstone of a fair and equitable society. With its newly renovated facility, Broadening Horizons is not only helping to create a greener environment, it is providing meaningful work, training and education opportunities for people with diverse needs and abilities. By coming together to support projects like this one, we are building more engaged, resilient communities and stronger economies.” - Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development

Learn more about the investment.

Are you an international social enterprise that wants to explore the expansion of your enterprise into Scotland?

Do you want to visit Scotland to find out more about why Scotland’s rich social enterprise ecosystem makes them one of the world leaders for social enterprise development?

Get in touch with The International Social Enterprise Observatory (ISEO) and find out how they can help.

Fleurish is a social enterprise florist based in Barrie, Ontario. They specialize in weddings and events, but can also do everyday florals and gifts. As a non-profit organization, they work with local employment service providers to offer training programs to women.

Again & Again is a thrift store that sells unique, vintage, antique and upcycled items in St John's, Newfoundland. All proceeds go to supporting Home Again Furniture Bank and their efforts to end furniture poverty.

GROW Women Leaders is a talent platform based in Edmonton, designed to help women, particularly immigrants and Black, Indigenous, Women of Colour (BIWoC), get hired and advance their career. In addition to employment and recruitment services, GROW operates a cafe and catering company, and a co-working and event space.

reBOOT Canada is a national social enterprise with the purpose to create digital equity and access to computers and internet, as well as training for marginalized youth. They provide IT solutions nationally, and also have storefronts in Peterborough, Toronto and Vancouver where they accept donations of retired computers and IT equipment to refurbish.

Impact-ON, formerly CCO, is a social enterprise founded in Ontario in 1964. They work to promote, develop, manage and innovate mission-driven and impact-driven businesses, including social enterprises and cooperatives. They work primarily with rural Francophone communities in Ontario, offering consulting supports, workshops, and employment and translation services.