Allyson Hewitt
Advisor, Social Innovation and Director, Social Entrepreneurship
MaRS, Toronto
Allyson leads the MaRS social innovation practice. Her team works on a broad range of projects—from not-for-profits interested in revenue generation to entrepreneurs committed to social transformation. She brings considerable expertise in the public sector—including the introduction of 211 and several award-winning innovations—to her role.
“MaRS integrates social entrepreneurs into our mission—which makes us unique among innovation centres around the world. It’s absolutely the right thing to do—applying the best minds to these seemingly intractable social challenges.”
Highlights
- Hospital for Sick Children, Executive Director, Safe Kids Canada
- Community Information Toronto, Executive Director
- Carleton University, BA (Criminology and Law)
- Graduate certification in Public Affairs, Voluntary Sector Management and Leading Change/Organizational Development from Algonquin College, York University and the University of Toronto
Allyson at MaRS
August 13, 2010
... rtunities for technology platforms to help scale social ventures Building the social enterprise community Our team: Allyson Hewitt—Advisor and Director of Social Entrepreneurship Cheryl May—Practice Lead Carol-Ann Smith—Associ...
August 9, 2010
... urship. SiG@MaRS creates industry standards and regulation in Canada and offers practical support for social ventures. Contact Allyson Hewitt Director, Social Entrepreneurship, MaRS Director, SIG@MaRS ahewitt@marsdd.com 416/673-8410
July 22, 2010
... Director, Collaboration Centre Linda Quattrin Director, Communications Allyson Hewitt Director, Social Entrepreneurship Tom Rand Practice Lead, Cleantech ...
June 9, 2010
If you were particularly market savvy in 1986 and had invested $1,000 in an upstart tech company called Microsoft, you’d be sitting on $500,000 today. If you were to take that same $1,000 in 1986 and invest it in a new initiative called Grameen Bank, you would have been eligible for a one-time tax exemption for a charitable donation.
March 24, 2010
Please join us for our annual SiG@MaRS Information Session - version 2010
February 19, 2010
About 18 months ago after winding up activities with a technology venture capital fund, I had that "AH-HA!" moment that so many of my friends and colleagues have described, but I had yet to experience. What was it? I met the SiG@MaRS team and a number of the passionate and talented social entrepreneurs they support. I learned about the challenges entrepreneurs in this field face and was intrigued by fact that while most social ventures require less capital than technology businesses and generally have a lower risk profile, capital is in very short supply. This is particularly true in Canada where most of us, including me before I was enlightened, assume that the government or charitable donors provide adequate funding for this sector.
February 9, 2010
There have recently been significant inroads made in creating new sources of financing for non-profits and social ventures in Canada. Causeway hosted two discussions over the past month to flesh out the development of potential investment vehicles.
February 2, 2010
DIRECTOR, SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP Allyson is establishing the social innovation program at MaRS that includes Social Innovation Generation (SiG@MaRS). This program provides social innovators and entrepreneurs access to resources to turn their ideas into p...
February 2, 2010
Allyson leads the MaRS social innovation practice. Her team works on a broad range of projects—from not-for-profits interested in revenue generation to entrepreneurs committed to social transformation. She brings considerable expertise in the public...
December 2, 2009
... by Child, was ranked as one of the Top 100 Books of the Year by the Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper. Allyson Hewitt Director, Social Entrepreneurship and SiG@MaRS Host Allyson is establishing the social innovation program at MaRS...
December 2, 2009
... on, Managing Partner, Cooler Solutions Inc. 3:10 Break/ Video 3:30 Introduction – Allyson Hewitt, Director, SiG@MaRS Building the capacity for effectiveness. Last year we heard the need to build the "...
December 2, 2009
... Video from Blackpowder Labs on Vimeo. Geoff Cape, Evergreen This first video includes a welcome from Allyson Hewitt, Director of Social Entrepreneurship and SiG@MaRS to the Social Entrepreneurship Summit 2008, held at MaRS on Nov...
December 1, 2009
For more information on Social Entrepreneurship in Canada, please contact one of our Summit Partners. Allyson Hewitt Director, Social Entrepreneurship SiG@MaRS ahewitt@marsdd.com Lisa Torjman Associate, Social Entrepreneurship SiG@MaRS ltorjman@marsdd...
November 29, 2009
... g sector. “It was a terrific forum for social entrepreneurs from Canada and abroad to learn from each other,” said Allyson Hewitt, Director, Social Entrepreneurship at MaRS. “These community-minded individuals interested in catalyzing so...
November 26, 2009
... sector in Canada and one way to do that is through the growth of new corporate structures like the B Corporation,” said Allyson Hewitt, MaRS Director of Social Entrepreneurship and SiG@MaRS. We applaud companies like Better The World and will be su...
November 19, 2009
... spiration in November 2008. Developed and hosted by the social entrepreneurship team at MaRS, under the leadership of Director Allyson Hewitt, the events drew more than 300 participants from across Canada, with guests from the US, UK and South Africa. Ta...
November 6, 2009
Women Piloting Innovation, a panel discussion held at MaRS in partnership with Nightwood Theatre last week, set out to find out how we can build an innovation economy that harnesses the capacity and creative energy of women.
October 19, 2009
At last week's CIBC Presents Entrepreneurship 101 lecture, we talked about the various types of businesses, including the important differences between social purpose ventures (based on achieving a defined social goal as well as making money) and traditional strictly for-profit businesses.
June 24, 2009
Our social innovation program (SiG@MaRS) works with many female social entrepreneurs who are creating a new path outside stereotypical roles. To celebrate them and the other “fearless women” making a difference, SiG held an event featuring Judith Thompson’s play, Body & Soul at the Tarragon Theatre last Tuesday. There, SiG@MaRS and the Ontario Trillium Foundation announced a feasibility study for the School for Social Entrepreneurs based on the UK model.
March 11, 2009
... d companies like Better The World and will be supporting more companies like them through our SiG@MaRS initiatives," said Allyson Hewitt, MaRS Director of Social Entrepreneurship and SiG@MaRS. "We believe our certification sends a clear, positiv...
November 5, 2008
SiG@MaRS was asked to contribute a piece on social technology. Check out Allyson Hewitt's article on "The Key Elements of Social Innovation" below. For more articles, check out the full September 2008 issue of OSBR on Social Innovation.
April 16, 2008
MaRS CEO, Ilse Treurnicht, and our director of social entrepreneurship, Allyson Hewitt, are headed to McMaster University today to speak at their Innovation Cafe in partnership with the Golden Horseshoe Biosciences Network. It's a conversational-style forum exploring how social innovation -- often in combination with technological innovation -- is working in their community and beyond.
December 4, 2007
... cial innovation initiative under the leadership of an outstanding community advocate. As Director of Social Entrepreneurship, Allyson Hewitt brings more than 20 years of community service leadership to her role that will broaden MaRS’ venture-build...
