Policy Wonky
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Illuminating stories, innovations, and trends shaping social impact in Canada
Latest Articles
Ideas
Policy Wonky
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Why It Matters
In fraught and fast-changing times with insecurity in work, climate, and food systems, there is a need to make decisions rooted in evidence that is effective and robust. Crowdsourcing reduces the overhead and effort required to stay on top of policy and movements happening across the country. Join the crowd.
Future States
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Why It Matters
Critical questions for impact-focused organizations: How do we talk about the future in vulnerable contexts? How about in contexts where young people do not necessarily feel that they have full agency over their own destiny? What about spaces where Indigenous culture and history were overtaken by colonial markers of progress? Here are some things to reflect upon, right now.
We Are Canadian
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Why It Matters
Classic hallmarks of our national identity—inclusion, peacekeeping, and social values, among them—can and should be expressed through business for a fairer, more inclusive economy.
Trends
Rise Up and Give Back
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Why It Matters
The face of volunteering has changed over the years to become more diverse. During National Volunteer Week, we look at trends shaping the future of volunteering, which gives us insight into civic engagement, giving back, and changing narratives in the world of impact.
The Rise of Employee Activism
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Why It Matters
Employees are increasingly promoting social justice causes at work and during the work day. At the same time, organizations are facing a growing expectation to act as activists. As the imperative to engage with social issues through the workplace intensifies, so too does the need to start thinking about how to do so effectively.
Blind Spots of AI in the Social Impact World
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Why It Matters
AI systems have massive potential, but issues of bias loom. Massive data sets, when put through various filters and systems, can lead to great harm. Impact-focused leaders must understand what this means and how to spot them.
Insights
Budget 2019: Here Are 7 Numbers to Note
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Why It Matters
You may have heard about the big numbers that made the Budget 2019 headlines. In a fast-changing society, small-to-medium-scale dollars can help create conditions for response mechanisms to emerging opportunities and challenges. As we look ahead to the 2020s, these numbers will be crucial.
Why the world of impact should care about open banking
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Why It Matters
Open banking holds transformative potential to reduce costs, improve Canadians' ability to manage financial services, and gain access to a wider range of services. We haven’t yet had a significant conversation about the social purpose merits and potential of open banking. The time for that discussion is now.
Addressing Certification Shortcomings
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Why It Matters
A gesture toward transparency, means data, details, and corroboration--those verifiable points about a social impact business. How to differentiate between the structures? The third in a series.
International Women's Day: The Future of Doing Good
Gender-Lens Investing Allows Us to Think Big
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Why It Matters
Gender-lens investing matters for the world of impact, because it recognizes that all investments have gendered impacts on our economic, financial, and social systems. Many impact investors and international NGOs understand the potential of applying a gender lens to move the needle on gender equality outcomes, but are less sure of what it looks like in practice.
What's Next in Tech and Philanthropy?
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Why It Matters
Giving is changing and engaging Canada's fast-growing tech sector will become a massive part of philanthropy in the next decade. We must understand what's driving philanthropy in Canadian tech, how they give, and what trends are shaping their giving culture.
Bridging the Digital Divide
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Why It Matters
With practically every job now, and certainly in the future, requiring digital literacy and proficiency in technology, the lack of tangible resources and infrastructure to support Indigenous students in the acquisition of digital skills is particularly consequential.
How to Run a Social Venture Hackathon
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Why It Matters
What is a hackathon? What are the logistics? How do you even get started and what are the common mistakes? Hackathons can reveal new insights, uncover blind spots, and lead to happy accidents. Get it right out of the gate, and you can benefit from the right momentum and set the tone for innovation in your organization.
Closing the Loop
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Why It Matters
All innovations have a shelf life, but all too often we get attached to sustaining innovations that were successful in the past. Closing innovations, programs, or services in a thoughtful and compassionate way can boost organizational resilience, relevance, and empower teams.
Uniting Practitioners
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Why It Matters
Social Innovation Canada is a new entity with a mission to connect and enable practitioners. It builds upon the legacy work of Social Innovation Generation (SiG) and other actors. Given the Government of Canada’s renewed focus, we asked Chi Nguyen, Director, Social Innovation Canada, about what practitioners can expect in 2019.