Centre for Social Innovation - Where Change Happens!

Great little video by Wayne McPhail and his students discovering the vibrancy of Chinatown and learning how to capture the essense with new media...  You never know what will be happening at the Centre for Social Innovation. Check out the video.

Sure it has a bit about CSI in it and of course, I am delighted, but I totally understood Catherine's comments about kicking herself for not being at those crazy events and moments in the city. An inspirational article and a reminder of why we do what we do, Catherine confirms that happiness starts in place and in relationship to one another. Real magic happens when we find ways to connect and create together.

MaRS has recently launched a White Paper on Legislative Innovation that is proposing that Ontario create a new legal form to hold activities that would be undertaken by what we would call a social enterprise or perhaps a social purpose business. They are using the term Community Enterprise. This is builds on Stacey Corriveau and Richard Bridge's piece on Legislative Innovation for Canada.

SEE Change Magazine launches in Canada. It is great to start getting some coverage of social enterprise, social innovation and more. I was delighted to be invited to write about Trends in Social Innovation for SEE Change's inaugural issue... Check out the article on their site.  It's also posted below ... I would love your thoughts.

Two weeks ago while I was attending a local gardening workshop @ The Stop greenhouse, nestled inside the grand Wychwood Barns, I discovered what I think may be the best local farmers market in the city... and there I bought a half wheel of local Ontario sheep cheese shares from Monforte Dairy for $500.

CSI is Buying a Building!

(well, we're trying to!)

The second Ontario/ Quebec Comparative Policy Community Research Report by Peter Elson of Mount Royal University in collaboration with the Ontario Nonprofit Network is now available. Entitled, Renovating the House that Law Built ,  it analyzes proposed changes to nonprofit governance legislation in the two provinces.

Last year, the Ontario Nonprofit Network  became aware of two acts that were restricting the activities of nonprofits in Ontario. We took up the cause and called for changes to the Charitable Gifts Act and the Charities Accounting Act. Delightedly, the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and the Public Trustee heard us and took action. Bill 212, The Good Government Act, a government omnibus bill, has now received second reading.

CSI is proud to be home to the Ontario Nonprofit Network, that has once again, played a leadership roll in moving the cross-sectoral issues affecting the nonprofit sector, forward in government. This time, their focus is on the Harmonized Sales Tax and what is means to your organization. Check it out below and at wwww.ontariononprofitnetwork.ca.