Social Venture Registry
What if there were a place that encouraged social investment, innovation and collaboration? Welcome to Ontario’s Social Venture Registry.
How do I use the registry?
- Register your social venture
- Read about organizations and the social and environmental benefits they are generating for Ontarians
- Find other social venture leaders who are doing good in your industry
- Find a social enterprise to fund or a social purpose business to invest in
- Support social ventures by finding a supplier for a product or service you need
What’s a social venture?
“Social ventures” are both not-for-profit social enterprises and for-profit social-purpose businesses, since solutions to social problems are emerging in both sectors.
Still not sure about what constitutes a social venture or need help describing your organization’s mission, benefit, product or service? We’ve profiled eight social ventures, including a mix of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations who operate in the following six sectors:
- Education
- Environmental protection
- Health care
- Social services
- Enabling services/technology
- Affordable housing
50 Plus Canada Works
Sector: Education
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Toronto
Contact: bwitkin@50pluscanadaworks.org
Social/Environmental mission
- Promote the economic independence and productivity of 50-plus workers
- Make organizations and the public aware of issues facing older workers
- Develop programs and initiatives to help the 50plus demographic remain engaged, working and valued in society
- Provide Canadian organizations with a large pool of experienced and knowledgeable 50-plus workers that will keep employers productive and competitive.
Income generating product/service
- Referral fees from third party agencies who place the candidates we train.
- Income from 50-plus aged individuals who are able to afford the training and career services we can provide
Social/Environmental benefit
- To provide employers and Canada with productive 50-plus-aged workers.
- To provide the 50Plus worker with employment opportunities that will allow them to continue their careers and make them self sufficient without in many cases dependant on government assistance
- Make employers, governments, the public and the media aware of the benefits of employing the 50-plus worker instead of relying on old myths and false perceptions about them.
A-Way Express Courier Service
Sector: Health care
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Toronto
Website: http://www.awaycourier.ca
Contact: execdir@awaycourier.ca
Social/Environmental mission
Providing real jobs to survivors of mental health challenges since 1987. Founded, managed and staff entirely by survivors.
Income generating product/service
Same-day courier service in Toronto.
Social/Environmental benefit
Jobs for survivors of mental health challenges and reduced health system use and costs.
Environmentally friendly, carbon-neutral delivery by public transit. No trucks, no cars, no bikes on the sidewalk!
AfriCana Village & Museum
Sector: Other
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Toronto
Website: www.africanavillage.com
Contact: tdavid@africanavillage.com
Social/Environmental mission
AfriCana Village & Museum is a proposed Afri-centric cultural heritage tourism development inspired by the “Underground Railroad” story. AfriCana will tell the African Canadian story and also showcase African-Canadian/ American and African diaspora arts, history, culture, music and cuisine.
Income generating product/service
Cultural tourism /Entertainment, Cuisine, etc.
Social/Environmental benefit
We believe variety and diversity is indeed the spice of life and we intend to tell these stories at AfriCana Village. We strongly believe Canadian, American, European, Caribbean, Asian and African travelers of all racial and ethnic background are looking for some thing fresh, inspiring and different when they visit Canada and the GTA- Golden Horseshoe Region.
In addition, our social enterprise will create jobs for at-risk-youth and an economically marginalized community suffering under the yolk of 40-70% unemployment and underemployment in the Greater Toronto Area.
Artscape
Sector: Affordable housing
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Toronto
Website: www.torontoartscape.on.ca
Contact: sue@torontoartscape.on.ca
Social/Environmental mission
Artscape is a not-for-profit, urban development organization that revitalizes buildings, neighbourhoods, and cities through the arts.
Artscape projects provide affordable space for creativity while generating positive cultural, economic, social, and environmental impact.
Income generating product/service
Below market rental work and live work space for artists, arts organizations and environmental organizations.
Social/Environmental benefit
Artscape projects provide affordable space for creativity while generating positive cultural, economic, social, and environmental impact.
ATSS
Sector: Enabling services/technology
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Richmond Hill, ON
Website: www.ATSS.org
Contact: tania.samsonova@atss.org
Social/Environmental mission
ATSS is a Canadian association of science and technology specialists who were educated outside of Canada.
ATSS is a non-profit organization. Its focus is to assist highly skilled newcomers to adapt quickly to the Canadian economy and settle within the Canadian society.
ATSS represents over 300 professionals who came to Canada from various countries. The majority of these professionals previously held senior positions in science and engineering. Our members possess solid education, qualifications and extensive experience in their areas of expertise. Approximately 35% of them have published books and articles in the internationally renowned science magazines and other publications, thus gaining significant international reputation. Many of our members’ inventions have been patented, and their innovations and proposals have been adopted by the industry. Some of our current members hold executive positions in the Canadian companies and actively participate in our activities.
Income generating product/service
Membership Fees
Social/Environmental benefit
Commercialization of inventions, assistance in job search for newcomers
BOMTech Inc.
Sector: Enabling services/technology
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Toronto
Website: www.bankingomobile.com
Contact: rohit@bomtech.ca
Social/Environmental mission
Enable Financial Services that are affordable and available at all corners of the world 24×7.
Income generating product/service
A cloud hosted plug and play service with a front end application BOMPassbook, an electronic statement on simple mobile phones that is updated using text messaging real time. BOMPassbook has all the functionalities of a teller terminal, thus providing a Bank in your pocket reach and convenience.
Social/Environmental benefit
Over 60% of the world’s population are financially excluded as they have no access to organized financial Institutions thereby severely restricting their ability to plan and save for contingencies and retirement. The people affected are the poorest of the poor. Our services leverage the reach of mobile carriers to enable financial services to reach all corners of the world economically.
Canadian Coalition For Green Health Care
Sector: Environmental Protection
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Combermere
Website: www.greenhealthcare.ca
Contact: Kent@greenhealthcare.ca
Social/Environmental mission
The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care is a coalition of major national health care and environmental organizations and health care facilities and institutions. The mission of the Coalition is to minimize the adverse environmental and human health impact of Canada’s health care system by encouraging the adoption of resource conservation and pollution prevention principles and effective environmental management systems, without compromising patient safety and care.
Income generating product/service
The coalitionseeks to work in partnership with other organizations to reduce costs related to environmental initiatives in the hospitals. We seek to reduce costs, whereby the savings can then be reintroduced to support patient services.
Social/Environmental benefit
Hospitals have saved money through collaborative development of environmental management plans, waste and water reduction, energy conservation and efficiency, recovery of anesthetics, and reduction of toxics and other environmental concerns through green purchasing.
Canadian Diabetes Association
Sector: Health Care
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Toronto
Website: www.diabetes.ca
Contact: ellen.malcolmson@diabetes.ca
Social/Environmental mission
To lead the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work towards a cure.
Income generating product/service
Fundraising and clothing recycling.
Social/Environmental benefit
Education and services to people with diabetes and health care providers. Research towards a cure for diabetes. Promotion of recycling through our clothing recycling business.
Canadian Open Learning Institute
Sector: Education
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Toronto
Website: www.canadianopenlearning.com
Contact: canadianopenlearning@gmail.com
Social/Environmental mission
To provide barrier-free, access-enabled, basic adult education to Canadian and world citizens. This institute can act as a repository for education sharing of all kinds, including tech sector initiatives. Partnered with a sister concept, the Canadian Open Education Resource, modules can be developed in many and varied disciplines that will benefit the High School level of education cross country. This organization will exist as an independent entity enabling various higher education institutions in Canada to participate without a conflict of interest.
Income generating product/service
This is a foundation run enterprise, there is no profit centre.
Social/Environmental benefit
Discovering a new way to educate adults who face financial, cognitive, and physical access barriers to improving their knowledge. Forging accreditation paths into existing further education organizations (community colleges, universities).
Commuto Inc.
Sector: Other
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Toronto
Website: www.commuto.com
Contact: sarbib@commuto.com
Social/Environmental mission
To provide students and anyone else means of bartering their unwanted good for other goods/services which they want, for free, in a social community environment.
Income generating product/service
Income is generated through sponsorship of community and advertising based on target behavioral engine.
Social/Environmental benefit
Members are able to recycle their goods with others while saving money. The social functions and aspect of the site help users meet others in their communities with similar likes, which helps to foster possible friendships and build new communities.
Crazy Daisy
Sector: Social Services
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Toronto
Website: www.crazydaisyfloral.ca
Contact: sjmoir@yahoo.ca
Social/Environmental mission
As a social enterprise, Crazy Daisy utilizes floral sales as a vehicle to support three fundamental goals:
- To increase knowledge and awareness about mental health and wellness in the workplace.
- To decrease the stigma surrounding mental illness and help remove the barriers individuals experiencing mental illness face in gaining and retaining employment and thriving at work.
- To create meaningful training and work for psychiatric survivors and encourage more organizations to do the same.
Income generating product/service
Floral Design services and IP educational information on mental illness in the workplace.
Social/Environmental benefit
A supportive place of employment is one of the best ways for psychiatric survivors to fully recover and reintegrate back into society. Crazy Daisy aims to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental illness and to educate Canadians about the impact mental illness can have on a person’s life. There is significant social return on investment that is created by putting a disadvantaged segment of the population to work – shorter or less frequent use of emergency services, new workers become tax payers instead of recipients of tax dollars, and companies can raise their bottom line and productivity by creating healthy work environments and retaining employees.
Exhibit Change
Sector: Education
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Toronto
Contact: jennifer.sy.chan@gmail.com
Social/Environmental mission
To engage and inspire higher potential through an excitement for learning.
Income generating product/service
Design thinking and play innovation workshops for corporations and youth.
Social/Environmental benefit
Redefining the way we learn to promote creativity, innovation and change.
Firm Foundations
Sector: Other
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Barrie
Website: www.firm-foundations.ca
Contact: c.hinkle@firm-foundations.ca
Social/Environmental mission
To improve the safety of all workers by reducing the risk of violence and hostile behaviour in the workplace.
Income generating product/service
Violence, harassment or bullying prevention programs/workshops available as well as customized training and/or consulting.
Social/Environmental benefit
Safer workplaces where violence and hostile behaviour is not tolerated, the dignity of others is protected and every person is respected as a human being above all other considerations.
Greenscroll.org
Sector: Environmental Protection
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Toronto
Website: www.greenscroll.org
Contact: nikolai@greenscroll.org
Social/Environmental mission
Greenscroll’s mission is to power the Internet by green renewable energy to help save the Earth.
Income generating product/service
Monthly pledges to offset the environmental footprint of websites and certify their environmental friendliness.
Social/Environmental benefit
Greenscroll aggregates small monthly pledges from individuals and companies who have a Web presence, and invests those funds into green renewable energy to reduce the carbon footprint of the Internet. As we all know, electricity is the lifeblood of the Internet. By promoting green renewable energy, Greenscroll reduces the demand of polluting brown electricity, and therefore makes the Internet more environmentally friendly.
Headsup Dad
Sector: Social Services
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Toronto
Contact: richard@headsupdad.com
Social/Environmental mission
Heads Up Dad is a support community for highly engaged and active Dads, wherever they may be. A resource pool of useful tools, interactive content, articles of interest and other illuminating stuff all designed to make the world a better place by empoweting Dads and “ Dads to be” to learn, grow and become the best Fathers, husbands, and global citizens they can be.
Heads Up Daddy aims to be the number one online community for Dads everywhere.
Income generating product/service
Online Community
The HeadsUp Dad website will offer expert opinion and critique, curated online content offered by a unique panel of experts on everything from Health, Wellness and Nutrition (physical, mental and emotional health), healthy activities for indoors and out, environmental stewardship and sustainability, advice on everything from parenting a newborn to saving for your kids education, to navigating the stormy seas of relationships, separation and divorce and more. There will be discussions on philosophy, spiritualism, philanthropy, community involvement and volunteering for the common good.
The site will feature articles and editorial content written by professionals from a broad range of disciplines, and user generated content developed by a wide range of people from all walks of life and all corners of the world. Content includes useful tips and advice on everything from personal health and wellness to global awareness, fun things to do with your kids on a rainy day and everything in between.
There will be features that allow users to tune in and watch video blogs hosted by parenting experts, contribute and share their own ideas via weblog and share photos, video and other content with family, friends and others within the community. It truly is a one stop shop for everything a modern Dad needs to know about surviving and thriving as a Father and raising kids successfully from conception to college and beyond.
Social/Environmental benefit
Traditional Family dynamics have been changing over the years so much so that modern Fathers are increasingly evolving their roles from traditional bread winners to become nurturers, caregivers, primary support workers, cooks, cleaners, shuttlebus drivers, psycho-therapists, guidance counselors and still, the breadwinners. Fathers are wearing many hats and carrying many burdens. Under increasing pressure to perform more and more miracles with less and less time, Fathers are facing incredible challenges just keeping their heads above water.
To address the myriad of challenges facing the Highly Engaged and Active Dads, HeadsUp Dad was created to tap into the power of community and help fathers work together to become the best of everything we can be.
Better, more informed Fathers contribute toward stronger families, healthier communities and healthier children. Children who grow up to become actively engaged citizens of their communities who make a meaningful contribution towards a better world.
Heliotrope
Sector: Education
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Toronto
Website: www.heliotrope.ca
Contact: hbe@heliotrope.ca
Social/Environmental mission
Like sunlight, the human imagination is a limitless source of transformational energy. Einstein said it encircles the world. Everything begins with trust in one’s innate capacity to dream, to aspire, and to create. Heliotrope aspires to be a global leader in innovative learning tools that help to nurture the human spirit at school and work.
Income generating product/service
Prelude is a learning game designed for schools, community agencies, and workplace training. It helps foster self-knowledge, creativity, cooperation, and appreciation for diversity. Prelude has four activity modules and may be played in several 45-minute sessions, or three quarters of a day. Training is online and requires less than 90 minutes. Support materials are also online. Implementation is easy and intuitive. Prelude is sold on a license basis.
Social/Environmental benefit
Prelude helps foster Social and Emotional Intelligence, also called Soft Skills. These skills are widely recognized as essential for effective learning, optimal productivity, and civil society. Yet, there is a crucial gap in soft skills education and training, starting in childhood and continuing into adulthood. Demand is rapidly growing for innovative, evidence-based tools to fill this gap such as Prelude. Teachers, counsellors, psychologists, and human resource managers see Prelude as a highly effective way to address challenges such as dropout rates, bullying, and substance abuse. Research shows that when social and emotional literacy rises, these rates lower. Research also shows that soft skills are best learned experientially and that serious games are an ideal and proven vehicle.
Home Ownership Alternatives
Sector: Affordable Housing
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Toronto
Website: http://www.hoacorp.ca
Contact: jds@hoacorp.ca
Social/Environmental mission
Home Ownership Alternatives is a non-profit financial corporation dedicated to making home ownership possible for low and moderate income families.
Income generating product/service
HOA Support for Developers of Affordable Housing
HOA makes early stage investments in developments of new affordable homes with two forms of project financing.
First, HOA lends its development partners early-stage funding to assist with feasibility studies and land acquisition. Second, when developments proceed, HOA provides the financial guarantees needed to arrange construction financing. HOA is preaid this investment at closing and earns a modest interest rate.
HOA also provides 2nd mortgages that help buyers by reducing the amount of their down payments and the level of income needed to purchase a first home.
Our basic 2nd mortgage is the difference between the units cost and its market value. For buyers needing extra help, the second mortgage can be increased with additional funds from HOA, governments and other partners.
Homeowners pay no principal or interest on the second mortgage until they sell the home. (They can also pay out the second mortgage at any time they choose.)
When homeowners no longer need assistance (due to resale of the home or voluntary repayment) they pay out the mortgage plus a share of the increase in the value of the home. Repayment of the 2nd mortgage is another source of revenue for HOA. HOA then reinvests these funds into new affordable homes for new buyers.
Social/Environmental benefit
Since our creation 10 years ago, HOA has helped more than 2,300 families buy a home. In our recent developments in the GTA, 75% of homebuyers had household incomes below $60,000.
We support families not units. We do not attach subsidies to specific units. Instead we use 2nd mortgages to capture the value created through development, enabling perpetual reinvestment of the funds (as repaid) to support ever more homebuyers.
IdeaVibes
Sector: Other
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Ottawa
Website: www.ideavibes.com
Contact: paulmd66@sympatico.ca
Social/Environmental mission
Enable the not for profit sector to be more creative and business like in solving its problems as traditional funding pools dry up, as well as become a source for funding through a crowd sourced model for specific projects. Long term would be to also be a source for micro-loans for other social entrepreneurs to start solo-entrepreneur endeavours.
Income generating product/service
Marketing services and new product development through crowd sourcing activity.
Social/Environmental benefit
Two areas:
- Setting up a mechanism for the crowd sourcing to fund specific projects in the not-for-profit sector
- Services to the NFP sector will be carried our based on a 10% of product/10% of revenue/10% of employee-time model.
Inclusive Media and Design Inc.
Sector: Enabling services/technology
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Toronto
Website: http://www.inclusivemedia.ca
Contact: info@inclusivemedia.ca
Social/Environmental mission
Inclusive Media and Design Inc. (IMD) is an innovation company focused on advancing accessibility of digital media for people with disabilities.
Income generating product/service
IDM offers technical services of web video captioning, description and other media transformation. We consult on information and communication issues, policy and practices for organizations. IMD also offers training sessions covering a wide range of accessibility topics, many of which are relevant to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
Social/Environmental benefit
In acknowledging that a) one in seven Canadians has a disability, b) an oncoming Age Wave, and c) that we all – at some point in our life – are constrained at least temporarily, we committed ourselves to making a difference. We adapted the motto “We ARE our clients.”
Knowledge work, a knowledge society…all leverage information and communication technologies. The need for inclusive design measures has been confirmed as vital by provincial, state and federal governments, who are establishing legislation on how we do business, teach and interact through digital mediums. In Ontario, the proposed AODA Information and Communications Standard will require business, government and education sectors to provide media accessibility on their websites.
Educational institutions already have obligations to provide students with a a fully accessible curriculum, including access to media.
Business shouldn’t leave customers without access to web media. They must come to meet the various accessibility requirements and standards locally, federally and internationally.
Even government agencies must keep accountable to the diverse needs of their communities, and keeping websites accessible is required by the Canadian Government’s Common Look and Feel Standards.
Jack The Donkey Inc.
Sector: Other
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Toronto
Website: http://www.JackTheDonkey.com
Contact: davidkatz@jackthedonkey.com
Social/Environmental mission
The mission for JackTheDonkey.com is to establish year round engagement with fundraising, activism and volunteerism on behalf of the charities.
From the public’s perspective, JackTheDonkey.com is, “the community where your time online supports the charity of your choice” as 55% of all ad revenue generated by users’ time on JackTheDonkey.com is donated to the charity of their choice (at current rates, this works out to 1.1 cents every page impression).
Income generating product/service
55% of all ad revenue generated by users’ time on JackTheDonkey.com is donated to the charity they choose to benefit with their time on Jack. There are currently 21 charities from across Canada and the US registered with JackTheDonkey.com, with the UK coming onboard in September.
Social/Environmental benefit
JackTheDonkey.com is a means to provide additional exposure, support and to create top-of-mind awareness for the participating charities. Studies have shown that the age of consumerism is coming to an end. People are looking for new means to have an impact in this world. JackTheDonkey.com allows individuals to support their favorite charities in good economic times or bad.
The mission for JackTheDonkey.com is to help prevent the “we” generation from becoming the “me” generation like those before them.
KIOSK ESL Communications Solutions
Sector: Education
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Toronto
Website: www.kiosk.on.ca/csp
Contact: rbingham.kiosk.on.ca
Social/Environmental mission
To facilitate the integration of Internationally Educated Profesionals (IEP’s) into Canadian society and culture by delivering communication-based skills that address barriers in the areas of language, business and academia.
Income generating product/service
Communication Skills for Professionals (since 1978)
ESL /ESP
Workshops
Social/Environmental benefit
Social and professional integration for professional class immigrants to Canada whose first language is not English.
LifeLine
Sector: Health care
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Toronto
Website: www.behance.net/Gallery/LifeLinea/321119
Contact: oneSaint@gmail.com
Social/Environmental mission
LifeLine is a health tracking system that uses a bracelet to monitor a person’s heart rate, blood sugar levels, temperature and wirelessly sync the user’s information to their mobile or home PC. LifeLine will create graphs with the data it collects and encourages the user ti stay active by suppling week to week feedback. The bracelet is powered by body heat, by usb cable, or a wireless power pad. All data can be shared via social media using LifeLines dedicated app or website to encourage competitive challenges with others. LifeLine can also detect any allergy reactions and notify the wearer if they’ve been drugged.
Income generating product/service
The LifeLine braclet could be a one time purchase, with monthly fees for the website service. Or have healthy brands such as “Live Strong” or Nike to sponsor the product via branding or advertisement. Keeping LifeLine at an affordable price is key to its success.
Social/Environmental benefit
In a world of over weight people, we need an extra motivational push to stay healthy, and LifeLine acts as 24/7 motivator, and doctor. The benefits of the allergy alert system alone could save countless lives.
My Sustainable Canada
Sector: Environmental Protection
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Kitchener
Website: www.mysustainablecanada.org
Contact: Linda@mysuscan.org
Social/Environmental mission
Our mission is to advance consumer and corporate citizenship in support of sustainable consumption. We do this through research and collaboration with knowledgeable and committed individuals, academics, businesses, government and non-government representatives to innovate new policies, action plans, programs and tools.
Income generating product/service
My Sustainable Canada works in partnership with other organizations to undertake research and collaboration with knowledgeable and committed individuals, academics, businesses, government and non-government representatives to innovate new policies, action plans, programs and tools.
Social/Environmental benefit
Consumers and corporations develop tools, access resources and collaborate with others to reduce excessive consumption, which is the root cause of social, environmental and economic concerns in our society.
The mission for JackTheDonkey.com is to help prevent the “we” generation from becoming the “me” generation like those before them.
Networking Challenge (NETCH), The
Sector: Education
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Foxboro (Belleville)
Contact: jrossfolkes@gmail.com
Social/Environmental mission
The Networking Challenge will help people overcome personal difficulties in interpersonal networking skills in a new way. To help shy/inexperienced/the unconnected as well as experienced networkers to improve and master the skills necessary to connect to whatever target community. Will provide a way to evolve virtual social networking into real social networking to increase or create human capital.
Income generating product/service
The Networking Challenge being an experience unlike any other will generate income in a variety of ways: Participant payment, corporate (Payment)sponsorship, government sponsorship, as a stand alone event or an event within an event like a convention or meeting. Distance learning, analysis, and advice.
Social/Environmental benefit
The Networking Challenge being an experience unlike any other will generate income in a variety of ways: Participant payment, corporate (Payment)sponsorship, government sponsorship, as a stand alone event or an event within an event like a convention or meeting. Distance learning, analysis, and advice.
In addition, if you are a green company or are marketing a sustainable product or service, you know that your credibility is essential to your green corporate message. A study by Edelman Public Relations found that 39% of the respondents said they were more likely to purchase the product of a company they perceive to be socially and environmentally responsible, and 80% said they would boycott a company they perceived as being irresponsible in that regard.
Pegasus Thrift Store
Sector: Social Services
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Toronto
Website: http://pegasustoronto.ca
Contact: mperrotta@pegasustoronto.ca
Social/Environmental mission
- To provide the communiy with a valuable business that also benefis adults with disabilities.
- To provide job and social expirences to members of Pegasus.
- To create an inslusive environment and a welcoming community.
- To provide opportunities for community engagement to volunteers and donors.
Income generating product/service
Generates income by the sale of used clothing, housewares, music, books, etc. It also sells a line of products created by members ‘gifts that give back’.
Social/Environmental benefit
Pegasus Thrift Store benefits both the community and the members of Pegasus by combining an inclusive environment with recycling, creativity and social interaction.
Pure Fun Confections Inc.
Sector: Other
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Scarborough, ON
Website: www.organiccandy.com
Contact: askamanda@purefun.ca
Social/Environmental mission
To deliver “better for you candy” utilizing recipes that contain no potentially toxic ingredients.
Income generating product/service
- Organic candy
- Organic lollipops
- Organic candy canes
Social/Environmental benefit
Creating certified organic candy suitable for people with intolerance to synthetic ingredients, helping children who are allergic or suffer with autism and other behavioural disorders caused by pesticides, genetic modification and coal tar dyes.
Remediation Plus Systems
Sector: Education
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Toronto
Website: www.remediationplus.com
Contact: jgross@remediationplus.com
Social/Environmental mission
Teaching all students to read spell and write-any age by training their teachers to deliver a standardized 85 lesson plan formula. Students with dyslexia conquered 95% of the time, intervention should be as early as possible but it works at any time. Proving to be a prevention formula for First Nations students.
Income generating product/service
Curriculum and training standardizes whole school boards. Curriculum and training available for parents whose kids are stuck.
Private licenses for teachers or business people to remediate for money per session.
Social/Environmental benefit
Literacy for all
Reminder-Timer Intl
Sector: Enabling services/technology
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Barrie
Website: http://Reminder-Timer.com (under construction)
Contact: Dwight@Norrena.com
Social/Environmental mission
A smart conscientious Private Social Worldwide Computer Network that will serve those who have mild to moderate symptoms of cognitive disabilities (such as Alzheimer’s, eating disorders, AHDH etc.) those who are hard of hearing and those with low vision to connect with their peers, caregivers, family and medical practitioners over the Internet with special intuitive easy-to-use social computer program applications.
Income generating product/service
Sale of: memberships, software licenses to assisted living (old age homes, retirement communities etc.), users living at home, the sale of special equipment (such as wireless smoke and carbon monoxide alarms for the hearing impaired that wirelessly connects to a vibrating wrist watch using RF signals to alert the end-user to an alert etc.) and advertising on the Website – creating multiple income streams.
The sale of the ReminderME Innovations will not be restricted only to members of the Private Social WorldWide Computer Network. Members of the Social Network may be given a discount on their purchases of RemindME Innovations.
Social/Environmental benefit
Serves to improve the quality of living and the independence for our aging population and those with mild to moderate symptoms of Alzheimer’s, eating disorders, ADHA and those who are hearing impaired etc. while still living at home, reducing hospital stays, the costs to the health care system and giving the patient and the patient’s family the send that someone cares.
Research has shown that with even as little as 15 minutes a day on a computer, the brain power of our aging population and those with mild to moderate dementia increases dramatically while using the computer. Research has also shown that by reducing social isolation (by the end-user), by interacting with their peers over the internet as well as providing the ability for more everyday communications such as planning events with family etc., can improve health results for the aging population living alone at home and even those living in institutions.
With the ability of medical practitioners and caregivers to monitor the vital signs of their patients remotely, these features can dramatically reduce the need for hospital stays and costs to our health system. Our systems self monitors the patient’s vital signs and would have the capability to automatically call for assistance if there indications of a problem.
Retinoblastoma Solutions
Sector: Health care
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Toronto
Website: retinoblastomasolutions.org
Contact: info@retinoblastomasolutions.org
Social/Environmental mission
Make the most powerful genetic analysis clinically available to retinoblastoma families worldwide.
Income generating product/service
World-leading genetic reference lab that finds each family’s unique mutation and uses the knowledge to help clinicians identify who in each family is truly at risk of retinoblastoma (approximately 10% of those previously at risk) and who (the majority) is not.
Social/Environmental benefit
Thoughtfully integrated as part of care, genetic analysis allows scarce health resources to be focused on individuals who genuinely will need care due to genetic predisposition to disease. At the same time, individuals who, not having benefit of high-sensitivity genetic analysis, carry the burden of being “at risk” are provided definitive proof as to whether or not they have inherited a family member’s genetic variant that leads to disease.
The power to conclusively distinguish those truly at risk of retinoblastoma from those not at risk reduces anxiety, insurance discrimination risks, and the costs of clinical screening exams shown to be unnecessary.
Schoolwerx
Sector: Education
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Toronto
Website: www.schoolwerx.com
Contact: rob@schoolwerx.com
Social/Environmental mission
The educational utility that connects students, parents and teachers.
Income generating product/service
Advertising/client-specific
Social/Environmental benefit
Creating an online educational utility that allows students, parents and teachers to connect, communicate and extend the learning process beyond the classroom, while engaging students and users of the site on a technology platform of great familiarity.
- Students have a clear understanding of what is required of them in the learning process.
- Parents are enabled to be more proactively involved in their child’s education.
- Teachers daily curriculum is always available, fully transparent and reinforced.
Closing the communication gap between these stakeholders!
Soulcan Music Limited
Sector: Health care
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Thornhill
Website: www.vigourrecords.com
Contact: david.alter@ices.on.ca
Social/Environmental mission
To improve health through music.
Income generating product/service
Knowledge Translation (KT), Advertising, Consulting & Program Development Services, Concerts, Music downloads, Data collection & analysis (to inform stakeholders of the correlation between music preference and health status, including key demographic and sociocultural subgroups), Music Distribution
Social/Environmental benefit
- Knowledge Translation vehicle: the synthesis, dissemination and exchange of health and music research findings with the public to improve the health of individuals and communities
- Community engagement
- Market exposure for independent musicians
- Revenue generation for health charities (50% of revenue is donated to health charities)
- Creative composition and performance opportunities, especially for specific health-related initiatives
- Research: members will be actively engaged in, and informing health-music research
Tiffinday Inc.
Sector: Other
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Toronto
Website: http://www.tiffinday.com
Contact: seema@tiffinday.com
Social/Environmental mission
Providing busy people with lunches they enjoy that are good for them and the environment.
Income generating product/service
Ethically made lunches.
Social/Environmental benefit
- Health benefits – making, delicious, good quality, slow cooked lunches convenient for busy people to access at work to help reduce dependencies on readily available fast food.
- Support the local economy – use organic and locally grown ingredients when seasonally available to support our community of food growers.
- Environmental benefits – delivering the meals in reusable stainless steel tiffins to reduce waste and increase sustainability
- Social benefits – exclusively employ people who face barriers to employment. Target group: women with young children who cannot work full time and people recovering from mental illnesses.
Toronto Greenhouse
Sector: Environmental Protection
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Toronto
Website: www.torontogreenhouse.com
Contact: randytyrrell@torontogreenhouse.com
Social/Environmental mission
A Toronto based business forum for the environmental sector, Toronto Greenhouse’s mission is to foster the growth of the environmentally friendly Green business community.
Our primary activity is a monthly networking event that brings together members of the green business community and other friends of the environment. We also offer business services, including green search recruitment and eco-friendly marketing.
Income generating product/service
- Event ticket sales
- Sponsorship
- Advertising & business services
Social/Environmental benefit
We help green business grow by facilitating business & networking relationships.
Water Plan
Sector: Environmental Protection
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Guelph
Website: www.waterplan.ca
Contact: evanp@waterplan.ca
Social/Environmental mission
To provide third-party funds to support municipal water loss management and water conservation programs to communities that otherwise could not afford it.
Income generating product/service
Industrial and commercial water efficiency audits to improve water use and reduce operational costs associated with unnecessary water waste.
Social/Environmental benefit
Drastically reduce water leaks in underground infrastructure, along with improving the water efficiency of local schools and community farms WITHIN THE WATERSHED of the supporting industrial client. Their financial support is in exchange for the opportunity to claim that they have effectively and varifiably counterbalanced their own industrial water consumption through local, measured, not-for-profit conservation projects.
Web Networks
Sector: Enabling services/technology
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Guelph
Website: http://www.web.net
Contact: oliver@web.net
Social/Environmental mission
To contribute to building a self-reliant online community based on non-profit enterprise, cooperation and mutual aid which can support, maintain, and defend principles of social responsibility, ecology, and economic justice. To these ends, Web Networks provides appropriate and innovative communication technology and resources. Web Networks also seeks to foster healthy and productive work environments in non-profit organizations.
Income generating product/service
Web Network’s goal is to use our proven open source systems to meet our client’s goals in organizational, technical and business environments. Current example: www.yodigo.tv, literacy application.
Social/Environmental benefit
Reduce the determinants of poverty, assist organizations use Internet tools to address social justice issues.
Well of Change Inc
Sector: Enabiling services/technology
Type: Social Enterprise
Location: Toronto
Website: http://www.wellofchange.org
Contact: cho@wellofchange.org
Social/Environmental mission
To mobilize the community to better serve Canadian charities and nonprofits.
Income generating product/service
Well of Change charges a platform licensing fee for our corporate clients. We also take an administrative fee for each transaction completed through our system.
Social/Environmental benefit
Well of Change offers a compelling community engagement program that compliments volunteering programs available today. Our platform helps charities leverage their supporters to create a new stream of revenue for their organization.
Wise MOOve Holdings Inc.
Sector: Other
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Monkton
Website: www.wisemoove.com
Contact: info@wisemoove.com
Social/Environmental mission
- Support underserviced rural and small town health organizations / health professionals with a complimentary public education magazine on preventative health information.
- Project partner with NGO’s to raise revenue, recruit volunteers, promote deliverables and network through a series of events that engage local communities and a broader community.
Income generating product/service
- Magazine advertising space is sold to businesses, organizations and government agencies who seek to reach and value rural and underserviced communities.
- NGO’s share in the revenues generated from the events including ticket sales, booth sales and other fundraising activities. NGO resources are reserved for core deliverables.
Social/Environmental benefit
- Overlooked rural and remote communities have access to up to date information on Social Determinants of Health – relevant to their culture.
- Rural and remote distribution is more costly than urban.
- Magazines are freely distributed.
- Economically disadvantaged individuals have access to preventative health strategies that can improve their quality of life and reduce health care spending.
- Health care organizations and professionals have access to a complimentary healthcare resource that supports their mandates.
World’s Greenest Business Card, The
Sector: Environmental Protection
Type: Social Purpose Business
Location: Toronto
Website: www.TheWorldsGreenestBusinessCard.com
Contact: bernard@trafficdesign.ca
Social/Environmental mission
Traffic marketing + design inc., an award-winning Toronto-based communications company committed to sustainable business practices, has launched The World’s Greenest Business Card. By “greening” the smallest and most widely-used marketing material – the standard business card, a company can make a good green first impression and demonstrate it’s commitment to sustainability.
Income generating product/service
The World’s Greenest Business Card – the MOST ethically, and socially responsibly produced business card. Manufactured on 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper (means no new trees harvested). Paper manufactured in Canada (small carbon footprint) FSC and EcoLogo certified stock means you can have the FSC logo printed on your card if you would like; printed waterless with low impact vegetable inks. We plant a tree with Trees Ontario for every order.
Social/Environmental benefit
Producing a business card with The World’s Greenest Business Card on 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper saves significant resources including (on average) two trees per run, and reduces the amount of water, solid waste and emissions. Full details online at: http://www.trafficdesign.ca/faq.html
In addition, if you are a green company or are marketing a sustainable product or service, you know that your credibility is essential to your green corporate message. A study by Edelman Public Relations found that 39% of the respondents said they were more likely to purchase the product of a company they perceive to be socially and environmentally responsible, and 80% said they would boycott a company they perceived as being irresponsible in that regard.
