Month: March 2025

Categories
Events Impact Inspiration & Initiatives

30 Purpose-Driven Events to Attend in April – June, 2025

As we move through 2025, purpose-driven events continue to create spaces for meaningful conversations, collaboration, and impact across key areas like the circular economy, diversity and inclusion, climate action, and social justice. Whether you’re looking to deepen your knowledge, connect with industry leaders, or take action on critical global issues, these events provide an opportunity to drive change.

We’ve tracked down 30 learning, collaboration, and networking opportunities, both online and in-person, in Canada and globally, so you can stay engaged and inspired.

Keep reading to learn all about the purpose-driven events happening this April, May, and June.

April

A Path Forward: Anti-Racism in Action, From Individuals to Organizations

Date: April 1, 2025, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT
Location: Online

Description: Join this webinar for practical strategies to combat racism, promote equity, and build a more inclusive workplace and community.

UN Global Compact Network Canada – Climate Action Accelerator: Information Session

Date: April 2, 2025, from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM EDT

Location: Online

Description: This live Q&A session provides insights into the Climate Action Accelerator program, outlining what participants can expect to learn and achieve while addressing any attendee questions.

Basque Circular Summit

Date: April 2 – 4, 2025

Location: Bilbao, Spain

Description: This summit explores the progress and opportunities of the circular economy, addressing key environmental challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and biodiversity loss to pave the way for a sustainable economic model.


TED2025: Humanity Reimagined

Date: April 7 – 11, 2025 

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: This conference brings together global leaders from over 30 industries to envision what human flourishing could look like in the future, whether enabled by AI’s superpowers, revolutionary biological technology, or new expressions of creativity, kindness, and connection.

Indigenomics IMPACT
Date: April 8 – 9, 2025
Location: H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia
Description: This inaugural gathering is an immersive journey into Indigenous economic reconciliation through XR storytelling, digital landscapes, and interactive exhibits.

UN Global Compact Network Canada – Virtual Informational Session

Date: April 9, 2025, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT

Location: Online

Description: Canadian companies are invited to learn about joining the UN Global Compact, its initiatives, programs, and events. Discover how your organization can drive impact through sustainability.

Embedding Purpose in Corporate Governance: A Panel Discussion With In-House Counsel  

Date: April 10, 2025, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
Location: Online

Description: This webinar brings together in-house counsel from leading organizations to discuss aligning corporate goals with purpose, navigating legal complexities, and integrating purpose into governance and business operations.

CAMSC Procurement Fair 2025

Date: April 15 – 16, 2025

Location: Beanfield Centre, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Organized by the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council and presented by Manulife, this two-day conference offers networking, knowledge-sharing, and discussions on AI and ESG, with a focus on future-proofing supplier diversity.

Canadian Circular Economy Summit 2025

Date: April 15 – 17, 2025 

Location: Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, Montréal, Québec

Description: Sparx is proud to sponsor and attend this summit, uniting leaders across industries to share insights, forge partnerships, and accelerate Canada’s transition to a circular economy. We’ll also be sharing copies of the first-ever issue of Circular Economy Magazine, launched in partnership with Circular Economy Leadership Canada and Circular Innovation Council.

4WARD Global Climate & Sustainability Networking Meetups Vancouver

Date: April 18, 2025, from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM PDT

Location: Starbucks – 658 Homer Street, Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: At this monthly meetup, connect with 4WARD founders and climate professionals to discuss innovative solutions in the fight against climate change.

Earthx2025 Congress of Conferences

Date: April 21 – 25, 2025

Location: Hilton Anatole, Dallas, Texas

Description: Hosted by EarthX, this forum connects advocates, investors, accelerators, and researchers working to create a sustainable world for future generations.

2nd International Conference on Business, Health, and Climate

Date: April 22 – 25, 2025

Location: Québec City Convention Centre, Québec City, Québec

Description: This conference brings together global leaders to tackle the interconnected challenges of sustainable development, health equity, and climate resilience.

From Scope 3 to Success: Mastering Supply Chain Climate Action

Date: April 24, 2025, from 9:00 AM  – 10:00 AM PDT

Location: Online

Description: Sponsored by CEEZER, this expert panel explores practical ways to scale climate initiatives across supply chains, engage suppliers, and leverage carbon credits.


DC Climate Week

Date: April 28 – May 2, 2025

Location: Washington, DC

Description: Taking place over five days, this conference focuses on a unique theme each day, giving attendees the opportunity to engage with policymakers, learn from experts, and explore cutting-edge climate solutions.

Circularity

Date: Apr 29 – May 1, 2025
Location: Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colorado 

Description: This premier event focuses on accelerating systems change, empowering attendees to rethink how we make, sell, and circulate products in order to build a just, resilient, and regenerative economy.

SPARK Toronto 2025

Date: April 30, 2025, from 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM EDT 

Location: EY Tower, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Under the theme “From Global to Local,” this event examines recent global progress and challenges faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, emphasizing the crucial role of local action in driving systemic change and equity.

May

Passive House Canada Conference

Date: May 5 – 7, 2025

Location: Delta Hotels Ottawa City Centre, Ottawa, Ontario

Description: This annual event is designed for those passionate about advancing low-carbon, high-performance, sustainable building practices. This year’s theme, “Building Our Low Carbon Future,” explores key issues like climate change, health, and innovation in building practices.

Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion – Asian Heritage Month Panel

Date: May 6, 2025, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT

Location: Online

Description: Celebrate Asian Heritage Month with a webinar featuring community leaders who have made significant contributions to supporting Asian professionals and fostering career advancement.

2nd Annual World ESG and Climate Summit

Date: May 13 – 14, 2025

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Description: This international event focuses on sustainability development, the integration of ESG principles across industries, and innovative solutions to pressing environmental and social challenges.


The Purpose Summit 2025

Date: May 13 – 15, 2025

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Description: Want to learn from and collaborate with other purpose-driven leaders? Join this summit to reignite your passion, expand your organization’s impact, and explore strategies for driving meaningful change.

Benevity Live!

Date: May 13 – 16, 2025

Location: Palm Springs, California
Description: This annual conference unites together purpose-driven professionals to explore and enhance social impact initiatives and drive meaningful change within their organizations.

Business for Social Good Summit 2025

Date: May 16, 2025, 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM PDT

Location: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Vancouver, British Columbia
Description: This event explores “The Promise and Peril of AI”,  examining whether AI will revolutionize business or disrupt the economy. Attendees will hear from experts before engaging in their own discussions.

California Green Building Conference

Date: May 22, 2025

Location: San Francisco, California
Description: Attendees of this leading green building conference will discover the latest advancements in sustainable building practices while networking with industry professionals and innovators.

JEDDI Seminar: Advancing the Calls for Justice

Date: May 23, 2025, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM PDT

Location: Online
Description: Join UBC’s Peter P. Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics and Ch’nook for this session on advancing the calls for justice with Katelynn Carter-Rogers, Assistant Professor at St. Francis Xavier University.

Sustainability LIVE: Chicago

Date: May 28 – 29, 2025

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Description: Want to drive your sustainability agenda forward? This event offers a platform to elevate your brand, tackle critical sustainability and ESG challenges, and showcase your thought leadership.

June

Canadian Sustainable Finance Network Conference

Date: June 5 – 6, 2025

Location: York University, Toronto, Ontario
Description: Hosted by The Schulich School of Business and the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business at York University, this annual conference invites academics and financial experts to present original research on sustainable finance, providing a platform to explore the latest advancements and innovations in the field. 

Ten Years of Truth, a Lifetime of Action: Part One – Prioritizing Indigenous Justice with Action and Accountability as Non-Indigenous Settler Peoples

Date: June 10, 2025, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT

Location: Online
Description: The first session in a two-part webinar series by the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI), this discussion examines the responsibilities of honouring truth, fostering allyship, and advancing meaningful change.

Building Lasting Change

Date: June 18 – 20, 2025

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Description: Join experts, policymakers, and innovators to discuss key topics including reducing environmental impact and advancing green building practices.

WBENC 2025 National Conference: Accelerate

Date: June 23 – 26, 2025

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Description: Organized by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, this year’s event will explore the theme “Accelerate,” highlighting strategies for breaking barriers and driving business growth with purpose.

2025 NEXUS Global Summit

Date: June 26 – 28, 2025

Location: New York City, New York
Description: This summit brings together next-generation philanthropists, impact investors, and social innovators to address global challenges such as climate change, social justice, and mental health.

RSVP for a Free Consultation with Sparx

On a mission to make the world better? Our marketing experts can help make your impact story shine. Let’s talk purpose.

Categories
Impact Inspiration & Initiatives

Purpose: A Wellbeing Economies Film – Review & Key Takeaways

What if the economy wasn’t measured by endless growth but by the wellbeing of people and the planet? The documentary Purpose explores this alternative — and how we could achieve it.

Produced by Omnipolis Media in collaboration with Florida Film, Purpose premiered at the Wellbeing Economy Forum in Iceland on June 11, 2024. Since then, it has been screened globally, including a virtual event on February 26, 2025, where the Sparx team joined like-minded changemakers, social purpose leaders, and advocates. The screening concluded with a dynamic Q&A with Director Martin Oetting.

Keep scrolling for our key takeaways, including how the current economic system may be working against us, the challenges of integrating wellbeing approaches into policymaking, and how we can help drive meaningful change.  

Tackling the Central Question

Purpose contributes to ongoing conversations about impact investing and economic reform by asking one key question: “What is the purpose of the economy?” 

To explore this, Martin follows two individuals: Katherine Trebeck, who initiated the Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo), and Lorenzo Fioramonti, who helped establish the alliance then won a parliamentary seat in Italy to drive change from the inside. Sparx has had the pleasure of learning from and collaborating with Lorenzo in The Wellbeing Economy issue of Make The World Better Magazine, with co-collaborator Dr. Victoria Hurth. 

As everyday citizens continue to face growing threats to their finances, including US/Canada tariffs, this film comes at an opportune time to present an alternative to the way our economy serves us.

Redefining the Role of the Economy

Our current economic system is driven by the traditional GDP model, where financial growth is often used as the primary metric for success. This model fosters the narrative that increased wealth and productivity are synonymous with a “better life” but fails to place value on important aspects like mental health, personal fulfillment, and the sustainability of the planet. As Lorenzo argues, if we continue tirelessly serving the economy to increase GDP, it ultimately undermines overall wellbeing. In his words, “The economy is manmade. We can make it, unmake it, make it again,” but we can’t do that change to people or the planet.

Developed 30 years ago as an alternative to GDP, the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) focuses on the quality of progress, not just the quantity. For example, it adjusts for things like environmental degradation and unpaid labour. But, due to factors such as political resistance and limited awareness, it has yet to replace GDP as the primary economic measure. 

Pushing for Change at the Highest Level

Katherine and Lorenzo are working to create wellbeing economies that prioritize social connections, environmental sustainability, and long-term prosperity over financial gains. Through their international alliance, Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll) and its involvement in the creation of the Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo), they aim to bring wellbeing approaches into policymaking and create an alternative to the G7 Summit. However, they must navigate a complex governmental landscape to do so. 

It’s no surprise that policymakers tend to favour traditional growth metrics like GDP. For decades, it’s offered a clear-cut way to compare “success” across countries and served as a tool to achieve electoral goals, so the idea of transitioning to a more multifaceted wellbeing approach is met with significant resistance.

Katherine and Lorenzo’s journey highlights the hurdles associated with pushing for change at the highest level. But despite these challenges, the movement continues to gain momentum. A pivotal moment in Purpose occurs when Nicola Sturgeon, former First Minister of Scotland, delivered her TED Talk in 2019, titled “Why governments should prioritize well-being.” This talk, which received a standing ovation, helped bring the WEGo mission to a global audience. 

Key Takeaways

Through global examples and leadership, Purpose demonstrates that change is possible. Here are some of our key takeaways:

  • Costa Rica is making significant strides toward a wellbeing economy by prioritizing social wellbeing over GDP growth. Former President Carlos Andrés Alvarado Quesada is a strong advocate, mentioning the term “wellbeing” 14 times during his speech on May 8, 2022, as noted in Purpose. These are not just small steps — they’re leading to meaningful change.
  • Systemic change starts with education. While serving as Minister for Education, Universities, and Research in Italy, Lorenzo implemented sustainability and wellbeing in the national education curriculum. Despite facing internal resistance, his ideas sparked global conversations about reshaping education to empower future generations. This education can happen both inside and outside the classroom, through resources like Beyond Profit: Purpose-Driven Leadership for a Wellbeing Economy, co-authored by Lorenzo and discussed here, as well as Make The World Better Magazine.
  • Collaboration among nations is needed for meaningful change. The Wellbeing Economy Governments show how impactful collective action can be when pushing for change. Countries at the forefront of the wellbeing movement, like Iceland, Scotland, and New Zealand, are coming together to share resources, knowledge, and expertise, setting important international standards that can inspire others and drive progress. 

Despite the challenges and roadblocks, Katherine and Lorenzo remain steadfast in their mission. They continue to redefine how an economy can serve us, instead of the other way around, and shift the perception of what a “better life” means — one that’s not defined by GDP growth alone.


We all have a role to play in this movement. By supporting wellbeing initiatives, attending purpose-driven events, and advocating for policies that focus on the health of people and our planet, we can help build the economy we need. As Katherine puts it, we must create a system that allows “our planet to survive and for people to thrive in the 21st century.”