March 2021

Find the full newsletter here: Updates for Albertan Changemakers (March 2021)

Innovator's Spotlight: The Arctic Inspiration Prize Winners

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The Arctic Inspiration Prize is an intriguing model for funding innovations with a strong social focus: building a strong North, by the North and for the North. Check out this article in The Philanthropist to learn more about the 35 prizewinners, their projects, and more about the model of philanthropy used to choose the (mainly Indigenous) innovators they fund.

Resources

  1. The Final Symphony: ‘Sounding Together’. A sonic gift, the shape of social innovation in urgent times. 

    This 25-minute piece ‘Sounding Together’ from chaos to catharsis, was created by six Artist-Composers in response to the stories, pain, hope, and actions from around the world, collected during SIX Wayfinder 2020. Their collaboration spanned four months across time-zones, only ever meeting over Zoom, using a collage of iphone recordings and makeshift studio set ups during lockdown, from Singapore, Poland, Greece, UK and Canada.

Opportunities

  1. 2021 Social EnterPrize (Deadline March 25)
    Calling Canada’s Social Entrepreneurs: Win $100,000 and Help Build a Movement via Trico Foundation and Haskayne School.

  2. Social R&D: A National Practice Gathering (March 30 & 31)
    Social Innovation Canada will host the 2nd annual gathering to connect the Social R&D field nationally. The two half days will weave in large group storytelling, small group interactions, and collaborative problem solving. Register >>>

  3. Level up your leadership at Social Venture Institute (SVI) Women Virtual (April 28-30)
    As women entrepreneurs you’re used to overcoming obstacles. Now we face some of the biggest challenges of our time. For countless women, the burden of unpaid care and domestic labor has exploded, along with job loss at a rate that is 1.8 times that of men.

    Social Venture Institute (SVI) Women is a one-of-a-kind experience for mission-driven women entrepreneurs to problem-solve and innovate in this new normal, while creating a meaningful community in a brave and intentionally curated space. Invest in yourself and the essential work you’re doing to make the world a more just and sustainable place on April 28 -30th.

  4. Buy Social Canada Symposium (April 26)
    You’re invited to join the Buy Social Canada Symposium to connect with leading social purchasers and suppliers, learn from industry experts, and celebrate the Social Procurement Champion Awards. The Symposium promises to be an event that will get you fired up, out of your chair and ready to harness the power of purchasing to create healthy, vibrant communities. Register today!

  5. Reducing Barriers and Driving Innovation Program (Deadline May 7)
    SEF’s donation program for Canadian post-secondary institutions is called “Driving Innovation and Reducing Barriers.” This program was created to further support SEF’s existing funding priorities, and reduce or eliminate barriers to participation for students and community members while supporting society in moving toward a more fair and sustainable economic system. Program Overview | Program Application Form

We acknowledge that in Alberta we are on traditional territories of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries.