Latest Articles
Ideas
A Made-in-Canada Green New Deal
Why It Matters
Current efforts are an insufficient response to the climate crisis. In the U.S., a Green New Deal resolution has been put forward by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. It proposes a social, industrial, and economic mobilization on a scale not seen since the Second World War and the New Deal. Is this needed in Canada? What could it look like here? And where do we start?
Bridging the Digital Divide
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.
Ethics, AI, and the Social Sector
Why It Matters
We have entered an era in Canada that blends human intelligence and machine intelligence in a range of industries. Impact-focused organizations must now consider how to maximize this blend within their teams to advance their missions.
Trends
The Rise of Employee Activism
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
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.
The Trappings of Artificial Intelligence
Why It Matters
The AI train isn’t stopping. For social impact, and other sectors, the talent mix of the near future will be human intelligence mixed with machine intelligence. Impact-focused leaders need to think about how they are teaming to make use of—and push back on—an internet economy powered by algorithms.
Insights
Why the world of impact should care about open banking
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
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.
Radical Transparency
Why It Matters
Demonstrating transparency means data, details, and corroboration — those verifiable points about a impact-oriented business. New legal forms like the C3 as well as more grassroots approaches like the Economic Nutrition Label are shaping the new age of transparency. The second in a series.
International Women's Day: The Future of Doing Good
Gender-Lens Investing Allows Us to Think Big
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?
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
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
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
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
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.