Connecting Canada’s Social Innovation Ecosystem
Social Innovation Canada (SI Canada) is an initiative to connect social innovation practitioners, build the capacity of the sector, and to elevate this work in Canada and beyond.
Stories from the frontlines of social impact
Introducing the Social R&D Program
For a long time, many social purpose organizations have been working to respond to the social and environmental challenges facing our communities. But, the systems…
Kookum’s House is helping families in Winnipeg when they need it most
Newly launched Kookum’s House is bringing the atmosphere of a grandma’s house to families in the North End of Winnipeg. Kookum means grandmother in Cree….
The Unique Challenges for Social Innovation in Atlantic Canada
“The importance of plain language, and helping people to see that they are actually social innovators even though they wouldn’t describe themselves that way. That…
“A robust, connected, social innovation ecosystem will inspire new efforts to illuminate relationships between social innovators, bringing together key parts so they can combine to create a much greater whole.”
– 2017 Feasibility Study Participant
Our work
Data and Stories
Build a platform to aggregate data and stories that help social innovators demonstrate evidence of their impact. Once a solid collaborative infrastructure is in place, SI Canada will experiment with the UN Global Goals as an organizing framework to help align these stories
Navigation, Wayfinding, and Connection
Create pathways into the social innovation field that make it easier for social innovators to find each other and build connections. We're mapping the sector using taxonomies relevant to social innovation.
Capacity Building
SI Canada will ensure the social innovation community has the information and assets to they need to implement established and emergent systems of social innovation and social finance. We’ll create the conditions for social innovators to: build multi-sectoral collaborations, test and experiment with new ideas, pool resources, and attract new donors and investors.
Aligning for Action
With the first three in place, it will enable social innovation organizations and funders to collaborate on approaches to social problems that are proven or promising, develop better products and services, scale their impact and evaluate progress. This is where we see a fundamental shift to collaboration and impact.
