Housing for the Developmentally Disabled - Being Able to Tag Along

While working on a housing project with families who have members with developmental disabilities, a clear intention has emerged: Families want to find housing for their sons or daughters so they can live away from them. Families want their children, all of their children, to learn to be as independent as possible but remaining at home with aging parents does not allow adults with developmental disabilities to do that and it doesn’t release the parents from the pressing concern of what happens after they die; an unpleasant certainty with which many people grapple on a daily basis.

While some families will desire something else, many are looking for good examples (and vacancies) that will allow their adult children the opportunity to learn to live independently or semi-independently. One fault with the group home system was that the ‘learning’ and ‘living’ were separated and dependency continued through staff. While we cannot fully get away from the need for service provision, families are interested in moving towards a ‘living in community’ model of neighbours, friends and family that respects and accepts our loved ones, regardless of additional needs. With the Baby Boomers moving on in age, they represent the largest section of the population who will need service: our sons and daughters will suddenly not be so different.

As a mother of a 12 year old with Down Syndrome, I knew that there was little available for him in regards to housing, although it won’t be needed for a number of years. This realization came about 5 years ago at a time when I also noticed that there was a housing shortage for seniors in my neighbourhood. I thought that if I ‘cracked that nut’, I might find a solution for my own son. Because seniors also have high service level needs, my thinking began to center on the possibility of shared-service requirements; if one population of individuals had similar service needs to another, would there be opportunity for both groups to share services, share housing, share their strengths and complement each other to overcome weaknesses? And if seniors could be coupled with the developmental disability sector, what about other populations? An idea emerged in my mind -  that the entire sector of community housing, which presently segregates populations, might someday be changed to assist the integration of all persons and populations to live more fully in their communities. 

Because of Baby Boomers, there now exists the expectation that a senior has the right to live independently, even if they need supports; well my son too. And if I have that expectation for him, then I should have it for all. Once we join with that larger population, our children will not be segregated, labeled impossible or beyond hope. A brighter future has suddenly emerged and we just have to tag along.

Always go where there is hope; Never where there is none.

Canada's Wilderness Conservation

Paradigm Shift ? Nahhh, Turn it on its Head and Put Conservation First 


In a conversation with Ron Thiessen of CPAWS Manitoba earlier this week, the constant struggle for conservationists came up again because, frankly, it never goes away.

In talking about the need for a paradigm shift, my thinking moves towards standing it on its head. We, as an ever-expanding, urban environment-loving society, apply all of our thinking towards - Develop first, Conserve later. You can see this in how we plan; buildings first, then trees to surround them: houses first, then how many trees can we maintain or add later: Communities first, then adding in surrounding greenspace. Seriously ?!?  Are you kidding me? We rip it out, then put it back. Now, that's excellent planning (not).

When conservationists go into 'talks' with government, industry and local groups, there is always this come from behind sort of circumstance.  The environment seems to be the last thing talked about, the last thing considered or if it becomes the topic of conversation, it's because it's getting in the way of something else. Yes, big, visual areas tend to do that considering we put our emphasis on something much smaller, like a building or a mine or even a farm. A farm is part of the environment, like everything else but it's not wilderness, so we need to distinguish between an environment that is constructed and one that is left intact - and there aren't many of those anymore either.

When we look out onto the wilderness, somewhere outside of our cities and towns, we see something big; but you can't always trust your eyes. What we see is trees, grasses, shrubs; What we miss is animal herds, migrating birds, replenishing watersheds. Mostly, we miss ourselves in this and think there's something wrong with that but that's not the case. The wilderness needs to be left to the 'wild'. It is what defines it and makes it part of what can sustain human life. On its own, it provides oxygen, minerals, water and those are things that humans need. In small amounts, it can provide us with recreation, vegetation and rest. But don't confuse what we think we can do with it and what it really should be doing. Humans are here as part of something and this is what we always forget. Because we can think and we can make and we can plan, we believe we should re-do this planet to our liking. Folly? You tell me. Seen the weather lately?

To hear some conversations on Canada's wilderness and conservation efforts, go online to So Fine Canada  this Sunday Sept 4th @ 10 am pacific and 1 pm est. Or take a look at the Archives where you'll find a lot of interesting people talking about changing the world in entirely new ways.

An economy not dependent on growth

An economy not dependent on growth - 

Is there such a thing?

According to the dictionary, economy doesn't mean growth, it's defined as 1. the wealth and resources of a country or region, esp. in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services. 2.  careful  management of available resources.  The word originated in the 15th century. So when did everything become defined as 'growth', as in good economy (lots of growth) or bad economy (no growth)?

Having not been trained in economics, I can't answer from an historical perspective but present times indicate that economy is at least evaluated according to growth and it looks like we're heading into 'zero growth', ( See frozen in the north in the National Post), so what will that mean for Canada's economy and can social finance, as an alternative economy, present a positive option even though it too relies on growth?

There is a factor in all this that few discuss but it is the determinant in my opinion - with the largest population of consumers,  'boomers' aging out, how in the world can we continue to rely on growth? If your biggest pot shrinks to less, what would be the point of producing more? This was predicted in Boom, Bust and Echo by David K. Foot and Daniel Stoffman back in 1996. 

"Older people tend to have lower incomes, their consumption tends to be lower and in that sense, consumer- spending growth would be weaker as well," said Moody’s Faucher. "There will be fewer people in prime car-buying years," and "recreational goods and services are a young-adult thing."

If you take into account the emphasis on the environment, you can guarantee zero growth for cars (almost true) and who can afford a cottage or a boat or even a sea-doo anymore? It's 15 years later and yet, we're still thinking growth.

How can social finance work if growth is not the determinant, not the thing we measure and not the goal?

I think it will be in our relationships: Our relationship to the environment with reduce, re-use, re-cycle. There are many social enterprises picking up speed in these areas but the actual measurable growth, on a population basis, is negligible and they want it that way. Our relationship to investment, with the socially responsible investment organizations adjusting and reducing people's expectations around financial growth in exchange for societal benefits like good governance, good working conditions, good outcomes for the environment. Our relationships to commerce such as Fair Trade Associations improving farmers' lives and healthier crops leading to healthier consumers. They don't 'grow' their crop or their land beyond what can be managed, so the end result will be zero growth and yet, the outcome will be better.

Don't think for a second that the word 'growth' will be wiped from the lexicon of social finance; it certainly won't, but there may be a hidden gem here in what we already do. If we reduce our 'need' for growth and rely instead on what makes sense with our present and future populations, we will already be answering a truer definition of economy; back to 'the wealth and resources of a country'. The messaging won't change but our measurement of a 'good' economy will and this is how we already talk in the world of social finance: a better environment, a better society, a better world. See? Things are already looking up.


NOTE: Diagram By Kieyo (blog)

The Impact of Video on Social Finance

The Impact of Video on Social Finance - See What We Mean ?!?

Social Finance always seems so cutting edge to me. The newest technologies and gadgets appear in everyone's hands, on their blogs and in their business. No surprise that social finance has embraced the use of video to further our work and that knowledge is now being shared at lightning speed.

The interesting thing about using a tool like video is that when it is done well, the learnings are immediate. They tend to be brief, on-point and illustrative. There also appears to be a narrative quality that convinces you of the authenticity. People are talking about learning from experience and watching a short 5 min video can give you as much business smarts as a couple of months in an MBA. For pointers, I suggest the new Social Innovation Generation series on Social Finance : Best and Worst Practises. In one night, 9 speakers covered their own social finance organizations with examples of best and worst decisions, learnings and illuminations. If you want a crash course in the ups and downs of social finance, go here.

Organizations on their own are using video as a main source of delivering their goals and objectives. An excellent example is Small Change Fund. They have created a market for micro financing in Canada. Using video and photos supplied by organizations seeking small donations, they allow potential donors to immediately see and hear what the project is about, what the people involved in the project are like and what a donor's impact might be. A new kind of 'If you want to save a tree in the forest, don't get in your car and go there, send money to those who are already at work in the vicinity'.  Saves GHG's, saves time and ultimately saves money because people don't donate (or invest) in things they don't like or agree with. Tahdah! Instant donor gratification and immediate investor satisfaction.

Go online to So Fine Canada on Sunday Aug. 21st at 10 am pacific and 1 pm est to hear how one video journalist and a whole bunch of videos can teach you a helluva lot about social finance in about 5 min flat.

Worth the look. Worth the listen.

A First Nations Formula for Social Finance

 A First Nations Formula for 
Social Finance = Talent + Entertainment >  Community

I don't think that you could describe anything 'First Nations' as separate from community. While there are individuals (obviously), the main way of relating is to the 'community' and everything that is done is considered in that regard, along with the impact that actions will have on communities of the future - 7 generations into the future to be exact.


First Nations groups have long histories of commerce and trade and hence, social finance. Profit alone has never been the motive and so they truly represent the 'history' of social finance as we know it - what benefits one, should benefit all.


Presently the Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC has re-constructed an aboriginal village (Klahowya Village), a composite of 3 host nations: the Squamish, the Tsleil-Waututh and the Musqueam  who have inhabited the lands of the Lower Mainland of BC for centuries. They are committed to growing and promoting a sustainable, culturally rich Aboriginal tourism industry and they do this through  training, information resources, networking opportunities and co-operative marketing programs; multiple benefits, solid business strategies and an excellent 'product' - themselves.  They mentor, they create and they provide cultural awareness and they are thriving in the arena of cultural attractions - 162,000 visitors in 2010 and an expected 200,000 in 2011. Those metrics are not hard to follow.


There are many other aboriginal people with long histories of entertainment and talent helping their communities and needing to make a living to do so. While speaking with Murray Porter, blues pianist with a 35 year musical history, he mentioned that aboriginal musicians have been showcased on community radio, more than 50 stations in BC alone, to allow people in rural communities the chance to hear stories, share histories and engage in the movement to honour oneself and one's community through music. People putting their talent to use to entertain, to engage, and to connect through the music business and best of all, loving what they do.


It is absolutely fascinating to think of the 'long' history of social finance in the context of Aboriginal nations. While it seems new and inventive to me, it is actually thought of as 'traditional' for First Nations people. 'Make money, Do Good' is our short form but for First Nations, I believe the sentiment is 'Make Money, Do Good, Help your people'.


It's never changed in thousands of years. Now THAT'S history.

Community Bonds and Social Enterprise

Community Bonds and Social Enterprise -where no one loses


There is an increasing interest in the use of Community Bonds to help non-profits achieve their financial goals. They can be used to finance program development or for capital build projects where the 'first-in' dollars are hard to find. For people in the non-profit sector, they are a form of investment that clearly shows what the investor is in interested in - you. And this is the most marked difference between community bonds and regular financial bonds; there is a direct link between what you want to do and how your investor wants you to succeed.

Community bonds differ from donations in that the money is eventually returned with interest. In talking with various organizations using community bonds, the construction of the bonds are as individual as the organizations themselves. Creating a bond requires careful financial analysis and the non-profits must understand themselves and their 'business' in order to achieve. Considering the relationship to the investor - direct, connected, local (usually) and of average income, the organizations carry a significant emotional commitment to taking care of and managing that investment and this too, makes community bonds different from other financial products.

The history of community bonds shows they are not a recent invention but one that is being used more broadly than before. Perhaps it is the donor fatigue that non-profits are experiencing or just the fact that there is less 'free money' around to be donated; whatever the case, community bonds offer an alternative that moderate income donors favour and this has captured the attention of social enterprises.

While recent community bond success stories like that of the Centre for Social Innovation clearly show the interest and ability of investors to direct funds to what they care about, smaller groups particularly co-ops, have long histories and rich stories of achieving their organizational goals through investor support as well.

Listen today to hear about the West End Food Coop and their discussion of successful community bonds  on So Fine Canada. They sold out their first issue in 2009 and have created a new bond which is also selling well in the west end of Toronto. Their local community support has created the opportunity to start new programs, expand their farmer's market but more importantly, open a community store. All non-profits should give themselves and their 'investors' the chance to expand and succeed with no loss to anyone.

Worlds Colliding - Social Finance and Modern Life

Worlds Colliding

Interesting plural on Worlds; we don't usually think of more than one but this past weekend showed how surprising co-existing 'worlds' can be when using divergent economic systems.

On LinkedIn this weekend, I read about Ecomodo - Trade and Borrow. A new bartering system facilitated by technology and run as a social enterprise. You can lend (or sell) skills, tools, assets to a broad community or a trusted lending circle. If there is concern about the return of the item being exchanged, you can buy insurance. If you want to help charities, you can charge a price for the 'rental' and then donate the fee. Nice, uplifting, alternative economies stuff that starts at the grassroots and grows. Who wouldn't buy into this type of system, creating a way for friends and neighbours to stop over-consuming and reduce over-production of goods? Since my neighbourhood is about to introduce its own 'dollar' for community specific retail, I can imagine Ecomodo doing very well in this part of Canada.

On Facebook, by contrast, was a posting about the US Treasury Board defaulting on purpose  Treasury Board Just Strategically (Intentionally) Default. According to the source, this creates instant stock market panic and shows the US government is fudging its numbers to stay afloat. Others comment that it will just be a 'technical' situation and investors weren't making much money on their Treasury Bills anyway, so the outcome will be minor. Something like the Canadian Government not being able to pay out on the Canada Savings Bonds - but have very many Canadians ever imagined it? Let alone have the government actually do it?

So how do these two disparate news items 'collide'? They both exist, here and now, within the financial frameworks that we live in. Both 'types' of economies are present and operating but are as unlike as any that could be imagined. One is predicated on community, exchange and zero growth - using what we have. The other is predicated on a demand for growth, the requirement for profit and guaranteed return (however false that may be) and making new.

Between these two worlds sits social finance and I suddenly feel the precariousness of what I thought of as our 'perch'. The old economic system is obviously in decline (they would only default if things were bad) and this new economic system, hailed as a return to the better world of before, was, alas, also something that went into decline. And although the barter system would seem an easy add to sf, investing and business creation are the cornerstones of social finance too.

All of the positiveness, vigour and creativity of social finance could not exist if we had not had the time to sit upon our 'perch', just slightly away from the fray and with the time to consider our options. No surprise that our time of intellectual consideration has come to an end.

I find the momentum of social finance invigorating but challenging to keep up with, never mind the dismantling of present economic systems and the full-scale replacement of governments' treasuries with local community 'dollars'. I don't have the 'chops' to sit here and figure this out and I no longer have the time anyway - none of us have.

Over the weekend, I felt the squeeze of where social finance sits and the reality of our work. We're being shaken from our perch: Like shifting tectonic plates, the world's economies, accepted and alternate, are colliding and creating a new base - social finance. Interesting place to stand or sit but also very shaky; let's hope for tremors and not 9-point earthquakes; I have no idea how to put together what's required for this kind of Emergency Preparedness Kit.

Leadership, Mission Possible as Social Enterprise

Mission Possible: Social Enterprise + Innovative Leadership PLUS 

how to get someone to donate a cruise ship

Mission Possible is an extraordinary organization filled with amazing people and I don't just mean the staff. The videos that they show on their website www.mission-possible.ca emphasize the many faces of people living in one of Canada's toughest neighbourhoods, Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. It's tough because the poverty, addiction and mental health issues blanket the community and cause most of us to give up hope. But when you watch the videos, you'll change your mind and addressing your prejudices about the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver won't be the only thing you'll learn either.

Mission Possible put together a Lunch & Learn meeting this week - on a cruise ship no less. As I stood there on a Hollland America Lines ship (I've never been on a cruise ship before), I thought 'How does a non-profit get someone to donate them a cruise ship?' With Brian Postlewait and the Board members of Mission Possible at work, anything is possible. Cliches aside, how do they accomplish everything that they do?

I apply the word 'extraordinary' to them at every turn. Not only did they get a cruise ship donated as a board room but they also got a South Pole explorer to be the keynote speaker - seriously, what can't they do?

I tout Mission Possible as an example of leadership, vision and caring in our fast-paced, constantly changing world of social finance. They run 2 social enterprises to provide meaningful work to people whose lives have lost direction, not meaning and they show value of everyone: their staff, their Board and volunteers, their corporate sponsors and even someone like me, working alongside them in the social finance sector.

Tune in on Sunday June 26th to So Fine Canada to hear what extraordinary sounds like straight from the leaders in our field.

Enp's 15th Anniversary Celebrations

 Enp's 15th Anniversary Celebrations PLUS 7 Small Wonders of Canada Campaign

Enp (Enterprising Non-Profits) turns 15 this month. What an amazing organization with its hand in almost every new social enterprise in BC. This organization has been at the forefront of developing mechanisms for non-profits to create alternative revenue streams for the last 15 years. If you're interested in attending their celebratory event, go online to enterprisingnonprofits.ca. The event being held at Granville Island in Vancouver is only $10 to attend.

If you have been looking at the 7 Small Wonders of Canada campaign brought to you by smallchangefund.org, you will notice some extraordinary community projects coming to the attention of Canadians. There were 60 submissions for 7 spots and the projects which were selected cover some amazing issues in a number of communities in Canada. The projects themselves cover local community problems dealing with some aspect of issues for youth, the environment, First Nations and cultural diversity. It's an amazing campaign deserving of everyone's attention. Check them out at Small Change Fund.

Video care of Sarah Hawkins, Intern smallchangefund.org

Qqs Projects Society  Bella Bella BC 

http://www.qqsprojects.org/

Celebrating Small Change Fund

 So Fine Canada changing format to celebrate SmallChangeFund.org

Beginning Sunday June 12, 2011, So Fine Canada will change its format to include a segment highlighting the “Seven Small Wonders of Canada” campaign created by smallchangefund. Staff and video presenter Sarah Hawkins will provide project highlights of the Canada-wide campaign which showcases 7 of the top projects being honoured for their work in community with youth, First Nations, the environment, social justice and cultural diversity.

‘There’s an enormous amount of talent in these communities.” said Dani LaGiglia, Program Director. “The projects highlight issues that need to be solved. They need a small amount of money to do so and smallchangefund.org is showcasing these great projects to make that happen.”

The Guide to Social Finance in Canada

    Brand new: A Guide to Social Finance - yahoo!

How long have we waited for this? I am thrilled that Social Innovation Generation (national) and socialfinance.ca and a whole bunch of other leaders in the field have created a 'Guide' to social finance. Covering a lot of the topics and leaving room to add, this is going to be the place for people to access what they need.

In a conversation with Joanna Reynolds, coordinator on the effort, she mentioned that they've designed it for 3 speeds: you can grab some info in 1 min, take a look around in 3 and do a deep dive, and maybe never leave at around 5 min. Love, love this set-up. For all the times that I've just wanted a definition, it could take me an hour to find a sentence. Now it will only be a minute. For someone wanting to get familiar with a concept, how about 3 min to get the gist? And finally, if you're really into this stuff and maybe carry it around on your Sony e-Reader (I won't mention any names), you'll be able to go directly to what you need and assimilate it quickly and start off down the path of wherever you were heading. Fantastic stuff!

This Wed. May 25th, there will be a live webinar for anyone wanting to learn more about the Guide. You can register at Guide to Social Finance. How cool it that ?!?

The Value of Internships

The Value of Internships

There's much to be said for getting fantastic workers for free or at a fraction of the cost but people have to remember, and honour, that these are suppose to be reciprocal arrangements and interns are not gophers or the top elite slumming for some fun; when you get an intern 'worth their salt' , make sure you spice up their career life.

Internships are fast becoming a company's way to get their communications plans done specifically through social media but what's happening is that, seen as a cheap or no-cost method to achieving success (meaning more profit), businesses are not learning how to operate the social media themselves. Throw in a lack of attention to identifying and developing the interns' career needs and you can see why the employment site CanadianCareers.com prefaces their list of internship positions with the words, "There are lots of internships out there but some of the good ones are a little hard to find."

Personally, I think just about every project I work on could do with an intern but truthfully, I don't have the time to train AND to learn and so I must limit the number of people I bring on. Usually, I'm looking for the best and brightest who can self-manage with little direction. I'm good at strategy, planning and development and I need people who can 'run with it' when I say 'Go'. I give them mentorship, access to my networks and I try to help them get full-time jobs as the internships are winding down. I realize that I am like every other employer; we all want the same things in these types of employees but are we willing to give enough to get them?

When I was younger, 'internships' were summer jobs, work/study research projects funded through the universities and financial aid or working in some relatives office for minimum wage and really feeling like the 'hired help' (not valued). It's a shame that many businesses are continuing to do this, because nowadays, interns have skills that we don't and if we don't train and challenge them, they'll walk away with a 'good riddance' attitude and the businesses? Big loss.

Modern business means relationships. It means valuing people for what they put in and having the humility to admit that someone who is more than half one's age could probably run the business cheaper and more effectively but they just don't know how.

What we teach is the context, the specifics of product development or service delivery and the cycles of business. You can only get that through experience, so make sure that the best and brightest are lining up to get their experience with you. Become the best and brightest facilitator of interns. As long as you keep your end of the bargain, you'll get 'opening night sell-out crowd attendance' and the benefits will be measurable. And maybe, they just might recommend you on facebook. Likes!

Women in Leadership

So Fine Canada applauds the Women in Leadership Foundation for 10 Years of Success  

The Women in Leadership Foundation (WIL) has been an outstanding champion of encouraging women in business. By developing a national mentor program, an Aboriginal Women‘s Leadership Forum, a National Speakers Series and networking and gala events, WIL continues to work hard to inspire and celebrate women’s success. This year, it held its 6^th Annual BC Women in Business Luncheon. Presented by TD Bank Financial Group, this luncheon is a part of the Women in Leadership National Spotlight Speaker Series and showcases female role models who share their journeys of success and inspiration. 

On Mother’s Day, Sunday May 7^th, So Fine Canada will honour the Women in Leadership Foundation’s 10 years of excellence in helping women to achieve their personal and professional goals by airing the speakers’ presentations on this year’s theme ‘Our Story, Our Success’. Go online to hear the BC Women in Business Luncheon with guests:

Sandy Cimoroni — Senior Vice President, Financial Planning — TD Waterhouse

Janet Wood — Executive Vice President, Maintenance Go-To-Market — SAP

Debbie Butt — Director of Communications & Brand — Rick Hansen Leadership Group

Andrea Raso Amer — Partner — Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP

Moderator: Rita Rogers — Senior Manager — Canucks Sports and Entertainment  

Listen in on www.talkradiounlimited.com to hear fantastic examples of ‘pivotal moments’ which impacted the success of each of these highly regarded business women and learn new ways to help you achieve your own personal and business goals.

So Fine Canada airs Sundays at 1 pm (est) and 10 am (Pacific). It is the ‘Hear > See > Click > Social Finance in the country. Go online to http://www.talkradiounlimited.com/ and listen in by using the onscreen media player. Listeners are encouraged to call in and ask questions. On Air Call-ins:(612) 293-4262

Social Enterprise and International Collaboration

Social Enterprise and International Collaboration: Business and Fun

Where else are you going to continually identify fun, collaboration and innovation as 'business' other than in the realm of social finance? This week on So Fine Canada, social enterprise gets its proud review from some great professionals in the field, both at home and abroad. David LePage and Kim Buksa of enp Enterprising Non Profits discuss their experiences and delight in the development of social enterprise in Canada and around the world from Johannesburg to Scotland. Julie McDowell of ClearlySo.ca and its slightly older sibling, ClearlySo.com represented by Rod Schwartz, discuss their views on Canadian, American and British developments and some trends showing big interest from youth and angel investors in helping social enterprises develop to meet social and business needs. As always, the news, views and everything in between reminds me how great this movement is and if you don't think 'movement' is the right word, consider this list of adjectives which I think does it justice: smart; dynamic; lively; forceful; energetic, vigorous.

Yep, says it all.

Honouring Aboriginal Women and Leadership

Honouring Aboriginal Women and Leadership

Next week on Wed. March 30th at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver, the Women in Leadership Foundation and Scotiabank are honouring some very fine women whose leadership, courage, creativity and intelligence mark them as women to be listened to. Get a ticket because you don't want to miss it! Click here for Tickets. It's even free.

Every year, I attend. As a non-Aboriginal woman, I first went thinking that I didn't belong but I really wanted to honour female leadership and I was thinking that Aboriginal women just don't get their due, so I decided to show up. If you go to something momentous and think that it won't be for you, you'll be mistaken ~ I certainly was. Inspiring women share messages of empowerment and strength and they describe how they overcame tremendous obstacles to be successful in their careers. And they really are - successful, inspiring, amazing. Just look at this year's lineup of speakers.

Pam Baker — Fashion Designer/Entrepreneur
Sandy Scofield — Musician, Composer and Singer
Janet Marie Rogers — Writer and Poet
Dr. Judith Sayers — Adjunct Professor at UVic Law & Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Peter B. Gustavson School of Business

These women are accomplished. They are authentic. They tell true stories that some people might not want to hear but makes them who they are and they know that. They also talk about family. They never forget family and I have learned so much from First Nations women in that regard. I can't thank them enough.

So I will honour the leadership that I see in the Aboriginal Community by showing up. I'm also going to be lucky enough to dedicate Sunday's show on So Fine Canada to the hugely successful world of First Nations social businesses. And in addition to my Forum guests of artists, organizers and entrepreneurs, I'm also having Slam Poet, Zaccheus Jackson who just happens to be pretty great himself. Actually, he's a Champion, so how cool is that ?

Haven't heard him yet?  Never heard the stories of Aboriginal Women Leaders? Don't miss this.

10 am Pacific, 1 pm est on talkradiounlimited.com

Socially Responsible Investment

Socially Responsible Investment: How ya gonna do it?

When Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) started more than 20 years ago, it was a different animal. Anti-this and anti-that, people used what was known as negative filters to keep money away from companies they didn't support. In that way, we felt protected and we showed people what we did support - issues like no-nukes, anti-tobacco, stopping Apartheid. But the corporations were smarter. They bought up companies demonstrating our values and then we were stuck not contributing to anything and losing money. People who didn't have a SRI investment strategy were making a killing in the markets; the rest of us were SOL.

A couple of decades later and all this has gotten more complicated. On top of that, more people want to do it but they can't get access to products or funds that perform like their old stock portfolios AND they can't get investment brokers to buy in and offer up the little that's there. Using the old system of metrics, SRI stocks still look risky and even when they're performing well, they don't measure like the huge funds that can cover over loss and slide things around to make it look like stocks are climbing or are a 'buy', even when they're not. So how do people understand and access SRI in an age of financial market collapse and cover-ups?

This Sunday on So Fine Canada, listen in for interviews with Hugh Wheelan , Managing Editor of Responsible-investor.com talking about how his site is used by Impact Investors (large dollar operators like pension funds and high net worth individuals) and small time folks to get information on issues, new attitudes and world actions. Think China doesn't care about the environment? Time to test your assumption.

Also coming on the show will be Eugene Ellmen of Canada's, Social Investment Organization. They are a trade association for financial professionals who do support SRI and maintain a commitment to environmental, social and governance (esg) principles in their work. These are the people that you want to work with if you are putting your money behind SRI.

If SRI is new to you, then this show will be a good primer and for those of us ol' souls who showed up with the negative filters long ago, we need to move forward. Take an hour to start moving. So Fine Canada Sundays at 10 am Pacific and 1 pm EST.

Social Finance and Poverty Reduction

 Social Finance and Poverty Reduction: Don't just throw money 

As people take stock of the issues of poverty in Canada, in North America and throughout the world, we are at the point of admitting the truth: dollars don't do it. This is counter-intuitive; if people don't have enough money, then just give money, but that is not enough of an answer. After many years of government programs and international aid, poverty reduction has not happened and poverty elimination? Almost not at all.

Reading from the summary of a recent re-think by an American bank calling for community action, the Southern Bancorp situated in Arkansas and the Mississippi Delta, invested millions of dollars to mitigate poverty in these communities, but the effort failed to have a significant impact on reducing poverty. Sad AND true. We don't understand the complexities of this issue well and have spent years reducing it to a single definition.

On Sunday March 13th, So Fine Canada will be speaking with some guests who understand the issue and who can speak to the changes needed and some ways in which we can approach them. John Stapleton of Open Policy Ontario  will be talking about 'Food Deserts' here in Canada. Janice Abbott of Atira Women's Resource Society will be discussing how her organization created social enterprises to assist them in their mission and Josh Rubin and Gabriel D’Amico-Mazza of Build Nutrition are hoping to impact poverty in developing countries through better health.

Order of Canada Ceremonies

Attending the Order of Canada Ceremonies in Vancouver

It's a little bit shocking to attend a ceremony for the highest honour in the country and not see the recipients get them. The reason I didn't see them receive their medals was because they were wrapped up and put in gift bags - huh? As I said, quite a surprise.

Does this say something about Canadians? We know how to party - bunch of yahoos any Saturday night down on Granville and we certainly know how to sing the anthem - ANYBODY miss the Olympics? But do we know how to congratulate ourselves or at least those of us who don't carry a stick (as in hockey)?

Social Finance and Community Housing

Social Finance and Community Housing: What gets in the way?

On Sunday March 6th, So Fine Canada begins its exploration of Community Housing. With the demand so high and the need so great – why isn’t it getting done ? As usual, our solutions will come from our connecting.

Guest Karen Stone, Executive Director of the BC Non-Profit Housing Association has been creating a new partnership with the Columbia Basin Trust to support Basin communities and organizations in taking action on local affordable housing concerns. With a number of issues constraining affordable housing, the new program will link communities and organizations with experienced affordable housing consultants and with other communities or organizations that have relevant experience. The BCNPHA will assist groups and organizations to find housing solutions in response to local needs and this will help people to care, connect, and contribute to their local community’s aim to build affordable housing.

Barbara Bacon, Executive Director of the Housing Foundation of BC will be discussing how this organization has been building, renovating and providing affordable seniors housing in Vancouver for over 50 years. As a foundation with considerable assets, the HFBC owns more than 20 buildings in Vancouver and has been able to consistently action their mission to house people with dignity. While re-purposing the older housing stock, the foundation has been able to secure sites and slowly renovate their buildings reducing displacement of original tenants, while ensuring that affordable suites do come available for seniors.  However the demand out paces the supply and support and service needs now create a complex circumstance in which to create new housing.

Bill Rapanos, Trustee with the Dunbar Housing Trust and retired City of Burnaby Planner will discuss zoning and municipal impact in the building process. As housing advocates seek a return to a National Housing Strategy from the federal government, local citizens are also interested in what can be done at the municipal government level.  If cities have control over housing, why is it so hard to build?

‘What gets in the way?’ is a focus that more and more community housing groups are discussing. Listen in this Sunday March 6th to learn how to build community through our housing and how to connect with others at work in the sector. And as always, there will be a need to discuss how to make the money to keep it all going.

So Fine Canada on the Environment

So Fine Canada on the Environment - Not What You Think!

Today's show had quite a bit of colour but not all green, well not the way most people would expect on a radio program dedicated to the environment. And like all of our guests, today's group were outstanding in representing their social finance businesses and their colours varied from grey(parking) to yellow/white (straw for paper) to blue (ocean kayaking).

Because of technical issues, Matt Bowes of Gabriola Sea Kayaking opened the show with a winning discussion of participatory sea kayaking and taking 'tourists' to our provincial and national parks so that they could witness the need for support and upkeep in those parks: our wild spaces need money too ! Kudos to Matt for stepping up when technology failed us and filling in with great comments and enthusiasm. Check out his and Jen's fabulous looking  BLUE site kayaktoursbc.com

Fortunately for So Fine Canada, skype finally began working and we got Bryan Slusarchuk of Greenscape Capital on the line to enthuse about - parking lots! The greening of parkades is their number one ambition and money-maker. Greenscape is the business leader in this GREY arena and they make money and help others with retrofits, energy reduction, alternate energy sources and lower costs. It's an unusual but very profitable way to help the planet and people should check out their site and consider investing in this TSX listed business group TSX.V: GRN.

Finally, So Fine Canada wrapped with an amazing look into an alternate YELLOW/WHITE paper substance- straw with Canopy Planet. Nicole Rycroft is their very effective E.D. and Canopy counts itself as having 700 corporate partners in their efforts to reduce logging through the use of the markets. People continue to use paper but how we do it and with what will determine the way forward. See the initiatives that Canopy has put forward saving 400 million trees and utilizing the remainder of wheat chaff (straw) as a new source.

As the show wrapped, emails and phone calls came in with people commenting about the things they hadn't considered before. Thank you Matt, Bryan and Nicole for helping So Fine Canada keep on its mission to inform and promote everything to do with social finance in the country.

Social Impact Bonds explained

Amazing ! Cool ! Simplistic but totally understandable - A Presentation on Social Impact Bonds

If you haven't seen an explanation of Social Impact Bonds, I suggest you take a look.

You'll be seeing many more of them in the very near future and I think that once people are familiar with them, investing won't be far behind.

Not convinced ? Try this Presentation

Social Finance and Connecting

Social Finance and Connecting: Not just your money

 On Sunday Feb. 20th, So Fine Canada will be highlighting our ‘more than just profit’ attitude of running a business and solving social problems; our solutions will come from our connecting.

Guest Vickie Cammack of Tyze Personal Networks will be speaking about the organization she co-founded to “build real-life personal networks for those who have been marginalized.” Tyze is a mission-based business that ‘builds connections between our formal and informal systems of care’. Most Canadians will become people in need of ‘care’ at some point in their lives and will benefit from a coordinated network of support. The rapidly aging population will not be able to afford to purchase all of their care needs, nor will governments be able to supply them. Thinking now and finding solutions to help people care, connect, and contribute is the organization’s aim.

Julie McDowell of ClearlySo will be explaining her organization’s convening of ‘The national marketplace for social business, enterprise and investment’. An international membership-based business, Clearly So provides members with information and opportunity to connect and Julie will be discussing the benefits of membership here in Canada and ClearlySo’s contribution to social finance in the country.

Kirsten Daub of Cafe Etico will be talking about the fair trade marketplace and Co-Development Canada, the  non-profit international development agency based in British Columbia that builds partnerships between Canadians and Latin Americans. It’s aim is to foster learning, social change, and community empowerment and to do it with coffee.

Listen in this Sunday Feb. 20^th to learn how to create community, connect in our lives and make money to keep it all going.

Everybody's Home Town

April 2010 issue

"My Home Town" by Ray Robertson - Everybody's Home Town

I came across an old issue of Canadian Geographic, last April's as a matter of fact, with a terrific essay and great photography of the author's home town Wallaceburg, Ontario. I've never been to Wallaceburg; I don't have to go; I grew up in my own home town.

The essay captured everything I remember of 'back home': the river; the land; the people. It talked of the hay days and the bust days but mostly, it listed everything that anyone from a small town has ever seen or touched in their town with all of it etched in memory, completely forgotten until someone else writes it down but there it is - your town.

"The bar where everyone buys that first beer. The church where you learned to believe. The tattoo parlour you were warned away from... the cemetery where the town buries its dead. The hockey arena and the baseball fields and the parks. The weekly euchre gatherings.The hospital where your mother passed away; where your daughter had her tonsils removed.... And the river that runs through all of it, "

People say that I didn't grow up in a small town 'coz I was sent home each summer and so missed the winters, the falls and the springs. Some years, I was home. Some years, I was just visiting at odd times when summer was a distant past or something to look forward to. And 'some years', are the ones right now that I've missed, year after year and season after season, because now I live so far away, that I don't go home anymore but it's not just the distance.

Robertson's essay reminded me to go home in my mind. He gave me all the prose, all the synapses popping and sizzling to the exact point where I can feel the breeze and hear the poplars sway and squint into the light while the cicadas wind up for a good one.

Lucky to be able to write like that. Kudos to Ray Robertson.

The State of Social Innovation

The State of the (Social Inno) vation

Felt like I had to borrow that american reference just to emphasize how important the current issue of The Philanthropist is to social innovation. A tome on 'us'; it's the most comprehensive summary of where we are that I've ever read. I keep it on my e-reader, which people may know, is never far from me.

This week on So Fine Canada, I'm going to have the opportunity to speak to the editor, the supporter (big time) and a contributor and then, we'll talk with a fantastic successful social enterprise, the Potluck Cafe. Imagine, everyone and everything (well, it feels that way) regarding social innovation in just 423 pages! Unbelievable (I mentioned that it was a tome).

While it might take you a bit to get through, I suggest you keep it handy. Clear thinking, the most recent issues, points being raised worthy of a lot of discussion and free! Get one! current issue Vol 23 No3

This Sunday , go online to So Fine Canada and listen in for Don Bourgeois, Tim Brodhead and Nora Sobolov plus Heather O'Hara. More interesting than the State of the Nation address any day (my opinion of course).

Paul Martin and the Capital for Aboriginal Prosperity and Entrepreneurship -Cape Fund

Paul Martin and the Capital for Aboriginal Prosperity and Entrepreneurship (Cape) Fund

Yesterday on So Fine Canada, I played an interview with the Rt. Hon. Paul Martin. He's an excellent man, very generous of character and extremely committed to Aboriginal Leadership and social finance. I appreciate his stories of how he got into supporting Aboriginal businesses and the development of a $50 million dollar fund to help those businesses succeed. For anyone interested in reading about how to access that fund and the criteria click here.

We also talked about the two businesses under investment and a third soon to come online. I'm looking forward to the announcement on that one as I like what the other two businesses are doing, so I'm positive that the next one will also be great. Take a look at One Earth Farms and also Manitobah; I think you'll be equally impressed.

It's easy for me to be positive about what I see around me in terms of Aboriginal Leadership; there is a lot going on in BC and the country. What's missing is more wide-spread recognition of how good these businesses are and what they are doing for the future, for all Canadians. It's a case of when one of us succeeds, we all succeed. For too long, First Nations people were not able to succeed in their own right but they have decided to change this and like anyone moving forward, a little help goes a long way.

If you need more examples, consider the Women in Leadership Aboriginal Awards WIL -Aboriginal Women in Leadership coming up in March. The previous years have been astounding for what women Aboriginal leaders have been able to achieve. I leave each time brimming with admiration having heard some of the most remarkable stories of my life. They impact me and encourage me and show me ways to be hopeful. And many of them run band businesses that make money too.

Just love that.

Higher Internet Fees = Lower Small Business Profits

Stop the Meter campaign

Higher Internet Fees = Lower Small Business Profits

It's not rocket science that when costs go up, profits goes down and the slim lines that most sme's operate under means they cannot pass on increased costs to the consumer; the consumer will just go elsewhere.

So while the corporate internet giants are out lobbying for a bigger and bigger share of the telecommunications market, Canadians are getting wise and researching this 'need' to have a metering of the internet. The larger players are interested in having the price of the internet services they provide (one estimate is as much as a 300% increase -for shame) be billed by the gigabyte, meaning Canadians will now have to monitor their usage or pay big . And just like our cell phone costs, as compared to other nations, Canadians are already paying far too much and this impacts small businesses and how they operate.

33rd Annual 3 Day Novel Competition

Participating in the 33rd Annual 3 Day Novel Competition

I wasn't one of the winners of the 33rd International 3 Day Novel Competition but I certainly did succeed. An experience like that reminds me that we often equate succeeding with winning; neglecting the effort, the improvement and the sheer will to achieve.

I got my certificate the other day, months after staying up and typing for 3 days on end, formalizing the plot, arranging interesting points about the character, throwing in some humour to what was not a funny life situation and the experience of creating was almost forgotten. This certificate reminded me that I had done something on that last September long weekend, something I had not achieved before, something my children were proud of me for attempting, something which had no bearing on my professional life (unusual for me) but a something that did have value.

You will not be reading my novel, completed in just 3 short days but you will have a chance to read the winner's Jennifer K. Chung whom I congratulate whole-heartily, not just for completing the task of writing her novel in 3 short days, but for doing it with such quality and skill as to become this year's winner. She is the envy of thousands of us who also tried and achieved but for ourselves, not so much the world.

I am looking forward to reading Terroryaki in the next year and I suggest, you consider it too. Here's the link to get you interested  Winner- 3day novel contest 2011.

Canada’s Only Social Enterprise Dragon’s Competition

Canada’s Only Social Enterprise Dragon’s Competition

 Vancity Community Foundation and JDQ Systems’ 3Spheres of Reciprocity Initiative have teamed up for the 3^rd year in a row to bring to Vancouver another exciting social enterprise dragon’s competition. Engaging, stimulating, and ‘quite a show’, the competition presents the best the field of social enterprise has to offer with each business vying for cash and two other chances for a full-scale business review and assistance. In the world of social finance, this competition puts the success of social enterprises on display for supporters to view the amazing abilities of social enterprises to meet their mission, help society and make money.On Sunday January 30^th, So Fine Canada will host the originators of the Social Enterprise Dragon’s Competition, Liz Green of Vancity Community Foundation and Jon Morris of JDQ Systems. As partners and founders of the event, both guests bring a wealth of knowledge and insider information to help social enterprises get into the competition. Additionally, one of 2010’s winners, Mission Possible’s, Executive Director, Brian Postlewait will be on the show to discuss their experience and to offer some compelling advice to get more social enterprises into the competition.