Conference highlights a growing interest in blending business and social objectives
Government, foundations, private, non-profit sector gather to learn the Why and How of Social Enterprise
Friday November 20, 2009 -- Camille Jensen
TORONTO – Delegates from across the country representing sectors as diverse as private business, non-profit, government and foundations converged in Toronto to learn more about social enterprise as part of the third annual Canadian Conference on Social Enterprise Nov. 18-20.

The first day of the three-day conference provided training sessions on the different stages of social enterprise development in several locations in Toronto.

David LePage, program manager of Enterprising Non-Profits, presented the Why and How of Social Enterprise as an introduction to developing a social enterprise.

LePage describes social enterprises as having the dual purpose of generating income while achieving social or environmental aims and says the model is attracting attention from non-profits and funders alike, who see the hybrid model as part of a sustainable solution.

“There is definitely a growing interest in social enterprise,” says LePage who adds his organization presented more than 30 similar workshops on the model throughout British Columbia in the past year.

He attributes part of the increased interest to a decline in resources that have traditionally supported charities and non-profits, such as donations and government funding, combined with less than optimal economic conditions, which are highlighting a growing need for social sector services.

Delegates were able to learn what defines a social enterprise, what types of organizations can operate the model, how to conduct self-assessments and feasibility studies to determine the potential of the idea as well as tools to measure the value provided.

Janet McCausland says she attended the event because she is hoping to start a social enterprise that would promote natural burials in Canada, a method of burial that does not require wooden caskets, the pouring of concrete in the ground or the use of embalming fluid.

McCausland is a member the Natural Burial Association, a non-profit organization, and sees social enterprise as a hybrid model that could help the association achieve its objectives.

“It allows us to do our mandate . . . but we also want to make a living,” she explains.

More applications to the Ontario Trillium Foundation to fund social enterprises in the Waterloo Wellington Dufferin region is what intrigued Crista Renner to attend the event.

Renner sits on the review team for the foundation and says the organization wants to learn what type of role Trillium can play in funding social enterprises while staying true to their mission of building healthy, vibrant communities.

Social enterprise is becoming more mainstream at Trillium, which promoted the model during its last provincial conference as the “way of the future,” according to Renner.

“I think there is huge potential and I think there always has been,” says Renner of the social enterprise model.

“Not-for-profits offer great lessons and so do business, so let’s take the best of both and that’s where social enterprise is going to win, if you are able to take the strengths from each.”

As one of the few Canadian lawyers specializing in non-profit and charity law, Mark Blumberg says he was interested in the session to learn more about the model, meet people from the sector and contribute to the discussion of the legal restrictions imposed on charities.

Blumberg is interested in how charities can more easily deal with the regulatory issues and says organizations applying for charity status are often unaware of the restraints that come as a result.

Blumberg says he encourages organizations to explore their options, such as social enterprise.

“Business and non-profits can do a lot of great work without having to try and get charitable status,” he says.

The Canadian Conference on Social Enterprise is a bi-annual event. In addition to promoting skills development, the conference featured sessions on building a national policy agenda and high-profile speakers including former Canadian prime minister Paul Martin and United Kingdom Social Ambassador Liam Black.

Related Stories:
Level the playing field for social entrepreneurs, says Martin

Toronto conference to convene, build social enterprise movement

If you have feedback on this article, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 24, or e-mail camille(at)axiomnews.ca.