High Energy Full House Enjoys the 2009 Social Enterprise Forum
GIBSONS, B.C. - Half-Day Community Leadership Conference for Coastal Nonprofits, Business Owners
and Community Leaders on May 28th, 2009 a sold-out success!
Social enterprises have the dual purpose of generating income in the market place and creating a social value. They blend both business and social goals as a means to build stronger and healthier communities. On Thursday, May 28th, Sunshine Coast residents had the opportunity to learn more about Social Enterprise and its positive effects on communities at the 2009 Social Enterprise Forum held at the comfortable Cedar’s Inn Hotel & Convention Centre. The goal of the day was for participants to become better informed, better connected, and continue to encourage winning ideas into reality through effective partnerships.
Emcee Al Mulholland of Sunshine Coast Community Futures guided a packed house of
close to 100 participants through “one of the best-ever events on the Sunshine Coast,” as
one excited participant exclaimed. “When people of like mind get together to have
quality conversations about what needs to be done and what’s possible, amazing things
happen. The SE Forum was not only inspiring, it was also very well organized and
executed,” noted Greg Welstead, Associate Publisher of Just Business People.
Highlights of the day included:
- Small-group booth visits gave participants the opportunity to ‘speed date’ through eight
community booths – a fabulous ice-breaker that raised the energy in the room, brought a
focused awareness to the booths and allowed participants to hear two-minute mini-
presentations from each host.
- Presentations on a variety of topics, including: Social Enterprise and Its Key
Advantages for Nonprofits and Business by David LePage of ENP (Enterprising Non-
Profits), A Local Social Enterprise Case Study by Glen McGlughan of Sunshine Coast
Association for Community Living, Social Media – New Ways of Connecting to the
Community and the World by Ruth Atherley of AHA Creative Strategies, and Social
Responsibility by Judy Spears and Kevin Toth, discussing New Business Development
Strategies of the Sunshine Coast Tourism Organization, connecting businesses and non-
profits.
- A panel discussion where panelists from local business, non-profits and government
answered the question, ‘From your role perspective and in your role in the community,
how do you see partnerships on the Coast being encouraged, created and working most
successfully together?’
- Table talk discussions: Where do you see the best partnership opportunities? What are
your next steps?
- Wine & cheese reception featuring delicious tapas, mohitos and a great outdoor
networking session at Sailor Dan’s Restaurant.
- The conference was made possible through ENP, an organization that provides grants and
resources to non-profits that enhance and strengthen the social enterprise sector and its
opportunities (www.enterprisingnonprofits.ca). Organizers, Charlene SanJenko, CSJ Consulting and Janice Rafael, JLR Consulting, will conduct a follow-up evaluation session with key members of the community and look forward to planning another community capacity-building session this fall. To receive notes from the day or ensure you receive notice about the next session, please email .