This year when Canada’s honours were being announced, one new member of the Order of Canada stood out – Bell Canada’s CEO, George Cope. It was no surprise that Mr. Cope was being acknowledged for his contribution to advancing Canadian business, although this was a secondary call out. What was noteworthy was that he was being hailed for his leadership in Bell Canada’s social commitment to address the pervasive issue of mental health in Canada.
Our Goal for 2015: Measuring What Matters!
Here at JS Daw & Associates, we have been inspired by the B Corp movement and are making a New Year's resolution to further our goals of becoming more sustainable and 'measure what matters'! B Corporations are companies that take time to think innovatively and create shared value opportunities for all the stakeholders affected by their business. While traditional businesses tend to value their profits above all else, B Corps act with their social purpose at the core of everything they do.
Articulating a Social Purpose: The YMCA Calgary Takes a Stand to Help our City’s Kids
Every non-profit organization has a mission that is central to its operations. In today’s increasingly sophisticated non-profit sector, most organizations can articulate their mission and what they do bring it to life through programs and services. What many organizations can’t do is describe “why.” Why do they do what they do? What is their social purpose and the reason they exist? In the absence of having a clear purpose, non-profits leave significant value on the table.
Soup with a Purpose: The Big Stir 2014
Earlier this week we had the chance to attend The Big Stir, a fundraising event for Soup Sisters, a non-profit social enterprise that brings people together to make a tangible impact in their communities. Calgarian Sharon Hapton, founded Soup Sisters in 2009 with the simple belief that a bowl of soup was the perfect nourishment to help people get through difficult times.
Creating Shared Value In the Extractives Sector
Extracting with Purpose, a new study from consulting firm FSG and the Shared Value Initiative, details the ways that companies in the extractives sector (oil and gas, mining etc.) can create positive societal outcomes by tying their business’ success to that of their community through shared value. Shared value is the unique opportunity for businesses to align their business priorities with social goals.
Putting People First: Human Centered Design
Engaging the people at the center of an issue is the most crucial element of project design. Unfortunately, project designers often skip this step when trying to implement social change. We recently purchased IDEO’s Human Centered Design Toolkitto learn about the responsibilities of project designers in inspiring the people they work with and we have been employing some of its’ ideas in our work. For social change to be sustainable, effective and innovative, we must give community members responsibility for what is going on in their communities and incorporate their input at every step of the design process.
Friends with Benefits: The Rise of the Sharing Economy
What is the Sharing Economy?Also known as collaborative consumption, the sharing economy is broadly based on the lending, borrowing, renting, swapping, bartering or co-owning of goods, spaces, time and talents. This includes, but is not limited to, bike/car sharing, forgoing expensive hotel rooms and renting people’s apartments and houses, crowdfunding, recycling/upcycling, or even sharing one’s talents and skills.
Why I've Learned to Love Disruption
If you had asked me four months ago, my definition of disruption would have consisted of pop-up ads, an illuminated gaslight, delayed flights, or when you’re the only one left at baggage claim and it sinks in that Air Canada has (not surprisingly) lost your luggage.But that was before I started my internship at JS Daw & Associates. During my four month stay, I have worked with leading Canadian companies and have been given the chance to help re-wire and re-imagine their Community Investment Strategies.
An Interview: Why Partnership Brokering Matters
With Partnership Brokers Training Course right around the corner, who better to advocate for it than past participants? So JS Daw & Associates took a (virtual) trip across the pond and interviewed two graduates of the Partnership Brokers Training Course who are presently working in London, UK. Scroll down to see their interviews and find out what makes the Partnership Brokers Training Course so unique.Introducing Marieke Hounjet, Head of Development and Partnerships at Start Network, London, UK.JSD:Can you briefly explain your role at your organization?
The Countdown is On! Just Over a Month Until the Partnership Brokers Training Course Comes to Calgary
For over ten years, the Partnership Brokers Training Course has brought together thought leaders from all over the world, and is the only professional training currently available for those operating as intermediaries in the partnering process. Past participants range from international organizations such as Nike, Unilever, World Health Organization, US Department of State, and Shell, to more local organizations such as Suncor, Enbridge, University of Waterloo, the United Way of Calgary & Area, and the Government of Alberta.