“Inspiring”, “Excellent”, “Networking connections made”, these are just a few of the words and phrases heard around Bayview Yard’s Foundry December 5 at CSED’s 3rd Annual Unleashed Conference.
Unleashed 2018 was a half day event that showcased the incredible potential of social value purchasing to generate concrete benefits for both the local economy and the broader community. Delegates heard directly from social enterprises, government, anchor institutions and corporations who are involved in the social purchasing process.
The morning kicked off with CSED’s Executive Director Michael Murr and Aleatha Bedard-Poole, Chair of CSED’s Board of Directors, welcoming delegates to the Alterna Meet-Up Breakfast and to the event’s keynote speaker Patience Adamu from Crosslinx Transit Solutions. Patience spoke about her experience with social procurement as part of Toronto’s Eglington Crosstown LRT construction and demonstrated how major projects can reap community benefits through purchasing policies that bring social enterprise services into their supply chain.
The event’s first panel discussion was moderated by David Lepage (Buy Social Canada) and brought together Wayne Chu (City of Toronto), Stéphane Giguère (Ottawa Community Housing Corporation) and Andrea Knight (Public Service and Procurement Canada). Panelists discussed the social procurement policies and pilots that they’ve been involved in and how they have turned their intentions into concreate steps forward. Delegates were provided with a behind the scenes look at the efforts being made to bring social enterprises into the supply chain.
The morning’s second panel, moderated by Éthel-Côté (MécènESS), saw Mark Marsolaid-Nahwegahbow (Birch Bark Coffee Company), Doug Pawson (Causeway Work Centre), Martin Chenier (Grey Oak Consulting) and Patience Adamu (Crosslinx Transit Solutions) provide delegates with tips for supplier success. Panelists shared the steps they took and provided top tips for introducing social enterprise products and services into public and private supply chains.
The day closed off with CSED’s very own Brenda Richardson, Director of Sector Development, receiving United Way’s Community Builder Award for her love of Ottawa and helping to build a stronger, healthier and safer community for us all.
Of course the event couldn’t have come together without our generous sponsors Alterna Savings, BDC, United Way Ottawa, Eco-Ethonomics, S4ES, The Elisabeth Bruyere School of Innovation, SLiDE, Grey Oak Consulting and Katari Imaging.
Unleashed 2018 explored how social enterprises can enhance corporate supply chains while contributing to a positive environmental and social impact. Innovators, motivators, thinkers, disruptors and doers came together to learn and share their insights, nurture ideas and help formulate strategies around the growing social enterprise landscape.
