Socially Responsible Purchasing including Social Enterprise
A project of EcoEquitable in Ottawa, Ontario. The 301 is a non-profit social enterprise in Ottawa, ON whose objective is to facilitate the integration of francophone immigrant women into the workforce. Two main product lines are promotional bags and dog clothes. The co-cop also offers clothing repair services.
Café Feminino is a cooperative of more than 725 women farmers in Peru who have been oppressed and abused. With hope for better lives these women have come together to grow, harvest, and sell organic fair-trade certified coffee. The coffee is sold to roasters for slightly above the regular fair trade price. The additional proceeds go directly to the female farmers who decide how the money will be spent to benefit them, their children, and their community.
You can purchase Café Feminino coffee from the following fair trade businesses:
- The Creemore Coffee Company, Creemore, ON
- Just Us Coffee, Wolfville, NS
- Santropol, Montréal, QC
- Shuswap Coffee Company, Salmon Arm, BC
EMBERS (Eastside Movement for Business & Economic Renewal Society) is a non-profit agency that works to combat poverty and assists in the revitalization of Vancouver’s inner city by facilitating community-based business development. EMBERS helps individuals and groups start small businesses and social enterprises; and provides services such as seasonal markets and other sales opportunities. EMBERS entrepreneurs produce jewelry, marinades and vinaigrettes, dolls, tote-bags and many other gift and home ware items.
A project of the Somali Women’s and Children’s Support Network, Toronto, ON
Haween Enterprise is a division of the Somali Women and Children’s Support Network in Toronto. Haween’s goal is to increase employment opportunities and work experience for both Somali and other immigrant women through provision of services to the textile industry and private companies. Haween specializes in custom canvas tote bags, courier bags, and t-shirts and athletic apparel for schools and teams.
This social purpose entreprise is a program of Compagne F in Montreal. It supports local economic development by making its purchases locally and offering products of women entrepreneurs in its boutique. The Café’s boutique serves as a promotional and retail outlet.
Malalay, Afghan Women’s Sewing and Crafts Co-operative
The Afghan Women’s Network in Vancouver, BC first began to think about starting a sewing co-op in 2002. With the support of the Immigrant Services Society and grants and donations from government and community organizations as well as from individuals, the co-op began to operate its business in 2004 out of a small space in Burnaby. Members provide a dress-making service to the Afghan community, make clothing and tote bags, and do contract work.
Sewing with Heart
A project of the Coast Foundation, Vancouver, BC
Sewing With Heart started in 2004 out of Coast Foundation in Vancouver. It focuses on providing income, work opportunities and skill development for people recovering from mental illness. It bags made from durable, colourful nylon remnants from The Flag Shop.
A program of Sistering, Toronto, ON Inspirations Studio is a microbusiness incubator for low income to learn art and business skills to develop small businesses in effort to generate additional income. Members produce and sell pottery, acrylic paintings and jewellry.
This social enterprise is a program of PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise in Thunder Bay, ON and is operated by a group of enterprising women: entrepreneurs, artisans and PARO support staff. Its store front presence provides Northern Ontario women with a retail location from which to launch and sell their products. It also serves as a venue for participatory training where women can develop the skills necessary to operate their own successful retail business and market their products. As part of ongoing training programs, women learn customer service, merchandising, cash management, business machine operation and more.
TAMMACHAT, located in Mahone Bay, NS, brings fairly traded, high quality, environmentally friendly, handcrafted textiles from Southeast Asia to consumers in North America and beyond.
International
Social Enterprise Alliance
The Social Enterprise Alliance acts as a single point of reference and support, a source of education and networking, a leading voice for organizations working toward sustainable social innovation by applying the power of market-based strategies to advance social change.
CED, Employment and Small Business Development
Aboriginal Human Resource Council
The council supports and encourages good business sense and ethics in fulfilling our mission to create career opportunities for Aboriginal people that will lead to their full participation in the Canadian economy.
Centre for Community Enterprise
The Centre for Community Enterprise offers expertise and resources for community economic development including Making Waves Magazine.
Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia
Immigrant Services Society is a leader in identifying the needs of immigrants and refugees and in developing, demonstrating and delivering effective, quality programs and services which meet those needs. ISS staff, members and volunteers will work together to provide integration services, deliver educational programs, and advocate for our clients and communities.
Western Canada Women’s Enterprise Centres
Manitoba
The Women’s Enterprise Centre of Manitoba (WEC) has helped thousands of women throughout the province find information, improve their skills and acquire financing so that they can start, expand or purchase an existing business.
Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc. (W.E.) offers a wide range of programs and services including business advising and resources, business loans, networking and mentoring opportunities, and training workshops and seminars that focus on business skill development.
ACOA Women in Business Initiative
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Women in Business Initiative (WBI) business tools and resources for women entrepreneurs. Using a team-based approach, WBI enlists the talents and the cooperation of qualified business counselling and community outreach officers, flexible lenders, expert consultants and other business support organizations throughout the region.
Centre for Women in Business – Halifax
The Centre for women in business helps women succeed in business by providing advice, information, business management skills training and networking opportunities.
Momentum offers hope and opportunity to people living in poverty through community economic development programs and services including small business training and money management training.
Alberta Women’s Enterprise Centre assists thousands of women throughout Alberta who have decided to start, expand or purchase their own businesses.
BC’s leading resource for women entrepreneurs offers skills development, business loans, free business guidance, business resources, mentoring, networking and events.
Women-Centred CED
Compagnie F
Compagnie F supports women who wish to achieve financial autonomy through entrepreneurship development by developing networks and creating programs that take into account the needs of women who want to gain control over their professional future and acquire financial and professional independence.
PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise
PARO is a unique grassroots, community economic development organization in Thunder Bay, ON providing programs and services designed to increase the economic independence and self-sufficiency of women and their families.
Women’s Economic Equality (WEE) Society
The WEE Society’s mission is to promote the economic well-being of women in Nova Scotia by facilitating programs and services that support women’s full participation in the social and economic development of this province.
Community MicroSkills Development Centre
Community MicroSkills Development Centre is a multi-cultural, non-profit, community-based organization in Toronto, ON committed to assisting the unemployed, with priority to women, youth, racial minorities and immigrants.
Women Interested in Successful Employment (WISE)
WISE, located in Newfoundland, provides a range of career planning and employment counselling programs and services to guide women in the world of work.
Women’s Equity and Equality and Women’s Empowerment – Canada
Ad Hoc Coalition for Women’s Equality and Human Rights
The Ad Hoc Coalition came together in 2007 to fight the actions against women’s rights taken by the Government of Canada because these actions contravene CEDAW and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Coalition promotes the collaboration of equality seeking organizations and groups in advancing the equality of women and the elimination of discrimination against women.
Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW)
CRIAW is a research institute which provides tools to facilitate organizations taking action to advance social justice and equality for all women. CRIAW recognizes women’s diverse experiences and perspectives; creates spaces for developing women’s knowledge; bridges regional isolation; and provides communication links between/among researchers and organizations actively working to promote social justice and equality for all women.
Groupe Femmes, Politique et Démocratie (GFPD)
GFPD is a not-for-profit popular education organization promoting increased participation by women in political life and the practice of full and active citizenship by women.
Native Women’s Association of Canada
The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is founded on the collective goal to enhance, promote, and foster the social, economic, cultural and political well-being of First Nations and Métis women within First Nation, Métis and Canadian societies. NWAC members collectively recognize, respect, promote, defend and enhance our Native ancestral laws, spiritual beliefs, language and traditions given to us by the Creator.
Womennet.ca is a feminist website providing a resource directory, news and links for Canadian Women.
At womenshealthmatters.ca, consumers will find the latest information, news and research findings on women’s health, diseases and lifestyle trends.
Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW)
CCMW believes that Muslim women must develop their Muslim identity while being a part of and making positive contribution to Canadian society, and that they must provide role models for Muslim youth.
Canadian Women’s Health Network
The Canadian Women’s Health Network is a voluntary national organization to improve the health and lives of girls and women in Canada and the world by collecting, producing, distributing and sharing knowledge, ideas, education, information, resources, strategies and inspirations.
National Association of Women in the Law (NAWL)
NAWL works through law reform to achieve substantive equality and the realization of human rights for all women in Canada.
UNPAC grew out of the 1995 United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing with a commitment to see the recommendations in the Platform for Action implemented. UNPAC supports the objectives of the Platform for Action by working through community action and with other organizations, locally and globally, for equality, development, and peace.
UNPAC has a great website about Women and the Economy. It talks about economic inequalities and has a section about economic alternatives – including a section on community economic development.
YWCA Canada is the largest women’s multi-service organization in Canada YWCA Canada works to ensure that the right policies and infrastructures are in place to safeguard women’s well-being and help them achieve safety and economic security.
Women’s Equity and Equality and Women’s Empowerment – International
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
UNIFEM is the women’s fund at the United Nations. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality.
The World YWCA is a global network of women leading social and economic change in 125 countries worldwide. It advocates for peace, justice, human rights and the environment, and has been at the forefront of raising the status of women since it was founded in 1855. The World YWCA develops women’s leadership to find local solutions to the global inequalities faced by women.
Advocacy, Policy and Organizing – Canada
Caledon Institute of Social Policy
The Caledon Institute of Social Policy does rigorous, high-quality research and analysis; seeks to inform and influence public opinion and to foster public discussion on poverty and social policy; and develops and promotes concrete, practicable proposals for the reform of social programs at all levels of government and of social benefits provided by employers and the voluntary sector.
Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada
The Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada (CCAAC) is dedicated to promoting a publicly funded, inclusive, quality, non-profit child care system.
Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD)
CCSD is a non-profit social policy and research organization focusing on issues such as poverty, social inclusion, disability, cultural diversity, child well-being, employment and housing.
Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN)
CPRN’s mission is to create knowledge and lead public dialogue and debate on social and economic issues important to the well-being of all Canadians. Our goal is to help make Canada a more just, prosperous and caring society.
Social Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI)
SEDI is a national charitable organization dedicated to enabling poor and unemployed Canadians become self-sufficient. We take a variety of leading-edge social and economic approaches to this goal in areas such as policy development, program management, capacity building, public education, and research.
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA)
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is an independent, non-partisan research institute concerned with issues of social and economic justice. By combining solid research with extensive outreach, we work to enrich democratic dialogue and ensure Canadians know there are workable solutions to the issues we face. The CCPA offers analysis and policy ideas to the media, general public, social justice and labour organizations, academia and government.
Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA)
CCA provides leadership to promote, develop, and unite co-operatives and credit unions for the benefit of people in Canada and around the world.
The Canadian Labour Congress brings together the majority of unions in Canada in a unified, national voice. Active in every aspect of the economic, social and political life of Canadians, from fair wages and safe working conditions to universal health care, equality rights, a sustainable environment, and much more — unions make a difference in people’s lives.
Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)
A vital and democratic union, the PSAC strives to enhance the quality of life for its membership and has been at the vanguard of a variety of significant and successful campaigns for workplace and human rights, including the struggle for equal pay, enhanced workplace health and safety and the rights of same sex spouses.
Tamarack: An Institute for Community Engagement
Tamarack is a dynamic organization that develops and supports collaborative strategies that engage citizens and institutions to solve major community challenges, and to learn from and share these experiences.
Advocacy, Policy and Organizing – International
International Labour Organization
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the tripartite UN agency that brings together governments, employers and workers of its member states in common action to promote decent work throughout the world.
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