It’s time for a Centre for Social Innovation in Victoria
I’m a fan of the Centre for Social Innovation in Toronto. It’s a dynamic model of collaboration for public good. We could use one like it, here in Victoria, for Southern Vancouver Island.
Last year, I wrote here about the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI), and their executive director, Ashoka Fellow Tonya Surman. (Ashoka Fellows are [...]
The Green Collective: Using co-opetition to promote local businesses
Are you looking for eco-friendly and socially responsible products and services? In Victoria, the Green Collective, an affiliation of Victoria shops, utilizing the philosophy of “co-opetition”, makes it easier for you to make ethical, purchasing decisions.
A group of small, locally owned and operated “green”business, the Green Collective helps consumers align their spending with their values, [...]
BP: A reminder of why connection matters
It’s official. The still unresolved BP “accident” in the Gulf of Mexico is now the biggest environmental disaster in U.S. history. Yet, could this also be an opportunity, a momentum-builder for constructive dialogue, about our relationships, with each other, and nature, and a bottom-line where everything connects? I hope so.
When we aren’t connected
For me, BP [...]
Are you welcome in your neighbourhood?
Walk down any street in your neighbourhood. How do you feel as you walk along? Do you feel welcome or is it a closed shop?
Structure influences behaviour. Just like the many ways to physically structure your office for collaboration, how we structure our personal property influences our relationship with our neighbours. We can structure our [...]
Home is Where The Food Is
“Home is Where The Food Is” is an animated short film made by Jody Kramer for the 100 Mile Diet Society in Vancouver, BC. It follows every ingredient of a delicious and simple meal to its source. It’s a story wonderfully told, and a story of collaboration.
This film was shown as part of Food Matters [...]
The Market on Millstream: A community-oriented hub for food producers and consumers
Increasingly, I find myself thinking about food security, and the people and businesses who support local farmers and food producers. The Market on Millstream is one such business.
In late 2009, The Market on Millstream, a local grocery store where I live, was named Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year, in the medium surface category, by [...]
Ten Thousand Villages: Working with Haitian artisans – past, present & future!
Ten Thousand Villages is the oldest and largest Fair Trade organization in North America.
Through a network of 50 stores in Canada and 150 stores in the United States, Ten Thousand Villages sells artisan-crafted personal accessories, home décor and gift items, from around the globe.
Ten Thousand Villages works with artisans, otherwise unemployed or underemployed, and provides [...]
Heritage wheat movement “godmother” advocates for communities that connect people, plant, and place
Sharon Rempel advocates for a world that honors cultural traditions, diversity, and abundance, gained through collaboration and caring for each other. She is systems thinker, and wonderful community builder, in ways that acknowledge the historic relationship between people, plant, and place.
Sharon is the “visionary godmother” of today’s Red Fife heritage wheat movement in Canada, founder [...]
Level Ground Trading: Linking sustainability to long-term relationships
You go to the store. You look for the “fairly traded” coffee. You make the purchase. What now? Who benefits from your purchase? Sure, you’re a satisfied consumer. And, it’s more than just the coffee tasting good. You’ve just, through your purchase, contributed to a making the world a better, fairer place. Really? Have you [...]
The Futurist: Finding your way in a reshaped Social Sector
Just finished reading a new research paper, Convergence: How Five Trends Will Reshape the Social Sector. The research was commissioned by the The James Irvine Foundation of California. The researchers, La Piana Consulting identified five key trends that they believe have significant implications for the future of not-for-profit organizations. I discovered the research via Sylvia [...]
Ben Ziegler on 
