Category: Impact Inspiration & Initiatives

Key Takeaways from the Canadian Circular Economy Summit

Post author By user
Post date November 1, 2023
No Comments on Key Takeaways from the Canadian Circular Economy Summit

With the Zero Waste Conference in the rearview mirror, the Sparx team is reflecting on another event we attended this year: the Canadian Circular Economy Summit 2023, hosted by Circular Economy Leadership Canada and Circular Innovation Council.

Back in June, we went on a purpose-driven event circuit, and the Canadian Circular Economy Summit was an important stop. We learned a lot from expert speakers and connected with so many people from a variety of backgrounds, all of whom are passionate about protecting the planet.

Keep scrolling for our impressions and takeaways, including what the event space was like, circular economy insights and models that could help drive action, and the critical need to increase awareness through the right messaging.

Connecting With Sustainability Champions

Located in bustling downtown Toronto, close to the waterfront, the Toronto Board of Trade Offices provided a beautiful setting for the Canadian Circularity Summit. With opening and closing notes held in the main auditorium, the use of multiple rooms for different sessions, and an open-air rooftop reception surrounded by the lights of the city, the organizers made the most of the space. Having snacks available at all times was another nice bonus. And, naturally, there was a real emphasis on walking the circular economy talk, with reusable dishes, utensils, and name tags; no physical swag; and minimal magazine distribution.

What was really encouraging was just how full the event space was. At least 500 folks from different backgrounds but with similar goals gathered together to learn, synergize, and track down opportunities to collaborate. We got to meet many people in the B2B, B2C, government, and education spaces, and we were delighted to see that both the speakers and attendees were diverse.

Something else that excited us was having the chance to share Make The World Better Magazine with such a wide range of like-minded people. Along with a stand with a QR code that could be scanned for a digital version of the magazine, we brought print copies along. By the end of day one, all 50 copies were gone!

Fresh Perspectives and Models for Action

We learned a lot from the enlightening sessions we attended and meaningful conversations we had throughout the two-day event. It was exciting to hear from such insightful speakers, including Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and to catch success stories and innovative company presentations, like Collaskins.

Something that really struck us was the focus on using the event as a way to move the needle on circularity by having everyone contribute toward the development of a National Circular Economy Action Plan for Canada. Leading up to the event, a 10-point framework was created, which was used to guide event flow by keeping discussions action-oriented.

The 10 points in the framework are:

Develop a shared roadmap and collaboration platform for a net-zero, climate-smart, circular future.
Align and link CE and climate/biodiversity research, knowledge dissemination, and awareness.
Better understand and integrate performance indicators, reporting tools, and standards.
Transition markets and promote circular culture in support of climate-smart, circular businesses.
Inspire and invest in place-based innovation to create regenerative local economies and resilient, inclusive communities.
Design programs, policy, regulation, and procurement as innovative transition enablers.
Create low-carbon, circular, waste-to-value opportunities across key sectors and supply chains.
Mobilize and deploy climate-smart, circular funding and financing.
Centre Indigenous leadership, engagement, and traditional knowledge.
Strengthen the connection between CE and social benefits, including applying an equity lens.

During workshops and presentations, the Action Plan was a central topic, and delegates were given the opportunity to share their thoughts on what steps should be taken to bring it to fruition.

Another session that stood out was “Circular Design Principles: From Concept to Practice,” where Rosemary Cooper, Project Director of Share Reuse Repair Initiative, presented the Stuff in Flux 2 Playbook, which offers four global opportunities with mass market potential: Useful Stuff, Joyful Stuff, Stuff Connected to Nature, and Flowing Stuff (stuff moving in a flow in efficient ways). The Useful Stuff category was highlighted as an emerging market of customers who want products that are useful, have longer lifespans, and are made from quality products that can be repaired more easily. In general, as perspectives on “stuff” shift globally, new opportunities for circular innovations are arising.

On day two, Ken Webster’s keynote also provided an interesting perspective — one that takes on a systems-level view of the circular economy — along with different ideas that could facilitate a path to circular economy uptake. He discussed ascribing value to the natural resources we extract, such as gold and oil, and creating a CO2 fee and “climate dividend” in order to build a fair, effective, and sustainable climate policy. He also pitched a “Material-as-a-Service” model that would incentivize reuse, with a complete supply chain that generates a continuous revenue stream for a region where a material is mined.

The Critical Need for Circular Economy Communications

Throughout the Summit, it became clear that lack of awareness is a real obstacle to circular economy adoption. To solve this, it’s critically important that we educate people on the circular economy and how zero-waste initiatives can fit into their lives.

The “Mainstreaming Circular Culture: The Need and the Opportunity” breakout session spoke to this issue and the need to align the right message to the right audience, which is what marketers already inherently do.

An important challenge was brought forth: going beyond the people who are considered “eco-niche” and already interested in being more sustainable. To address this, Rosemary Cooper presented the SHIFT model (Social Influence; Habit Formation; Individual Self; Feelings and Cognition; Tangibility). The purpose of this model is to turn intention into action by going beyond guesswork through understanding your audience’s behaviour drivers and designing tailored messaging, and going beyond the eco-niche through appealing to a broader audience.

During this session, OneEarth Living‘s Dr. Vanessa Timmer, Executive Director, and Dagmar Timmer, Managing Director of Strategic Initiatives, discussed the “throw away” model and the origins of this culture: 1950s marketing. If marketing was powerful enough to create this culture, it has the power to rewrite the narrative and cultivate a sustainability-centred culture.

Additionally, if we look through a motivation lens, by designing communications that appeal to everyone, we can raise awareness and attract a wider audience based on shared motivations. Creating messaging and stories around specific issues can help build toward this.

With the right messaging, we can inspire demand for change and increase demand for zerowaste goods and services, which is the first step toward large-scale innovations and policy developments that advance sustainability. The goal is to enable the circular economy to be the “default” — by making it the easiest and most convenient option.

Outside of this session, the conversations we had with attendees supported the sentiment that there’s not enough circular economy awareness in Canada and the world, with many people unaware of its existence. This tells us that marketing efforts in this space should be focused on educational content and storytelling more than traditional techniques. By educating, presenting data, and landing on the right messaging, advocacy and marketing can help change consumer and business behaviour.

In light of this critical need for communications and attendee interest, we hosted an Open Space Marketplace session during the Summit on the importance of marketing in creating demand for circular economy solutions. We were able to help many professionals in the field figure out the path forward for advancing their mission.

Create Demand for Circular Economy Solutions With Sparx

While the room was full of like-minded and passionate individuals, it’s apparent that most of the population is not aware of the circular economy. There’s a real opportunity for us to work together to move the needle by educating consumers and businesses to create demand.
Are you looking to reach Canadians with your circular economy story? We can help you find the right path for advancing your mission. Contact us for a free marketing consultation.

Tags Amplify Good

Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Make The World Better Magazine

From Content Marketing to Content to Make The World Better: Our Purpose-Driven Journey

Post author By user
Post date October 30, 2023
No Comments on From Content Marketing to Content to Make The World Better: Our Purpose-Driven Journey

Making the world better is a lifelong commitment. Every day, individuals and organizations are igniting positive change and improving the world in ways both big and small.

Through concerted efforts to continually create moments, take steps, and make changes, we advance on our collective journey toward making life better — not just for ourselves but for our family, friends, communities, and eventually, everyone.

There’s no denying that the journey is fraught with challenges. We may take a wrong turn, encounter delays and setbacks, or even wonder if we’re really making an impact. But the destination is worthwhile, and there’s only one way to reach it: by pressing onward.

The changemakers in the Amplifiers edition of Make The World Better Magazine are taking steps to make the world better and demonstrating what’s possible. They inspire us to keep going. It’s an honour to share their stories, to amplify each other’s impact, and to walk together on this purpose-driven journey.

At Sparx Publishing Group, we started our journey by venturing into uncertainty, but we saw an opportunity that we could not ignore. Driven to help amplify impact-focused organizations and individuals so their efforts to help people and planet can thrive, we took a risk and changed course. And, as we progress on our purpose-driven journey, we continue to grow and change to do better.

Sparx’s Journey to Choosing Purpose

Our journey began over 10 years ago, and it’s certainly been a long and winding one. We embarked with the spark of an idea to make the world of self-directed investing more accessible for Canadians through a free online resource called Sparx Trading. Creating content for Sparx Trading laid the foundation for Sparx Publishing Group’s growth and was our first content marketing success story.

Carried by our values of integrity and responsiveness, we soon branched off on a new path, one that takes us deeper into purpose every day.

“We were founded on a premise that we could use content to make a positive impact and that has become even more true today than it was when we started,” says Hamish Khamisa, Sparx’s Founder and President.

While Sparx was increasingly focusing on impact, 2020 was a significant turning point. Hamish Khamisa honoured his daughter, Anahera, who was stillborn at 35 weeks, with the creation of our in-house event devoted to doing good, Make The World Better Day. We’ve always believed that a single spark can ignite a world of change, and the love and hope that Anahera embodied were the sparks that set our mission in motion.

After that, our journey began in earnest. “Sparx has put in a lot of effort over the years to determine what it means to ‘make the world better’ and how our mission fits into that statement,” says Sonia Lau, Junior Frontend Developer. “We’ve gone from a generic marketing company to one that takes on projects that focus on our environmental and social responsibility, as well as uplifting other companies that do the same.”

We began dedicating our time to intentional practices, like turning Make The World Better Day into an annual event, launching Make The World Better Magazine, donating to various causes, and offering pro bono work for mission-aligned organizations.

However, it took us time and effort to get to the point where we had clarity from a market perspective on who we could ideally serve and work with. “We now prioritize working with clients who share our core values and are actively contributing to making a positive impact on the world,” says Aretta Yeung, Marketing Analyst. “The partnerships and collaborations that we have sought out have led to opportunities to work on projects that align with our mission and reinforce our commitment to purpose-driven initiatives.”

Striving to be stronger members of the purpose-driven community through networking and event participation has also contributed greatly to our journey. “Attending a variety of mission-aligned events on DEI, sustainability, and other topics allowed me to learn best practices and get inspired by leading individuals and organizations in the purpose-driven space,” says Alexandra Nikitina, Head of Growth. Through this undertaking, we’ve been able to grow in our purpose and meet many mission-aligned contacts.

“While the desire to make the world better has always been at the forefront, Sparx has gone from dreaming to doing,” says Libby Shabada, Copywriter.

Growing Purpose With a Diverse Team

Moving from dreaming to doing wouldn’t be possible without the right team. Our team comes from diverse backgrounds, earning us a CAMSC certification, and what unites us is a desire to work hard to drive positive change.

“I feel constantly inspired through the work that we do and the contagious energy our team generates as we create a platform for change,” says Brandon Ashcraft, Marketing Coordinator.

Sparx operates by following a set of clearly defined values, which are communicated throughout the hiring process. Because of this, we were able to build an enthusiastic and values-aligned team.

“Curiosity and the drive for self-improvement are personal values that I see constantly reflected in our work,” says Nicole Yeh, Graphic Designer. “We are curious about the innovators making a positive change in the world, and we are dedicated to connecting those ideas with an audience.”

While challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic partially rewrote the composition of the Sparx team, the switch to working remotely opened the door to even broader perspectives and hires from outside of the Vancouver area. But the impact went even deeper. “Partially due to going through COVID-19 and remote work, I’ve learned more about people’s struggles with mental health and isolation,” says Ken Yeung, VP of Operations. “I think [being transparent and honest] helps build rapport and respect with team members.”

This has made a positive difference in our workplace culture. As a result, everyone feels encouraged to share their unique perspectives on how to make the world better and to share their input across all areas of our work, from the content we produce to how we conduct our business.

Our perspectives and ideas are diverse, which enhances our problem-solving abilities, yet there’s a common thread uniting us: we see our work as meaningful. That inspires us to give it our all.

“The fact that I get to be a part of the work that amplifies valuable stories makes me want to deliver the best work I can so that our work in sharing these stories may be accessible and impactful to more people,” Elisabeth Choi, Communications Designer, says.

Our diversity is a real strength for the work and space we’re in. Any organization that acts with intentionality can build that space too.

Inspiration Beyond Our Desks

The diversity of our personal experiences has led to a flow of purpose-driven ideas, which travel with us into our work. But we also find ways to integrate what we’ve learned at Sparx into our everyday lives.

“I always say that it’s important to walk our talk since it’s important for me to try to embody what I share or preach to those around me. So, I’m glad that as a team, we always try to learn and live out the purpose-driven values we share to our audience,” says Pauline Macapagal, Communications Specialist.

Together, our team is always learning: from the stories we amplify and changemakers we work with, from the causes we champion and initiatives we engage with, from our mistakes, and from each other.

“Working at Sparx challenges me to think more about the ways I can create a more positive social impact in my personal life,” says Nicole.

Creating a positive impact in our personal lives takes on a different meaning for everyone. For some, we’ve discovered ways we can make progress on various causes through our everyday actions.

“I’m following more activists on social media, learning and sharing content, buying more locally-made and Indigenous brands — many of which we’ve featured in our gift-giving guides! — and finding everyday ways to reduce my environmental footprint,” says Libby.

For others, our experiences have caused us to look inward and be mindful of our personal accountability.

“This experience has inspired me to dig deep within myself, prompting me to be more intentional when it comes to aligning my personal choices and decisions with the values that truly resonate with me,” says Aretta.

“I’ve personally learned and grown as an individual to be kinder, to care more about the world and learn ways to preserve it, and especially to be more active in the activities that help make the world better,” Elisabeth adds.

Ultimately, our work inspires us to take initiative and engage with amplifying impact both at work and at home. As Pauline’s learned, “no matter how big or small, an impact can effect great positive changes that travel far and wide to places and people you wouldn’t expect.”

Amplifying Stories of Impact With Make The World Better Magazine

Amplifying impact so it travels far and wide is exactly what we seek to do with Make The World Better Magazine, a core Sparx initiative our team was eager to rally behind and learn from.

For Sonia, the Circular Economy issue was a real stand out. “It features a lot of the companies where their missions feel familiar and can be easily supported. For example, I could see myself using EcoMeter to find an eco-friendly restaurant, or getting food from Too Good To Go, or using one of Susgrainable‘s baking mixes. A lot of these companies provide an approachable way to support their mission that fits pretty seamlessly into your lifestyle.”

As for Hamish, the feature on Sxwpilemaát Siyám/Chief Leanne Joe was profoundly impactful. “As a parent, I felt that centring her perspectives around the implications of her work to future generations resonated deeply and speaks to the ethos of the magazine — to inspire others to leave the world better than how they found it.”

Every participant has been truly inspiring, and we want to see their impact thrive. All of their stories have inspired us to come up with fresh ideas about how we can grow Make The World Better Magazine.

Team members, like Pedram Milani, Web Developer, have been thinking up some new ways to engage audiences around the magazine. “I think a 10–15 second YouTube short/TikTok segment covering companies could be a nice way to highlight companies and bring attention to brands and the magazine,” he says.

And Pauline imagines another type of digital platform: “It would be really cool to see the magazine available on e-readers. That way, we’re making it more accessible […] and being more environmentally friendly,” she says.

Other team members are dreaming of collaborations, special editions, follow-ups with past participants, partnerships with institutions, spin-offs centred around different topics, and going global.

“I envision stories and initiatives from around the world featured in the magazine, fostering a sense of interconnectedness and inspiring collaborative efforts to address global challenges,” says Thuan Nguyen, Sparx’s former Financial Analyst.

Team members are also excited about the potential to cover more initiatives and causes. “I would really love to see more stories about organizations and individuals working to help the homeless and children and families,” says Michelle Baleka, Copywriter. “Making the magazine is a learning experience for me too, and it would be great to know about more organizations and initiatives that are helping [them].”

These hopes are encouraged by the positive responses we’ve received from everyone who’s been featured in the magazine, shown interest, or taken a dive into its purpose-driven pages. Their support has ignited our expansion goals, and we’re taking active steps to reach them with our Make The World Better Magazine Patreon and exciting new partnerships.

Most of all, as Alexandra says, we have hope that the magazine can help “make being better a norm as opposed to a niche.”

Looking Forward to a Brighter Future

Speaking of hopes, we have some pretty high ones for Sparx as a whole.

“I’m excited to see how Sparx continues to allow our culture and values [to] blossom through our work and exponentially scale that level of growth through future projects,” Brandon says.

Individually, we all have different ideas of what this growth would look like and specific areas of impact we want to reach more deeply.

“I would love to see Sparx expand their client base and help a few start-ups become viral,” Pedram says, while Ken hopes we can “continue expanding our clientele and ideally create a SaaS-like project that we can scale,” and Michelle wants to “work with more circular economy organizations and clients that assist with things like ending homelessness and breaking the cycle of poverty.”

With hopes to grow in Canada’s purpose-driven space through collaborations, sustainable partnerships, raising awareness around and contributing to the adoption of more regenerative solutions, and building up a community of like-minded organizations that help each other out, we’re determined to amplify more voices catalyzing positive change.

“My hope is that through our marketing and communications efforts, we will be able to meaningfully inspire demand for products, services, and business practices that contribute to the long-term well-being for all,” Hamish says.

A Spark of Inspiration Can Change the World

The path to a better world is long and challenging, but we’re excited to travel alongside so many amazing changemakers on our journey. As Hamish says, “The biggest thing that I get excited about is now being fully confident that we’re not alone in the work we want to do.”

Our hope is that through our work, readers like you feel inspired to start your own impact journey or to feel more energized to continue along your purpose-driven path.

Whatever stage you’re at, if you have a spark of hope to make the world a better place, it will not only serve as a guide for yourself, but a beacon to others to join in your journey.

If you’d like to help Sparx with our mission, you can join us by reading and supporting Make The World Better Magazine on Patreon, meeting up with us at purpose-driven events, and following us on social media.
You can also reach out to us via our contact page. We’d love to hear your purpose-driven story and include you in an issue of Make The World Better Magazine. Or, if you’re looking for a marketing partner, we’d love to help amplify the work you’re doing to create more good in the world.

Tags Make the World Better, MTWB

Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Work Life & Culture

Together, We Can Make The World Better

Post author By Sonia
Post date October 10, 2023
No Comments on Together, We Can Make The World Better

Every year, Sparx hosts our internal purpose-driven event, Make The World Better Day, where we set aside our usual workflows to focus on a day dedicated to doing good. And 2023’s MTWB Day was one for the books!

We had an X-traordinary time gathering together in-person and virtually to enjoy meaningful team building over delicious food and our shared mission to make the world better.

Read on to find out what we did and what we learned, including our impact-focused keynote presentation, the action we took together toward reconciliation in honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, our hackathon, and a Sparx-hosted shoreline cleanup.

An Impact-Focused Keynote

We kicked off the day with a keynote presentation that included a Make The World Better Magazine impact report and a look at the progress we made toward our 2022–2023 goals.

Our impact report covered how many changemakers we’ve featured since launching the magazine in 2021 (forty-three!), along with insights into the magazine, such as reads and impressions, social media performance, and testimonials and feedback, to validate the work we’re doing and help us improve the magazine for readers in the future.

We also took an in-depth look at impact beyond the pages of the magazine, including the Make The World Better Panel at the Canadian Securities Exchange’s Summit On Responsible Investment, our purpose-driven event participation, third-party validations, and community-building activities.

As well, since we’ve now completed the United Way British Columbia’s Social Purpose Innovators Program, our social purpose statement was unveiled to the team. Stay tuned for our public reveal, which is coming soon!

Following this, we discussed our goals for the rest of 2023 and 2024. Spoiler alert: they revolve around the power of community! We then closed off the presentation with an inspiring speech from Sparx’s Founder and President, Hamish Khamisa.

Taking Action Toward Reconciliation

Driven to make progress on our reconciliation journey, the Sparx team joined the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s (NCTR) Taking Action Towards Reconciliation webinar, hosted by Brenda Gunn, Academic and Research Director at NCTR, with special guests Jimmy Durocher, Chairperson of the Île-à-la-Crosse Residential School Committee, Veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Board Member of the Gabriel Dumont Institute, and former President of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, and current President of the Métis local in Île-à-la-Crosse; and Dale LeClair, Director of Indigenous and Northern Affairs at Canada Post.

The webinar stressed how important it is that all Canadians learn the truth about residential schools and how they’ve impacted both the country and communities at the local level, that reconciliation will be meaningless if we don’t have the conviction to do something about it, and to really listen to Survivors, have communication with Indigenous communities, and teach our children about what happened.

It was surprising and frustrating to learn that many residential, boarding, and day schools are unrecognized, including Île-à-la-Crosse Residential School in Île-à-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan, which Jimmy Durocher is working hard to get legally recognized. The fact that there are unrecognized schools shows that we all have to do our part to educate ourselves and those around us.

As an example of how to educate others and take action towards reconciliation, Canada Post’s annual Truth and Reconciliation stamp series was spotlighted. This year’s series features archival photographs of residential schools in different parts of Canada, with the hope of raising awareness and sparking conversations and collaborations. The stamps are made in collaboration with Survivors.

Jimmy Durocher reminded us that all Survivors handle their experiences of abuse differently. Some may not be ready to tell their stories and some may never be. As Brenda Gunn said, we all need to share the information about what happened, but Survivor’s stories are personal. If a Survivor shares their story with us, it doesn’t mean we have the right to tell it to someone else. And, if you invite a Survivor to come tell their story, you need health supports in place before, during, and after.

At the end of the day, it’s all about being human, being kind to one another, understanding each other, apologizing, and building positive relationships. It’s about telling the truth of what happened and becoming part of the story that needs to be told.

To wrap up the webinar, NCTR shared resources, including “Six Actions of ReconciliACTION,” which you can find here.

Building a New Resource

After the webinar, the Sparx team joined forces for an impact-driven hackathon. We divided up tasks and got to work on two projects: our upcoming impact report and a brand new purpose-driven resource.

Putting our heads down, we made tremendous progress in just two hours. While our new resource (hint: a website you’ll want to check on regularly!) is not up and running just yet, we were able to lay the bricks and build a solid foundation.

We look forward to getting our projects up and running soon. Our guiding principle for our purpose-driven resource was to create something we’d use for ourselves that meets our needs. That’s why we’re certain it’ll be a useful tool for the whole community.

More news on our impact report and our new resource will be forthcoming, so keep your eyes on the Sparx site and get ready for them to ignite!

Cleaning up the Shoreline

To wrap up Make The World Better Day, we put away our laptops and got out our trash grabbers. Sparx headed to False Creek to help clean up Vancouver’s shoreline.

Our team was joined by five external volunteers to dedicate an hour to protectinging our planet. Together, we travelled down four blocks and prevented five large-garbage-bags-worth of trash from entering our oceans. In total, we picked up 312 pieces of trash, including 143 cigarette butts, 48 pieces of paper, 43 candy wrappers, and 31 pieces of plastic.

Thanks to the purpose-driven champions who joined us! With your help, we made a real difference in our community. We hope to host more meet-ups like this one in the future!

Together, We Can Make The World Better

Every year, the Sparx team gets excited for Make The World Better Day, and each year, we strive to make a greater impact. Your purpose-driven organization can unite internally or externally to help make an impact too. We hope you’ll create your own events that help make the world better, and if you do, we’d love to hear about it!

If you’re a purpose-driven organization with a story to share or initiatives changemakers can get behind, reach out to Sparx for a free consultation. We’d love to help amplify your impact.

Tags Amplify Good, Community, Make the World Better, MTWB

Events Impact Inspiration & Initiatives

Key Takeaways from the Social Finance Forum 2023

Post author By user
Post date September 20, 2023
No Comments on Key Takeaways from the Social Finance Forum 2023

Sparx has always believed that capital can be used as a force for good. Because of our origins in the financial industry and the expertise of Hamish Khamisa, our President and Founder, we have a real appetite for all things finance — especially when it comes to purpose.

In June 2023, we ventured to Toronto to attend the Social Finance Forum 2023, a hybrid event presented by Future of Good and SVX, which featured sessions on the state of social finance in Canada, climate finance, and the need for diversity and representation at the decision-making level.

Keep scrolling for our takeaways and key learnings, including changemakers who were present, challenges associated with the rising need for social finance, and re-imagining power in the social finance space.

Connecting with Social Finance Changemakers

Sparx was excited to travel to the Social Finance Forum at the George Brown College Waterfront Campus in Toronto to connect with and learn from professionals in the impact finance space while enjoying a stunning view of Lake Ontario.

Combining the use of a large auditorium for the main stage and multiple lecture halls, the event organizers made it possible for different sessions to happen simultaneously. It was pleasant to stroll through the venue and catch different presentations and discussions, all of which were live-streamed for anyone dropping in virtually.

We were excited to catch insights from changemakers and experts in the impact finance space, including Diane Bérard, journalist and Social Finance Fellow at Future of Good; Chelsey MacNeil, President of Common Good Solutions; Christine Bergeron, former CEO of Vancity; Jillisa Brown, Executive Director of Table of Impact Investment Practitioners (TIIP); Jory Cohen, Director of Finance and Impact Investment at Inspirit Foundation; Ryan Turnbull, Member of Parliament in Whitby and Founder and President of Eco-Ethonomics; and Sage Lacerte, Founder & CEO of Sage Initiative.

We had an incredible time learning how these professionals are using capital to benefit communities across Canada And snack breaks between sessions gave us plenty of time to mingle with the attendees, who were all open to networking. It was an awesome opportunity to make new mission-aligned connections.

The Rising Need for Social Finance

One key point that emerged during the event was that social finance has gone from a “nice to do” to a “must do.”

The crises we have faced over the past few years, such as housing insecurity and predatory debt, have exposed an ever-increasing need for social finance in Canada and around the world. In light of this, Canada’s new Social Finance Fund, a $755 million initiative that seeks to accelerate the growth of Canada’s social finance market, became a major talking point during the two-day forum.

Many innovative solutions were also spotlighted during the event. Two that stood out included refinancing for predatory debt (aka payday loans) through the DUCA Impact Lab and community bonds that protect social and economic diversity in neighbourhoods and preserve housing affordability, such as the Kensington Land Trust. These innovations are examples of how private businesses and civil society groups can use social finance as a force for positive change.

Encouragingly, the injection of cash into the social finance sector and the positive track record of initial social finance projects strongly support the belief in the need for social finance and recognition of its tremendous value. Factors like these will also help the space grow.

However, there are some challenges that need to be addressed in order to maximize impact. For example, engaging with everyone across this land we call Canada comes with certain difficulties. Typically, urban centres have more infrastructure and greater concentrations of diverse communities, while remote and rural communities have different demographics and geographical constraints. Finding ways to be inclusive and make an impact across all these settings will require time and thoughtful consideration of the contexts in which the outreach efforts take place.

As explained by Sage Lacerte, there is an increase in business values that are aligned with Indigenous worldviews and Indigenous equity seekers. Yet, there are not as many opportunities from Indigenous equity providers, which poses another challenge to the reach and impact of the space.

The threat of the growing anti-ESG narrative in the US was another hotly-discussed topic, as it could slow down impact investing and direct cash flow away from much-needed investments toward solving today’s biggest social crises.

These challenges highlight the importance of cultivating the demand for social finance so that we can properly address the needs facing our communities.

Representation and Re-Imagining

Despite the aforementioned obstacles and challenges, social finance continues to act as a catalyst for possibility. However, a major power shift is needed in order to achieve true impact investing.

Often, BIPOC entrepreneurs are challenged with being the only diverse people in the room and having to advocate for the whole community. In order to bridge this gap and give everyone a seat at the table, diversity and representation need to be implemented at the decision-making level, not just the investment-seeking level.

We also need to focus on decolonizing the finance space and re-imagining access. Giving fair access and helping historically-excluded communities get access to capital is how we start to broaden the impact of social finance and make a real difference.

It’s also critical that we re-imagine how we view finance, beginning with changing how we think about returns. After all, the goal should not be to maximize returns but to maximize impact. The focus needs to be on collaboration, rather than competition. “Winning” in this space is not the point.

While there is movement toward equity-deserving groups and steps are being taken to be more inclusive, there’s still work to be done. The Re-Imagine Power Session was about shifting power from stereotypical demographics in finance to groups who need to be given a voice in the space. Unfortunately, three men on the panel frequently interrupted the female speakers, proving their point that diverse voices need to be heard in an ignorant and ironic way. This led to a wave of backlash, with viewers asking to hear more from the women.

Make a Difference with the Right Messaging

Perhaps our biggest takeaway from the Social Finance Forum was that the more we educate and create awareness about social finance, the higher the demand will be for it. This event and the kind of communications work that we do is a step in the right direction.

Want awareness around your purpose-driven work to grow? The experts at Sparx can make your impact story shine. Contact us for a free marketing consultation.

Tags Amplify Good, Diversity, Make the World Better

Events Impact Inspiration & Initiatives

20+ Purpose-Driven Events to Attend in October – December, 2023

Post author By user
Post date August 14, 2023
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Looking to find new ways to embrace the circular economy, support Indigenous communities, advocate for mental health, and more? Sparx has compiled a list of purpose-driven events happening this fall, both online and in-person, within Canada and globally, so you can deepen your education, uncover unique perspectives, connect and collaborate with values-aligned professionals, explore innovative strategies, and further your impact.

Keep scrolling to learn all about purpose-driven conferences and events taking place this October, November, and December.

October

Retail Sustainability Conference

Date: October 3

Location: The International Centre, 6900 Airport Rd, Mississauga, Ontario

Description: Hosted by Retail Council Canada, this full-day event seeks to unite and empower retailers and value chain partners by sharing best practices and sector-specific strategies that will help them advance ESG solutions, build resiliency, and increase sustainability.

BC Social Enterprise Summit

Date: October 12

Location: Simon Fraser University (SFU) Harbour Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: Supported by the Department of Community Economic Development Programs at SFU, this event will dive deeper into subjects identified at last year’s event, including financing and sustainability, procurement and market opportunities, and more.

Untapped Workplace Inclusion Awards 2023 – 10th Anniversary Celebration

Date: October 13, from 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM PDT

Location: PARQ Vancouver, Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: Celebrate BC’s most diverse and inclusive workplaces at this half-day conference, featuring speakers, panels, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities, culminating with the awards luncheon at noon.

Ocean Global Canada Summit 2023

Date: October 16–19

Location: The Algonquin Resort, St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick

Description: Convened by the Ocean Global Canada Lab, this event brings together global leaders and experts at the forefront of the sustainable blue economy to discuss best practices around environmentally responsible, commercially profitable, and socially acceptable outcomes in the ocean economy.

Responsible Investor Canada 2023

Date: October 17–18

Location: Chelsea Hotel, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Join leading banks, pension funds, insurers, and financial regulators to explore what strides are being taken by Canadian institutions on a range of emerging ESG innovations, investment opportunities, and best-in-class strategies.

CCAB Indigenous Women in Leadership (IWIL) Business Forum

Date: October 18

Location: The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: This event will honour First Nations, Inuit, and Métis business, political and nationally engaged women whose work has changed the lives of people in their communities and beyond. Enjoy an evening reception featuring entertainment, Indigenous food, networking, and more.

Sustainable Production Forum

Date: October 18

Location: The VIFF Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: This hybrid purpose-driven event unites sustainability-minded film and television professionals from around the world to collaborate toward accelerating sustainability in the motion picture industry.

2023 Recycling Council of Alberta Circular Economy Conference “There and Back Again: the Journey to Circularity”

Date: October 18–20

Location: The Fairmont Château Lake Louise, Lake Louise, Alberta

Description: At this Lord of the Rings-themed sustainability event, enjoy educational sessions, a keynote from Jenn Harper (Founder of Cheekbone Beauty), exhibits, lightning talks, workshops, environmental tours and nature walks, and more.

SOCAP23

Date: October 23–25

Location: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA), San Francisco, California

Description: This event convenes the ecosystem of impact to strategize ways to drive urgent change for people and planet, as encompassed within the theme of “Facing Urgency: Impact at the Speed of Trust.”

CAMSC Supplier Knowledge Xchange

Date: October 25, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT

Location: Online

Description: More details to be released on CAMSC’s website.

Accommodating Mental Health in Remote Work

Date: October 26, from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM PDT

Location: Online

Description: In this webinar, learn ways to support, prioritize and accommodate your mental health, and the mental health of your employees, while working from home.

November

2023 Zero Waste Conference

Date: November 1–2

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre East, Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: The annual Zero Waste Conference is back with a jam-packed agenda to inspire a new generation of changemakers ready to shape the future of sustainability. This year’s theme is “Climate Action Through Circularity” and will include keynotes, engaging interactive workshops, and illuminating innovator spotlights.

Scaling Up 2023 – The Future is Now – Canada’s BioEconomy Conference

Date: November 6–8

Location: Fairmont Château Laurier, Ottawa, Ontario

Description: Learn about the latest innovations and trends in bio-based industries and connect with experts and peers in the space at this conference, now in its eighth year.

Purpose Conference

Date: November 8–9

Location: Carriageworks, located on Gadigal Land in Sydney, Australia

Description: Join the responsible business revolution in Sydney, Australia this November with over 1,000 delegates driving cutting-edge impact innovation.

Uplift Women’s Business Summit

Date: November 14–15

Location: Victoria Conference Centre, Victoria, British Columbia

Description: This two-day summit aims to empower women in business by providing valuable resources related to financial literacy, investment guidance, and more. Learn from top female leaders, connect with like-minded women, and gain tools to make a positive impact in your career, business, and life.

National Philanthropy Day 2023

Date: November 15, from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM MST

Location: Edmonton Convention Centre, Edmonton, Alberta

Description: To recognize National Philanthropy Day, this annual, non-competitive awards reception and celebration acknowledges and honours the achievements of individuals, foundations, corporations, fundraising volunteers, and nonprofit organizations who contribute their time, talents, financial support, and other resources to the community and beyond.

Indigenomics on BAY STREET

Date: November 21–23

Location: Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Hosted by the Indigenomics Institute, this event invites Indigenous Nations, economic development corporations, businesses, organizations, educational institutions, governments, and investment and pension firms to gather and activate the financial architecture of the $100 billion Indigenous economies, with a variety of sessions covering topics like Indigenous leadership spaces in ESGI and the Indigenous clean energy revolution.

December

Virtual Speed Networking for Purpose Driven Businesses

Date: December 4, from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM GMT

Location: Online

Description: Connect with like-minded business owners who care about their social and environmental impact and help your businesses grow and create positive systemic change during this hour-long session, where you’ll be placed in one-to-one breakout sessions to meet five new business contacts.

Technology and Indigenous Development Summit

Date: December 5–6

Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Ontario

Description: This first-of-its-kind gathering invites Canada’s innovative tech sector to meet Indigenous leadership from coast-to-coast with a goal to address the unique challenges that remote First Nations face and innovative solutions currently being developed to address them.

Surrey Guildford – Resilient Women In Business Networking

Date: December 7, from 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM PST

Location: Ricky’s All Day Grill, Surrey, British Columbia

Description: Recurring on the first Thursday of every month, this networking event is all about supporting women with their business, regardless of level. After an educational session, attendees will participate in a group session to assist each other personally and professionally.

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

Date: December 8, from 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM EST

Location: Metro Hall, Toronto, Ontario

Description: In recognition of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, held between November 25 and December 10, this event combines networking, inspirational speeches, and interactive activities to support Immigrant Women In Business’s mission to unite women to be change agents in the world.

10C December Member Meet-Up

Date: December 14, from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST

Location: 10C Shared Space, Guelph, Ontario

Description: At this monthly event hosted by 10C Shared Space (10C), a hub for community activators and changemakers in Guelph, members will have the opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, expand their network, and learn new skills.

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.

Events Impact Inspiration & Initiatives

Key Takeaways from the National Magazine Awards: 2023

Post author By user
Post date August 1, 2023
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At Sparx, we pride ourselves on being masters of our craft. That’s why in 2021, we launched our own purpose-driven magazine, Make The World Better Magazine, a publication that shares incredible stories of individuals and organizations who are driving positive impact.

Of course, part of mastering a craft is looking for inspiration and learning ways to make your work even better.

In June 2023, we had the pleasure of attending the 5th annual National Magazine Awards: B2B Luncheon, hosted by the National Media Awards Foundation (NMAF), a charity dedicated to promoting excellence in journalism and visual creation in Canada.

Connecting With Canada’s Premier B2B Magazine Publishers

Sparx was thrilled to be one of roughly 100 attendees, all of whom directly work in the magazine/publishing industry, to celebrate the best of the best in Canadian B2B magazine publishing and mingle with nominated writers, editors, and contributors.

In a beautiful room overlooking Toronto’s vibrant downtown district, including Toronto City Hall and the Eaton Centre, the event ran seamlessly with winner announcements and breaks for food, including a delicious multi-course lunch, and plenty of time for networking.

Learning and Sharing Our Purpose-Driven Vision

While this event was awards-based, that didn’t stop us from absorbing as much as we could from our various conversations with professionals in the space.

We learned more about the current state of the Canadian B2B magazine industry, various distribution channels for magazines, target audiences of different B2B magazines, and monetization paths — all useful information to apply to our Make The World Better Magazine as well as the other magazines that we publish on behalf of our clients.

We were thrilled to spread awareness about our magazine portfolio and share copies with interested individuals. As representatives of the only purpose-driven magazine at the event, Make The World Better Magazine stood out from the crowd of publications for lawyers, university alumni, and other B2B-focused groups.

Even though we weren’t nominated (yet!), we found the value in seeing the best practices and celebrating outstanding publications.

Inspiring Quality Storytelling

The room was filled with vibrant discussions, but there’s no doubt that the rise of artificial intelligence and competition for attention were topical. Among the concerns: publishers run the risk of producing hastily-made, filler content that doesn’t inspire, represent, or engage readers.

What the NMA:B2B Awards Luncheon does well is encourage the difficult but important journey of quality storytelling by empowering writers, editors, designers, and content creators to continue to focus on producing quality content and communicating the value of it.

Overall, we hope to attend this event again and applaud their sensitivity to sustainable event programming, like avoiding disposable cutlery and plates and being mindful of their paper footprint.

It was a valuable experience for us to learn about and celebrate B2B magazine publishing and see a clearer path forward for our own magazine initiatives.

Let Sparx Help You Produce Impactful Content

Want to bring your content ideas from the notepad to the page? The experts at Sparx can help bring your story to life. Contact us for a free marketing consultation.

Tags Magazine, Magazine Publishers, Make the World Better, MTWB, National Magazine Awards, NMA, NMA B2B, Purpose-Driven, Toronto

Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Work Life & Culture

Marketing with Purpose: What Makes Sparx Special

Post author By user
Post date July 29, 2023
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Sparx Publishing Group is not your typical digital marketing agency — we’re a team of purpose-driven marketers on a mission to make the world better. And the journey toward better begins with walking our talk.

We don’t just amplify the efforts of purpose-driven organizations; we are purpose-driven. We don’t just champion diversity; we are diverse. We don’t just offer marketing services; we believe in being good at what we do for others by doing it for ourselves.

Here are the core traits that make Sparx, Sparx and empower us to live out marketing with purpose, every day.

We’re Purpose-Driven

Our story began over 10 years ago with a spark of an idea to level the playing field for Canadian self-directed investors via a free online resource called Sparx Trading. To reach and engage this audience, we grew a passion for creating content marketing that has a positive impact on people and planet.

Sparx has come a long way from our humble beginnings. We have since expanded into a purpose-driven marketing agency dedicated to working with companies and organizations who are thoughtful and intentional about making the world a better place. For us, quality, attentiveness to detail, and innovation are reflections of our principles and key aspects of delivering on our purpose. And since our values are so integral to who we are, we want to work with other values-aligned organizations to make their impact shine, amplify their good, and help ignite the spark in other individuals and businesses to be purpose-driven.

Every member of the Sparx team is invested in driving positive change.

We’re a small team with big dreams, and the biggest one we all share: to make the world better. This is exemplified in our initiatives, Make The World Better Day, which grew out of a place of both loss and hope, and our publication, Make The World Better Magazine, where we amplify the voices of changemakers because we’re inspired by their stories and are rooting for their success.

But making the world better is more than just a dream — it’s a mission we’re working to advance in our day-to-day work too. That’s why all our content is crafted with purpose, as evidenced by our blog, our commitment to the UN Global Compact’s Sustainable Development Goals, our enrollment in the United Way Social Purpose Innovators Program, our circular economy spin on Secret Santa, and the marketing work we’ve done for organizations like Sea Smart and Galt Foundation.

We also participate in various initiatives that enable us to give back and help others, such as Movember, Kiva loans, and our personal seasonal gifting practices, where we donate funds to causes that are important to our clients. As of 2021, this gifting practice has led us to jointly donate a total of 5,000 meals to various local food banks across Canada and the US and to amplify donations to the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and a local humane society in Florida.

Beyond traditional marketing goals, our purpose-driven communications also reflect our belief that being equipped with the right knowledge is another critical part of making the world better. By sharing our takeaways from purpose-driven events we’ve participated in, such as Brand Battle For Good and Make The World Better Day, and raising awareness of mission-aligned recognition days, observances, and organizations through social media and in our newsletter, we hope to inspire others, hold ourselves accountable, and spark meaningful conversation.

We’re Diverse

As a CAMSC-certified minority-owned and -led organization, our team is certified diverse. We’re open to new ideas and every staff member is encouraged to bring their unique perspectives to the table. We’re passionate about amplifying diversity and applying our diverse set of backgrounds and experiences to drive innovation and create marketing that speaks to the plurality of the places we live and the audiences we serve.

Championing diverse voices and learning about identities different from our own is incredibly important to us. As open-minded marketing experts, we want to help others communicate their diversity story and to do our utmost to help further the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) cause.

One way we’re championing diversity is through Make The World Better Magazine. Our fifth edition, which launched in July 2023, is the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion issue. We’re so thrilled to share the inspiring stories of organizations and individuals who are helping to make the world more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible.

Since DEI is a central part of who we are and our purpose-driven communications, we will continue to seek more ways to incorporate it into our Sparx-owned marketing and to amplify more and more diverse voices. As we learn and grow, we will continue to share our DEI learnings, pitfalls, and wins with our audience in the hope of making our own diversity story better.

We Offer Services That We Use Ourselves

At Sparx, we invest time, energy, and resources into our own marketing because we believe in being good at what we do for others by being good at it for ourselves.

Our expertise is first-hand — we’re professionals who work in the marketing space, so we know the problems, limitations, and opportunities different workflows bring to client work. Not only does this increase our adaptability and ability to plan, scope, and execute effectively, it enables us to create the best work possible for our clients as we’re constantly refining our processes and skills in our owned brand marketing efforts.

Everything we do is tried-and-true, and we dedicate ourselves to making the best content, solutions, and strategies possible for us and our clients. We will never deliver solutions we would not feel proud to use for Sparx.

Whether it’s building websites, blog posts, whitepapers, downloadable guides, marketing collateral, advertisements, brand guides — you name it — we’ve done it for ourselves. This includes:

Publishing our own magazine, Make The World Better Magazine and doing this as a service for clients as well, including Canadian Securities Exchange Magazine.
Maintaining and regularly crafting new content for our blog and extending this service to our clients, which can be seen in the one-time, series, and monthly blog posts we made for Galt Foundation.
Staying active on our own social media channels and building, publishing, and managing social media content for our clients.
Creating downloadable purpose-driven marketing guides, with adjacent marketing campaigns (ads, landing pages, email drip campaigns) to raise brand awareness, and offering this service to our clients as well, including TPD and Work With Us Foundation.

We’re also well-versed when it comes to data. The Sparx team uses data and analytics extensively to inform our decision-making to make sure our own campaigns work as effectively and efficiently as possible. We extend this to our clients in order to provide them with the data and solutions necessary to get the results they need, when they need them.

And since we know how to manage our workflows and pace ourselves properly, we always deliver quality results. Working against timelines and within budgets? We do that daily.

Conclusion

Walking our talk is an intrinsic part of Sparx because our team members bring a genuine interest, enthusiasm, and passion for the work they do. We’re driven by our purpose to make an impact, as we believe that it’s the right thing to do and that we should always bring our best. This unique combination of elements is what makes our brand special.

Are You Marketing With Purpose?

We’d love to work with your values-aligned organization. Contact us for a free consultation and to help market your one-of-a-kind impact story.

Tags Amplify Good, Community, Content Marketing, Digital Marketing, Diversity, Make the World Better, Marketing, MTWB, Purpose-Driven, Sparx, Vancouver

Events Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Work Life & Culture

Sparx’s Purpose-Driven Events Recap: June 2023

Post author By user
Post date July 27, 2023
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Like all great explorers, Sparx travelled far and wide this June to uncover the latest insights and trends in the purpose-driven space. From Kelowna to Toronto, we listened to expert speakers, met with mission-aligned professionals, and even collaborated on a major impact-led event.

Check out recaps from the events we attended this June!

The 5th Annual National Magazine Awards: B2B Luncheon

First on our June events circuit, Alexandra Nikitina, Head of Growth at Sparx, headed to Toronto for The 5th Annual NMA:B2B Awards Luncheon on June 2.

At this awards luncheon to celebrate the best of the best in Canadian B2B magazine publishing, Alex had the pleasure of mingling with award-nominated magazine writers, editors, and contributors. Plus, over a delicious lunch, she learned more about the B2B magazine industry and all its facets, including distribution channels, monetization paths, and target audiences.

Perhaps best of all though, we had the chance to spread awareness about our purpose-driven publication, Make The World Better Magazine, and share copies with interested individuals.

Read more details in our NMA:B2B Awards Luncheon recap blog post here.

Creating Inclusive Communities Dialogue

As part of National AccessAbility Week, Hamish Khamisa, Founder & President of Sparx, headed to the University of British Columbia (UBC) Robson Square in downtown Vancouver to join representatives from various organizations and members of the community for Creating Inclusive Communities Dialogue on June 2, a full-day session hosted by Mainland Community Services Society, with lectures and some collaborative elements.

Hamish had the pleasure of hearing from Heather McCain (they/them), Founder and Executive Director of Live Educate Transform Society (formerly Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods), and Harmony Bongat (she/her), disability advocate, co-facilitator, content creator and educator. Throughout the day, the session featured the lived experiences of people with disabilities, neurodiversity and the intersectionality of identities, and perspectives on what “inclusion” really means to some disability advocates.

There were countless moments that stuck with him, including the story of an attendee, an Indigenous woman who overcame adversity having been born with a disability, who is a powerful example of the importance of advocacy in health care, especially for persons with disabilities and for Indigenous Peoples.

The event accommodated various disabilities, including providing stim toys on each table for individuals with stimulation needs and describing the images on screen during presentations so people with visual impairments could follow along. Yet, even at an event designed for accessibility, it’s clear how far we still have to go.

To ensure a fellow member could participate in the group session while being visually impaired, Hamish asked for sticky notes to be read out loud for those who couldn’t read the board, a small initiative to support a peer with a disability. After all, when it comes to showing up for the disability community, #ItStartsWithMe.

Overall, this event inspired us to find ways to be a better ally to people with disabilities, and we look forward to next year’s event!

Together Ensemble 2023

In October 2021, Sparx proudly signed onto the UN Global Compact’s Sustainable Development Goals program, which provides a guideline for businesses to operate responsibly. And while we’ve been continually bettering ourselves in this program, we wanted to learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) globally and new ideas for solutions. Enter, Together Ensemble, a virtual event on June 7–9, with five in-person gatherings held across Canada.

During the virtual sessions we attended, we learned about the crucial steps needed for action on the SDGs from a range of experts across academia, business, government, and more. Some key areas explored were the critical moment we face in mitigating the worst impacts of climate change and the importance of harnessing the creative ingenuity of young people.

A session that was really impactful for us was “Just Transition: Creating an Inclusive and Green Economy Together,” which explored “the concept of a just transition and how other approaches […] must be integrated to ensure that the future economy is one that is green and leaves no one behind.”

The session featured speakers, Nathan Grandjambe, Senior Manager, Indigenous Economic Prosperity, Vancouver Economic Commission; Tessa Jordan, Program Head, Sustainable Business Leadership programs, BCIT; Janet Andrews, Secretary-Treasurer, New Westminster & District Labour Council; and Max Cohen, PhD Candidate in Geography, University of British Columbia, and was moderated by George Patrick Richard Benson, Senior Manager, Economic Transformation at the Vancouver Economic Commission.

The event gave us a lot of valuable information to work with for our own SDG initiatives, and we’re inspired to see new ideas for a better world come to light in Canada and beyond.

SunDAC

As a long-time partner of the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), we were thrilled to attend their first-annual SunDAC on June 13, co-hosted with Grove Corporate Services, Newsfile, and OCI Group, a private mining industry networking launched to bring together members of the mining and capital markets communities in person.

We had a great time mingling with everyone and reconnecting with friends among a range of attendees, sponsors, and hosting companies.

Plus, we had the opportunity to hear about the latest developments in the mining space, all while enjoying great food and music, even as the weather turned the event into “RainDAC” later in the evening.

Social Finance Forum 2023

While in Toronto, we also attended the Social Finance Forum 2023 on June 15, presented by Future of Good and SVX, which featured sessions on the state of social finance in Canada, climate finance, and the need for diversity and representation at the decision-making level.

The event taught us that social finance has gone from “nice to do” to “must do” in order to respond to the crises of recent years, exposing the increasing need for capital to be used as a force for good.

It was great to hear from changemakers like Christine Bergeron, former President and CEO of Vancity, and Sage Lacerte, Founder and CEO of Sage Initiative, both organizations which are reshaping the investment landscape and improving the financial well-being of historically-excluded groups and their communities.

Additionally, we were thrilled to connect with so many mission-aligned connections professionals working to use capital to positively impact communities across Canada.

Stay tuned for our Social Finance Forum recap blog coming soon!

Canadian Circular Economy Summit

Our purpose-driven adventures in Toronto continued with the Canadian Circular Economy Summit 2023 on June 19–20, hosted by Circular Economy Leadership Canada and Circular Innovation Council.

Not only did we learn how to advance the circular economy from expert speakers, like the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, we were able to connect with so many people from a variety of backgrounds in the B2B, B2C, government, and education spaces, all of whom are passionate about protecting the planet. Plus, we had the chance to distribute the Circular Economy edition of Make The World Better Magazine to environmental sector champions.

We left with so many inspiring takeaways from each session and discovered critical areas that require our focus and efforts, such as the lack of circular economy awareness and the importance of using marketing to educate people on how zero waste initiatives can fit into their lives.

Stay tuned for our Canadian Circular Economy Summit recap blog coming soon!

Summit on Responsible Investment 2023

When the Canadian Securities Exchange was looking to host an event to dive into socially responsible investing and environmental, social, and governance (ESG), we were all in to collaborate and bring the vision to light.

At this full-day event in Kelowna on June 27, members of the Sparx team met with companies listed on the CSE, investors, and sustainability experts.

While the day featured an incredible lineup of speakers, panel discussions and company pitches, we were exceptionally proud to have Dr. Victoria Hurth, global expert; thought leader in sustainability, ESG, and purpose governance; and Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership Fellow, kick off the event with a compelling keynote presentation on the purpose-led economy.

In the afternoon, Sparx’s Make The World Better panel brought together changemakers from past editions of Make The World Better Magazine, Mike Williamson, Founding Partner and CEO at Cascadia Seaweed; Bram van den Berg, COO and CFO at Circular Rubber Technologies; and Tracy Lydiatt, Mining Innovation Project Manager at Foresight Canada, as well as Sage Lacerte, Founder & CEO at Sage Initiative who is part of the upcoming issue.

Stay tuned for our Summit on Responsible Investment recap blog coming soon!

Team Up With Sparx

Looking to make the world better? Check out Make the World Better Magazine to find out more about organizations making real change and reach out to us. We’d love to work together on any marketing-related projects to make a positive impact both locally and globally.

Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Purpose-Driven Marketing Tips Sustainability Tips

20+ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources for Purpose-Driven Organizations

Post author By user
Post date June 21, 2023
No Comments on 20+ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources for Purpose-Driven Organizations

Making the world more diverse, equitable, and inclusive is a collective effort. That’s why it’s important to educate ourselves, assess our personal and professional DEI efforts, and find actionable ways to participate in and support the cause.

We’ve compiled a list of helpful DEI resources you can use to deepen your understanding and enact positive change.

DEI Resources from Organizations Featured in Make The World Better Magazine

Check out these inspiring guides, toolkits, ebooks, and DEI resources from individuals and organizations that have been featured in Make The World Better Magazine.

Bakau Consulting – Resources Toolkit: Bakau Consulting has compiled an exhaustive list of DEI articles, books, podcasts, and other resources covering a wide range of topics, from fundamentals of anti-oppression to strategies for 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion and everything in between. Available in English, Spanish, and Russian.

Benevity – Belonging: The Third Piece of the Diversity & Inclusion Puzzle ebook: Benevity fosters a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and is sharing this fundamental part of their workplace culture with everyone. This guide, directed at corporate social responsibility leaders, teaches companies all about belonging, its importance, and how it benefits the workplace.

Benevity – Your Guide to Creating and Promoting a Culture of Gender Equality: Benevity’s free, downloadable guide is designed to help companies build a workplace culture of gender equality through four actionable steps.

Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion – Glossary of Terms: The Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) has put together a comprehensive 76-page glossary of terms important for understanding and discussing DEI.

Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion – Responding to social issues – The ‘when’ and the ‘how’ of workplace responses: This guide from CCDI educates employers on if and how to respond to social issues and how to develop a response framework that will ensure employees and communities feel heard and supported.

Diversity in Sustainability – Mamadou Abou-Sarr: Bringing Intentionality to ESG: This interview with Mamadou Abou-Sarr, international financier and Co-Founder of V-Square Quantitative Management, explores the importance of sustainable investing, pressing issues in sustainable finance, and his experiences, achievements, and advice.

QMUNITY – Gender Inclusivity Language: QMUNITY has created a resource that offers ideas for gender-inclusive greetings to ensure mindful language.

Raven Indigenous Capital Partners – Raven Impact Measurement Framework: Raven Capital’s framework, the Raven Impact Measurement (RIM), provides insight into how they measure the impact the businesses in their portfolio are having on Indigenous Peoples, communities, and on the ecosystem, along with sharing their epistemology, philosophy, investment practices, and alignment to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Sxwpilemaát Siyám / Chief Leanne Joe and Lily Raphael – Step into the River: A Framework for Economic Reconciliation: This Framework draws on Indigenous worldviews about wealth, sustainability, and lived experiences of Indigenous thought leaders and offers values, practices, and ideas for action, providing a deep exploration of the ways in which economic reconciliation could transform our economic system and create positive impact.

DEI Resources from Other Changemakers

AccessibleEmployers – Workplace Accommodation Guide: This guide provides actionable ways to accommodate for both visible and invisible disabilities, proving that increasing workplace accessibility doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive.

Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: Read the 231 individual Calls for Justice directed at governments, institutions, social service providers, industries, and all Canadians in this two-volume report on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirited People (MMIWG2S) epidemic in Canada.

The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion – 10 Tips for an Accessible Website: Discover 10 actionable tips you can start using right away to ensure your website is accessible for all.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation – Talking About Pronouns in the Workplace: This resource highlights the importance of using pronouns in the workplace, offers helpful background information, and provides examples of opportunities to ask for/offer pronouns.

Good Good Good – 13 Sites to Find Diverse Stock Photos & Why It Matters: Check out this article for stock photo databases that offer a wide range of diverse and inclusive images, including sites that ethically source authentic photos and help support diverse content creators.

LinkedIn – Inclusive Language For Marketers: A Pocket Guide: LinkedIn has created a guide to help marketers incorporate a more inclusive lexicon in all of their communications. The guide includes best practices and alternatives to common exclusionary language.

McLean & Company – DEI Strategy Research: This DEI guide helps HR leaders create a people-first DEI strategy, empowering them to assess their current efforts and gaps, determine a clear purpose and how to carry it out, implement organization-wide DEI, and measure progress.

One Mind At Work – 2022 CHRO Insights Series: Neurodiversity: Uncover key learnings and best practices surrounding neurodiversity in the workplace from leading experts in this 2022 report.

Ten Thousand Coffees – Create an Inclusive Work Environment During Black History Month and Beyond ebook: Ten Thousand Coffees has designed a guide that shares advice, strategies, and experiences from 15 Black business leaders to help workplaces celebrate Black History Month, take year-long inclusive action, and nurture Black and BIPOC talent.

UBC Sustainability Scholars Program – Exploring a Just and Inclusive Circular Recovery: Part of the UBC Sustainability Scholars Program, this report explores the benefits of the circular economy and the social enterprises that intersect with it, offering insight into the jobs that a transition to the circular economy can generate and share, reuse, and repair businesses within marginalized communities.

Veza – Anti-Racism Sample Statement: Equity, diversity, and inclusion organization Veza Global has provided an anti-racism sample statement, which companies can adapt to create their own anti-racism commitment statement and steps.

Sparx PG’s Resources

Since DEI is so important to Sparx and a crucial part of our DNA, we have created some DEI marketing resources of our own that we hope will benefit you and your purpose-driven organization:

Diversity and Marketing: Why and How CAMSC-Certified Organizations Should Communicate Their Diversity: Discover why and how CAMSC-certified companies should engage with DEI marketing in our purpose-driven guide, and get actionable tips you can start using right away.

Recognizing and Eliminating Unconscious Bias in Your Organization: Unconscious bias can have unwanted consequences for your organization, but if you challenge these them, there are many benefits. Check out our guide on how to address them.

Why and How to Add More Diversity Into Your Marketing Efforts: There are many benefits to adding diversity to your marketing efforts, but in order to avoid performative or disingenuous “woke-washing,” we’ve created a guide on how to do it in an authentic, actionable way to truly make the world better.

How to Avoid “Rainbow-Washing” during Pride Month: June is Pride month, which means it’s a great time for your organization to live its values and support the 2SLGTBQIA+ community. However, it’s important to make sure your efforts aren’t “rainbow-washing.” Be sure to read our guide on how to be a true ally this Pride month, and beyond.

Join Forces with Sparx

Sparx would love to work with your purpose-driven organization to build a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable community. Want to team up? Give us a shout for a free consultation. Together, we can help make your diversity story shine.

Tags Amplify Good, DEI, DEI Resources, Digital Marketing, Diversity, Equity, Impact, Inclusion, Make the World Better, Marketing, MTWB, Purpose-Driven

Impact Inspiration & Initiatives

Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) Grow Your Business Online Grant: Overview, Eligibility Requirements, and Application Process

Post author By user
Post date June 21, 2023
No Comments on Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) Grow Your Business Online Grant: Overview, Eligibility Requirements, and Application Process

For small businesses, breaking into digital marketing, including creating, distributing, and monitoring email newsletters, paid advertising, and social media posts, can seem like a daunting process. Your available time may be limited, your team may be small, and you may have budgetary constraints that make outsourcing feel out of reach.

Thankfully, the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) offers the Grow Your Business Online grant to help you get started on making digital strides. It’s a great way to grow your company and take advantage of working with a marketing agency on digital services and strategies.

Keep scrolling to learn more about the CDAP grant and where and how to apply. While you’re here, you can also read up on some of the services we offer, which can be covered by the grant.

What is the CDAP Grant?

Gaining a digital edge over the competition is a great way to keep ahead of the curve, increase profit, and grow your purpose-driven business. To help small businesses break into the digital side of operations, the CDAP offers a $2,400 grant.

The Grow Your Business Online grant can help cover the costs of hiring digital marketing strategy consultants to assist with tasks like website search optimization (SEO) and social media advertising; developing a new e-commerce website or adding functionality to an existing site (redesigning an existing site is not eligible for coverage); installing an e-commerce platform, including subscription fees; bolstering your cybersecurity measures; and more!

Just a note that the CDAP grant can’t be used solely for SEO marketing or social media advertising but can help cover these costs if they’re part of a larger implementation plan.

There are some other costs that are ineligible for grant coverage, such as any purchases made before grant approval and internet connectivity. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the full list of ineligible costs, which can be found here.

By providing this financial assistance to businesses breaking into the e-commerce market, the CDAP has helped a number of businesses flourish, including Toronto-based clean tech company, Suppli. You can browse through success stories on the CDAP website.

Is Your Business Eligible?

Before you dive into the application process, you should familiarize yourself with the Grow Your Business Online grant’s eligibility requirements.

To be eligible, your business must:

Be a for-profit business, social enterprise, or co-operative
Be incorporated or registered
Be consumer-facing, selling services and/or goods directly to end consumers
Have at least one employee apart from the business owner or have made a minimum of $30,000 in annual revenue during the most recent tax year
Have a commitment to maintaining your digital adoption strategy for a period of six months

Additionally, to meet eligibility requirements, you must agree to have your business’s name published as a CDAP grant recipient, share information about your experience with the CDAP program, and complete a follow-up survey.

The Canada Digital Adoption Program has an assessment tool you can use to quickly determine your eligibility likelihood.

The Application Process

To apply for the Grow Your Business Online grant, visit the CDAP website and follow three steps: review eligibility criteria, work with a local service provider, then apply for the grant.

Once you hit “apply,” you’ll be directed to a service provider selection menu, which is organized by province and territory, and lists multiple providers you can connect with to apply.

Each provider has its own web portal for the application; some require you to create an account before you can begin, while others will permit you to begin filling out an application form right away.

Some local service providers, like Alacrity Canada, allow for grant registration from the business owner, an employee, or a third party.

Be sure to have the required documentation ready to upload and attach to your application. You’ll need to provide documents that prove your business is a registered business, such as a master business license, article or certificate of incorporation, certificate of registration, or a GST return from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Sparx Publishing Group’s Digital Marketing Services

Sparx provides full-suite marketing solutions. So, which of our services are eligible for grant coverage, and what kind of packages do we offer?

At Sparx, we offer two service packages: fixed-term project and retainer. Our retainer package is great for long-term marketing support, while our fixed-term project model is ideal for anyone looking for help with a specific project or for kickstarting digital marketing strategies.

We can help you with website creation; social media account creation, management, and marketing; ad campaign creation, analytics, and management; marketing and advertising strategies, campaigns, and implementation; search engine and user experience optimization; and more. Plus, we can help you get started on your new digital marketing path by creating compelling content that tells your business’s unique story.

Check out our portfolio pages and social media for examples of our work.

Team Up with Sparx

Ready to start building a digital marketing strategy? The purpose-driven experts at Sparx can help. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Tags Business, Canada Digital Adoption Program, CDAP, CDAP Grant, CDAP Program, Digital Marketing, Grant, Marketing