The Accidental Social Entrepreneur
Could a strict definition of social enterprise do more harm than good? And whose interests does the definition best serve in this era of so many business hybrids? About a month ago, I was looking at my empty garden box and all the dreams I had for it this year. I...
Stop focusing on feasibility studies
It’s my job to meet with social entrepreneurs every day. Our conversations typically focus on what they’ve done so far, and what they’ll do next to get their ventures off the ground. Often, those conversations take a turn toward dispelling common conceptions about...
Food security, rural style
Food security refers to the availability of food and one’s access to it. We know from news reports and, in some cases, from firsthand experience, the complex political, environmental, and economic factors that are currently playing havoc with food security on a global...
Social Economy Education in Canada: Much remains to do
In Canada we have a vibrant social economy that tackles complex social issues, often in imaginative ways. The problem, though, is that far too many of us don’t know much about the social economy, or we see the social economy as somehow inferior to the private sector....
Why inspiration won’t save the world
Recently I gave a talk to a bunch of college students. The talk theme was a bit vague, and the title was simply “Apathy is Boring,” so I took an opportunity to speak to these students about the reality and challenges of starting an organization – my...
Tides tackles one of its biggest challenges yet: Energy
{jcomments on} At Tides Canada, we like to say that we deliver “uncommon solutions for the common good.” In essence, that means that we bring a spirited and creative approach to problem-solving. As a national foundation, we support a wide variety of...
Women and social entrepreneurship: Redefining success
Have you seen the V8 commercial where the person smacks themselves on their forehead with the realization that they “could have had a V8”? Well, in December 2007, SiG@MaRS, along with our partners at The Boston Consulting Group, Centre for Social Innovation and (what...
Change. Community-based, community-driven, community-oriented
Finding a better way to get things done. It’s become the rallying-cry of the past few years. From community gardens to the election of Barack Obama, people are fired up about the idea that they can play a role in altering – in improving – the systems...