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Shining light on our thinking & doing, our epiphanies & struggles, & our movement.

EMBERS Staffing Solutions: Amazing Social Enterprise Continues to Excel, Expands to Alberta

EMBERS Staffing Solutions’ mission is to create economic and employment opportunities for people –  one person, one job, one day a time. EMBERS Staffing is a temporary-employment social enterprise that provides companies with a socially responsible staffing service while providing workers with a ladder of opportunities to improve their skills and advance their careers. The goal is to offer short and long-term job placements as a bridge to full-time employment for people who may face barriers to employment. 

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Spotlight on IRP Recipients: Earthware

Calgary social enterprise Earthware is offering people the opportunity to affect real change by using a return-for-reuse zero waste takeout container program. Founder John MacInnes discusses IRP funding, a plethora of learnings, and overcoming challenges.

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Spotlight on IRP Recipients: Taproot Publishing Inc.

Taproot Publishing Inc. sees a future in which communities are served by sustainably funded acts of journalism facilitated by technology. They equip individuals and organizations with the information they need to contribute to their community, make good decisions, and stay engaged with others. Co-Founder Mack Male discusses IRP funding, implementing sales, & building a thriving team.

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Spotlight on IRP Recipients: Ethically Aligned AI

Ethically Aligned AI is a tech start-up and social enterprise that is on a mission to help organizations build better AI systems and help people to make sound choices in selecting trustworthy AI-enabled products or services. Founder & CEO Katrina Ingram, discusses IRP funding, a plethora of learnings, and reimagining the future.

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Spotlight on IRP Recipients: Arts Council Wood Buffalo

The funding ACWB received from IRP was used for a Feasibility Study to determine if a property in the downtown core of Fort McMurray could be purchased, turned into an arts incubator, and run as a social enterprise, providing sustainability for the incubator and for Arts Council.

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Advancing Social Entrepreneurship: Reflections of an IRP Jury Member

Funded by the Government of Canada, the Investment Readiness Program (IRP) supports social purpose organizations as they contribute to solving pressing social, cultural and environmental challenges across Canada.

Its goal is to help social purpose organizations prepare them to be ready for investments and participate in Canada’s growing social finance market.

The latest IRP round was overseen in Alberta by the Banff Canmore Community Foundation (BCCF) in partnership with Red Deer Community Foundation (RDCF). BCCF and RDCF utilized a jury of 14 community members to deliberate on the applications and Dan Overall, Executive Director of the Trico Foundation, was honoured to be part of that jury.

Recently, BCCF sent Dan five questions about IRP. Some of his answers formed the basis of a BCCF blog that is available here. You can see the entirety of the questions and answers below.

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