Innovation and Social Enterprise in Rural Ontario

Old Models/New Models

Who We Are www.ruralontarioinstitute.ca

Connecting rural stakeholders, promoting dialogue

– Subscribers (500 + and growing)– Enable organizations to connect:

• Bulletin Board• Events Listings• Resources, reports and links• Blogs to profile issues & consultations• Rural Ontario Reader

www.netvibes.com/ruralontarioreader#Government

Leadership development and topical workshops

– Advanced Agricultural Leadership and STEPs to Leadership

– Asset Based Community Development (7 - 2011)– Upcoming Social Innovation “Pop-Up Labs” (6 –

2012-14) – Rural CED Webinar series with EDCO, OACFDC

Exciting, innovative, sexy

Tried, true and reliable

Depends on How We Define It

Private Sector Not for profits

Another View

The Social Finance Census: Ontario Non-Profit Network and the Social Venture Exchange, 2010 http://www.theonn.ca/social-finance-census-2010/

A Broad Definition…

“Social enterprises are revenue-generating businesses with a twist. Whether operated by a non-profit organization or by a for-profit company, a social enterprise has two goals: to achieve social, cultural, community economic or environmental outcomes; and, to earn revenue.

On the surface, many social enterprises look, feel, and even operate like traditional businesses. But looking more deeply, one discovers the defining characteristics of the social enterprise: mission is at the centre of business, with income generation playing an important supporting role.”

From British Columbia

With a Broad Definition Social Enterprise is both

Old and New

Where co-operatives fit in

10

11

Cooperatives

• Democratic control – 1 member, 1 vote• Corporate structure:

Members/owners, Board of Directors, Management, Staff, Investors

• Several types…producer, consumer, service, worker, …

Rural Social Enterprise Project http://www.frl.on.ca

• Carried out by Foundation for Rural Living, Eko Nomos and Cathy Lang with 4 regional organizations in 2010/2011.

• ROI a supporter… going forward with CCEDNET and ONN leading proposals

Rural Social Enterprise ProjectLessons Learned

• Rural nonprofits more volunteer based …transition to SE more difficult without staff • Non-profits looking to SE as sustainability strategy…can leave it too late • Non-profit sectors need to cross fertilize…across arts, environment, health etc… • The language of social enterprise is new…demystify it! “Earned revenue” is

more accessible• Demand for SE support among rural organizations is high…but not as available • SE development path is not linear…stop and start in relation to other org. priorities• Regional capacity for SE development needs co-ordination…who leads? • There is no one approach to regional SE development…its evolutionary. • Social enterprise can benefit from municipal support…recognize it • Collaboration adds complexity…partnerships need to work through

roles/responsibilities • Social enterprise as a self-employment approach …leveraging mobile talent

Social Enterprise Can Arisefrom Either End of the Continuum

And the two women who started it all, organizers Bay Woodyard and Vicki Emlaw, will be on hand selling their unique products from Honey Pie Hives and Herbals and Vicki's Veggies.

"The more that we can promote ourselves in this respect, the more it also helps others start their own businesses, and it makes living in a small town with small incomes a little easier," explained Emlaw.

"When people are doing what they love to do it also helps out humanity on the whole. When we are happy, it makes others happy too."

Combined with the diverse selection of unique high quality, reasonably priced items, Busy Hands proves to be more than just a commercial venture, it is a community holiday experience.

Co-op Contacts• Ontario Cooperative Association www.ontario.coop

• CoopZone: National tools and resources for co-op development: http://www.coopzone.coop/

• OMAFRA Business Structures Jennifer Stevenson www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/busdev/facts/02-019.htm

• Food Cooperatives: Hannah Renglich, LOFC Animator, at hrenglich@onfc.ca or 1-800-387-0354 ext. 240.

• Co-op Development Consultant Russ Christianson, Campbellford, Rhythm Communications

The Canadian CED Network is a national, non-profit association of several hundred community development organizations working to enhance social and economic conditions of their communities

DesDes communautéscommunautés plus fortes au Canadaplus fortes au CanadaStrengthening Canada’sStrengthening Canada’s CommunitiesCommunities

Connections 2012: Community Solutions for Ontario June 7, 2012, Toronto

www.ccednet-rcdec.ca/en/OntarioCEDEvent2012

Some SE resources…. • Ontario Non Profit Network http://www.ontariononprofitnetwork.ca

• Canadian CED Network www.ccednet-rcdec.ca/?q=en/regional_networks/ontario

• Enterprising Non-Profits (BC/Ottawa/Toronto) www.enterprisingnonprofits.ca

• Community Forward Fund http://www.communityforwardfund.ca/

• Social Innovation Group SiG at MaRS http://sigeneration.ca/• Guide to Social Finance socialfinance.ca/guide

• Centre for Social Innovation… Shared Spaces www.socialinnovation.ca/sssi

• Canadian Centre for Social Enterprise http://www.business.ualberta.ca/Centres/ccse.aspx

• Canadian Centre for Community Renewal www.cedworks.com/socialenterprise_01.html

• Canadian Social Entrepreneurship Foundation www.csef.ca/best_practices.php

• Social Economy Centre U of T http://sec.oise.utoronto.ca

• Centre for Business and Social Enterprise U of G www.cbase.uoguelph.ca