Yesterday, Lina Bowden, VERGE Capital provided her remarks to the Senate of Canada and a packed room of MP’s and supporters of the Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy for Canada 5. Below are her remarks.
PANEL REMARKS AT THE SENATE OF CANADA
Nothing generates creativity like a road trip (or train trip!). A few of Pillar's staff headed up to Toronto for the Ontario Nonprofit Network conference, Nonprofit Driven. From economic equity, how to activate a network and what it means to have decent work for women in nonprofits; we enjoyed two days of collaborative thinking, while exploring some tough challenges for our se
Each quarter we invite startup social enterprises to join us for six months of integrated, supported learning at Innovation Works. Sponsored by Libro Credit Union, we provide ongoing coaching, mentorship, learning opportunities and resources to boost the impact of these social enterprises.
Would you rather shop at a big box store or a store with BIG IMPACT? Well, our community has spoken and they want to shop from local social enterprises!
Drum roll please... with 20 investors we have exceeded our goal and raised $2,260,000 in lending capital that will fund numerous social enterprises, environmental initiatives and affordable housing in our communities over the next 7 years.
Each quarter we invite six startup social enterprises to join us for six months of integrated, supported learning at Innovation Works. Sponsored by Libro Credit Union, we provide ongoing coaching, mentorship, learning opportunities and resources to boost the impact of these social enterprises.
"Having a space that is forward thinking but is also value driven and has all kinds of talent in one building, @Innovation Works is a hub of social enterprise and good business in London"
Starting a social enterprise? Embedding social values into an existing business? Creating a sustainable model for your non-profit? Give yourself the best chance of success by immersing yourself in the right environment with @PillarNN.
14 local investors have pooled their capital in the VERGE Breakthrough Fund, exceeding our $2 million goal. We are now actively looking for investments in affordable housing, community real estate and growing social enterprises in Southwestern Ontario.
Pillar is seeking proposals for a facilitator to co-design and deliver a Social Enterprise Coaching Professional Development Program to support Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs members (Small Business Centres, Campus-Linked Accelerators, and Research Innovation Centres) to assess readiness and support development of social enterprises, connect traditional enterprises with social enterprise services, and help traditional enterprises transition into social enterprises. This Professional Development Program will be co-developed and implemented in direct collaboration with SESW partner locations: London, Huron County, St. Catherines, Windsor, and Waterloo throughout the current fiscal year (April 2018 to March 2019).
Follow this link for access to the RFP: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R4aHco9Mo6rInJPRh4qS48rHuRRF6Ibi/view?u...
Pillar is seeking proposals for a facilitator to co-design, facilitate, and deliver digital storytelling professional development to support new and established social and traditional enterprises. These enterprises will be participating in incubation/cohort programs within Pillar’s Social Enterprise Southwest (SESW) program. The program is being delivered in the following locations: London, Huron County, St. Catherines, Windsor, and Waterloo—throughout the current fiscal year (April 2018 to March 2019).
Follow this link for access to the RFP: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nLw3Pb4TbmAxToFs3S8wHnVY_Pk8JB-R/view?u...
