Category: Impact Inspiration & Initiatives

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Events Impact Inspiration & Initiatives

Key Takeaways from the National Magazine Awards: 2023

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.

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Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Work Life & Culture

Marketing with Purpose: What Makes Sparx Special

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.

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Events Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Work Life & Culture

Sparx’s Purpose-Driven Events Recap: June 2023

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.

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Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Purpose-Driven Marketing Tips Sustainability Tips

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:

  • 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.

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Impact Inspiration & Initiatives

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.

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Events Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Sustainability Tips

Sparx’s Sustainable Father’s Day Gift-Giving Guide: 20+ Eco-Friendly and Zero-Waste Gift Ideas for 2023

Fathers make the world better. With Father’s Day coming up, it’s the perfect time to express your love and appreciation for the father figure in your life. Purpose-driven gifts are a great way to show your care for your dad or the dad in your life and the causes that matter to you both.

Sparx has compiled a list of sustainable and zero-waste gift ideas that will bring dad joy while also benefiting people and planet.

Food & Drink

Treat the dad in your life to something deliciously purpose-driven with these sustainable gifts.

Image: Cococo

Cococo Chocolatiers Father’s Day Collection – These gift boxes are filled with premium chocolate confections, which are handcrafted in Alberta with Rainforest Alliance Certified™ sustainable and fair trade cocoa and cocoa butter. Plus, Cococo supports community initiatives, following their values of “cocoa, communities, and confections.”

East Van Bees Neighborhood Honey – Locally made in Vancouver using sustainably-extracted, chemical-free, raw, urban, multi-floral honey from bees kept ethically and in a sustainable setting. Each of these two jars is hand poured. Check out their Instagram for conservation tips.

Kozlik’s Canadian Mustard – Find a mustard that perfectly suits your father figure’s tastes with this Canadian-made, locally sourced, all-natural condiment that is handmade in small batches and comes in a variety of spicy, sweet, and savoury flavours.

Image: Salt Spring Coffee

Salt Spring Coffee – Give the dad in your life a cup of goodness with Salt Spring Coffee’s 100% certified organic, shade-grown, fair trade coffee. With their Coffee Bag Recycling Program and goal of becoming zero waste by 2026, dad’s sure to get a boost of both energy and purpose with every sip.

Sriracha Revolver – Indigenous- and woman-owned, these sauces come in a range of unique flavour combinations, are handmade in small batches in Vancouver, and use all-natural ingredients with no added colour or preservatives. The purpose-driven father in your life may especially enjoy the Habanero Hot Sauce, as a donation is given to organizations supporting the Indigenous community for every batch made.

Personal Care

Help your father figure get some much needed rest, relaxation, and recovery with these eco-friendly gift ideas.

Attitude Mineral Face Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 – This unscented, reef-friendly, vegan sunscreen stick comes in plastic-free, biodegradable packaging. Plus, Attitude is on a mission to decrease their energy footprint and has planted over 1.5 million trees since 2020.

Bamboo Switch Safety Razor – Made from sustainable and ethically-sourced bamboo, this razor comes in plastic-free and recyclable packaging. Plus, all shipping materials are biodegradable and 5% of the company’s profits go to Sea Shepherd. Now that’s a clean shave.

Marseille’s Remedy Thieves Balm – Look out for dad’s health with this all-natural balm that’s made with a Canadian beeswax base, good for reducing inflammation, treating bug bites, easing bruises, and even cleaning hands. Handmade in small-batches and chemical-free.

Old Soul Soap Company Muscle Rub – This all-natural, ethical, and sustainable muscle rub is a great way to show you care both about your father figure’s health and the planet.

Image: Rocky Mountain Soap Co

Peregrine Supply Co. Beard Box Care Package – These all-natural and safe beard care sets come with face and beard soap, beard oil, and a tin of beard balm. Peregrine Supply follows the Guardian Model and has strict sustainability and responsibility standards, so it’s a great sustainable gift idea for any eco-minded father figure.

Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Foot Butter – Keep dad on his feet with this GMO-free, Canadian-made, cruelty-free, 100% natural and 71% organic foot butter.

Yukon Soaps Yukon Man Trio – These soaps, handcrafted by Indigenous-owned and -operated company Yukon Soaps, are sustainably sourced, all-natural, and come in eco-friendly packaging, making this collection of three scents a great choice for the father figure in your life.

Home & Decor 

Enhance dad’s purpose-driven routine with these zero-waste gift ideas that will make any home greener.

ChopValue Zero Waste Kit – ChopValue transforms chopsticks into eco-friendly items. Their Zero Waste Chopstick Kit is made from 500 recycled chopsticks and is loaded with zero waste goodies. Plus, the shipping is carbon neutral. The kit contains a cheese board, two coasters, two keychains, two bamboo chopsticks, two bamboo toothbrushes, two stainless steel straws, and two straw cleaners.

Coffee Sock Reusable Coffee Filter – Coffee is delicious, but unfortunately coffee filters generate a lot of waste. The coffee sock helps solve this problem. Handmade from 100% USDA Certified organic cotton, this two pack of filters is made to last and will enhance the flavour of dad’s coffee. Each sock is expected to last around a year and replaces 4–12 boxes of paper filters per year.

Image: Flowerink

Deer Dad Plantable Card – Express your appreciation for the father in your life with this meaningful, plantable card, embedded with wildflower seeds. It even comes in an envelope made from sugarcane residue.

Eighteen Hundreds Candle Co. Candles – These eco-friendly candles have a lot of personality. Handcrafted in Gastown, Vancouver, each candle is made of North American grown soy wax, natural cotton wicks, phthalate-free fragrances, pure essential oils, and comes in reusable vessels. Plus, every candle sold online helps benefit a local charity.

WallyGrow Eco Wall Planters – These 100% leak-proof wall planters are durable and made in North America from 100% recycled plastic. Thanks to these planters, WallyGrow has diverted 10+ million plastic bottles from landfills since their inception in 2007.

Clothing & Apparel

Weave more purpose into dad’s wardrobe with these eco-friendly gifts.

Goodee x KOTN The Goodee Hoodie – From Black-owned B-Corp Goodee, in partnership with Kotn, comes this cozy hoodie made from sustainably sourced Egyptian cotton. This hoodie also supports a number of causes, including community engagement, corporate reporting, natural materials, and water conservancy. 

Kotn Spring/Summer 2023 Collection – Kotn is a certified B Corp with the fourth-highest B Impact Score of apparel brands in North America. Not only is the spring/summer collection made from sustainable Egyptian cotton and biodegradable fibres, each order helps with job creation, poverty alleviation, and sustainable growth for the communities they source from and are a part of.

Image: Province of Canada

Province of Canada Sweatpants – Forget fast fashion. Find your father figure the perfect pair of comfortable sweatpants, socks, and hats curated for dads, made in Canada and shipped in certified compostable packaging. Plus, the majority of their cotton is knitted locally and sustainably grown and organic.

Vessi Waterproof Shoes – These waterproof shoes from Vancouver-based, Asian-owned brand Vessi are made from vegan materials. The brand also partners with factories that share their sustainability values and goals to reduce waste and energy. Plus, their packaging is 100% recyclable.

Bonding Time

One of the greatest gifts you can give this Father’s Day is spending time with the dad in your life. There are a lot of zero-waste ways to spend time together, such as having a sustainable barbeque using fresh, organic, and locally-sourced foods; making a dessert together that uses ethically-sourced and sustainable ingredients, like EMKAO cocoa beans; going on an eco-friendly trip; or engaging directly in a planet-saving activity, such as litter clean up in the park or at the beach. 

Giftwrap Your Messaging with Sparx

Engaging in purpose-driven efforts to make the world better? The experts at Sparx can help package up your message and deliver it to your audience. Contact us for a free marketing consultation.

Categories
Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Sustainability Tips

Sparx’s Sustainable Mother’s Day Gift-Giving Guide: 25+ Eco-Friendly and Zero-Waste Gift Ideas for 2023

Moms and mom figures make the world better. With Mother’s Day coming up, it’s the perfect time to celebrate everything they do, and there’s no better way to thank them than to give them purpose-driven gifts that support causes you both care about.

Sparx has compiled a list of sustainable Mother’s Day gift ideas that will make the mom(s) in your life happy while also benefiting people and planet.

***

Food & Drink

Image: Bangin’ Bannock

Make the mom in your life a sweet and eco-friendly treat with these delicious sustainable gift ideas. You can even try making them together.

Bangin’ Bannock Mixes – These Indigenous frybread mixes, made by Indigenous women duo, Bangin’ Bannock, are easy to make and come in eco-friendly packaging. 

Bush Berry Mother’s Helper Tea – This tea is made specially for postpartum but is a beneficial and soothing blend for anyone who needs a little energy and well-being boost. Plus, it comes in 100% backyard compostable packaging from a plastic-free, farm-to-cup, BC-based brand.

Image: Susgrainable

Susgrainable Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix – Moms’ cookies may be famous, but we’ve found a purpose-driven rival. Make mom a delicious batch of Susgrainable’s sustainable cookies, made from upcycled barley flour, to help save the planet and give a gut-friendly gift, loaded with dark-chocolate chips.

MUMGRY Chocolate Peanut Butter – Made by Black-owned and -operated brand, Mumgry, this protein-, vitamin-, and fibre-rich, all-natural chocolate peanut butter is made with moms, at all stages of motherhood, in mind. Delicious, healthy, and packed in sustainable glass jars.

Blume Latte Mixes – These organic and inventive superfood latte mixes are like a garden in a cup. They’ll keep both the mom in your life and the environment healthy, as Blume has partnered with CleanHub and Green Worms Waste Management to divert plastic from the ocean — with 7,000 lbs diverted in 2022 alone.

Personal Care

Moms and mom figures do so much for us. This Mother’s Day is the perfect time to pamper them with the gift of relaxation, sustainability-style.

Sealuxe Beach Glass Soap – Transport mom to the beach with this unique moisturizing hand soap. Each soap looks like a piece of beach glass and is made from sustainable and natural ingredients. Packaged in a glass jar, it’s both beautiful and environmentally-friendly.

Rebels Refinery Mother’s Day Gift Set – This gift set is loaded with Canadian-made, all-natural, sulfate- and paraben-free personal care items that will help mom feel pampered and healthy. Plus, each item comes in either refillable, recyclable, or reusable packaging. Contains: cotton bag, teal heart and pink stick natural lip balms, moisturizer, refillable hand sanitizer, face cleansing oil with reusable cotton pads, strawberry tinted lip balm, non-greasy hand lotion, and salt soap.

Image: Little Fox Apothecary

Little Fox Apothecary Milk Baths – Help mom relax with these 100% all-natural milk baths, made with Canadian and organic ingredients, essential oils, and Himalayan salt, and packaged in reusable/recyclable glass jars. A biodegradable bag is included to collect the petals.

Image: Epic Blend

Epic Blend Salted Chocolate Caramel Lip Scrub – Vegan, Canadian-made, and in recyclable packaging, this lip scrub is packed with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vitamin-rich ingredients, meaning it’s good for mom’s skin and tastes like dessert. 

Loa Skin Botanical Recovery Mask – Formulated for all skin types, this vegan, non-toxic recovery mask is packed with microbiome-friendly ingredients and contains no palm-derivatives. And it’s a beautiful shade of purple. Plus, Loa Skin uses recyclable glass bottles and paper, custom-shape shipping materials, are partnered with Ecologi to help with reforestation and carbon dioxide reduction projects, and they measure their impact.

Bottle None Shampoo and Conditioner Bars – Canadian from the roots down, these haircare products are plastic-free, hand-made by the sister duo that owns the company, and made with clean ingredients — no phthalates or parabens here. Even the travel cases are made from 100% recycled Canadian plastic, making this a great zero-waste gift for the mom in your life.

Bare Skin Bar Garden Party Bath Bombs – With no fake colours, glitters, or foaming agents; a blend of ten different botanicals, herbs, fruits, and vegetables; and natural and reinvigorating ingredients like Rooibos tea, these Vancouver-made vegan bath bombs are an ideal choice for a sustainable soak.

Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Belly Butter – This Canadian-made, GMO-free, all-natural belly butter is a sustainable and soothing helper for the pregnant friend or relative in your life or any mom figure that wants smooth, itch-free skin.

Home & Decor 

Compliment the aesthetic of the mom in your life with these eco-friendly home and decoration gift ideas.

ZOETSTUDIO candles – These container and tealight candles are a terrarium in a (food-grade, heat-resistant) glass. Handcrafted in small batches in Vancouver, these candles, made with lead-free wicks, phthalate-free fragrance oils, and soy wax make for a beautiful and fragrant gift for any mom that loves nature. Also available at Local Boom.

Fair Trade Winds Felt Flowers – These flowers never wither and are made using natural felted wool by women artists in Nepal. You can either choose a bouquet for the mom in your life or select individual flowers. Fair Trade Federation and Green America certified.

Image: Goodee

Goodee Made in Africa Set – Black-owned B Corp-certified brand, Goodee, has a Made in Africa Set that’s a unique gift for your purpose-driven mom figure. With a Kazuri necklace made in Nairobi, a Banasco Basket from Ghana-based brand Baba Tree, and tumblers made out of recycled glass by Kenyan brand Siafu Home, this gift set is made of natural materials, helps build positive change in a number of marginalized communities, and supports community engagement and gender advocacy.

Image: Goodee

Haws The Rowley Ripple Watering Can – Crafted to water with pinpoint accuracy to help even the most delicate of seedlings, these unique watering cans are a great gift for any eco-friendly mom who loves growing plants. Best of all, these cans support both gender advocacy and nature and wildlife conservancy.

Pure Living Lucia Room Sprays – With 12 beautiful scents, bundled into two different gift sets, Pure Living’s Lucia room spray line will fill any room or scent any fabrics in mom’s home with all-natural fragrances made with 100% essential oils. Pure Living is a Montréal-based brand that uses recycled and 100% recyclable materials for all of its packaging.

Clothing & Apparel

Give mom’s wardrobe a purpose-driven boost with these sustainable gift ideas.

Laura Elizabeth Kid-Friendly Jewellery – Moms with little ones won’t have to worry about accessorizing — they can safely wear this non-toxic, durable jewellery that’s safe for tiny mouths and too sturdy to break off the chain. Best of all, this jewellery is sustainable and ethical, locally-made, and uses recycled materials and recycled and biodegradable packaging.

Image: Encircled

Encircled Dresses – Give your mom or mom figure the gift of sustainable, ethically-made fashion with these dresses by Encircled, a Toronto-based, Certified B Corp brand that uses eco-friendly fabrics and offers Canadian-made fashion. They use 100% recyclable packaging, host team park clean-ups, use eco-friendly paper and products at their office, embrace diversity, and believe in standing up for human rights as well as protecting the planet.

Image: TAMGA

TAMGA Designs Scarves and Hair Accessories – Made from sustainable beechwood fibres and GOTS eco-certified dyes, these light-weight scarves, headbands, and scrunchies are a great way to add a burst of colour to your mom’s wardrobe. TAMGA Designs is also a member of 1% For the Planet and partnered with Canopy Style and the Sumatran Orangutan Society to help protect Indonesia’s endangered rainforests.

Free Label Maternity Friendly Collection – Locally made in Toronto and Vancouver using sustainable materials and placed in 100% home-compostable packaging, these maternity-friendly garments are perfect for expecting or nursing moms and all mom figures looking for something comfy to wear.

Tentree Sustainable Activewear – For health- and sustainability-minded moms on the go, Tentree’s circular InMotion collection transforms old textiles and discarded water bottles into brand-new activewear. Great for movement and comfortable lounging.

Bonding Time

Want to give the mom in your life a Mother’s Day gift that will create lasting memories? Find sustainable activities you can do together. Go for a walk or even go out shopping for the day using your bikes to get around — taking along hand-woven Baba Tree Bicycle Baskets to carry your sustainable shopping finds. 

Picnics and meals make for great bonding moments as well, and you can use Nature Bee Beeswax Wraps to safely travel to the park with your food. Or you can make your own board game together using alternative art supplies and upcycled, recycled, and recyclable materials — then test it out together!

Giftwrap Your Messaging with Sparx

Engaging in purpose-driven efforts to make the world better? The experts at Sparx can help package up your message and deliver it to your audience. Contact us for a free marketing consultation.

Categories
Events Impact Inspiration & Initiatives

Purpose-Driven Events to Attend in July – September, 2023

If you’re looking for a great way to expand your brand’s reach and impact, look no further than attending corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) events. To help give your summer plans a purpose-driven boost, Sparx has compiled a list of mission-aligned ESG events that provide valuable opportunities to deepen education and uncover unique perspectives, connect and collaborate with values-aligned professionals, and explore innovative strategies.

Keep scrolling to learn all about purpose-driven ESG and CSR events taking place both virtually and in person across Canada this July, August, and September.

July

CAMSC Supplier Forum & Supplier Networking Session

Date: July 13

Location: Online

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

Annual African Descent Summit 2023

Date: July 21–23

Location: Toronto Pavilion, 190 Railside Road, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Hosted by the African Descent Ontario in partnership with the University of Toronto African Alumni Association, this summit seeks to advocate for and inspire people of African descent in Canada, celebrating African Canadian heritage, contributions, and culture through presentations and discussions, networking, and showcases.

Disability Justice Month – Accessible Workplaces

Date: July 27, from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM PDT

Location: Online

Description: Share ideas and learn how to increase accessibility in the workplace for people with visible and invisible disabilities at this purpose-driven webinar.

FACTS/PIMS Public Panel on Climate Change
Date: July 27, from 2:30 PM – 8:30 PM PDT

Location: The University of British Columbia, 800 Robson Street, Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: Enjoy an afternoon of workshop and panel discussions focused on tackling climate change and the just transition to renewable energy. This event, which is sponsored by PIMS and the French Embassy of Canada, features a diverse group of leaders across Indigenous affairs, climate science, renewable energy, public policy, and economics.

August

International Summit on Mental Health and Disability 2023

Date: August 4–6

Location: 237 Sackville Street, Toronto, Ontario

Description: “Inclusion and Resilience for Everyone” is the theme of this three-day event, organized by Mulongo Diaspora Foundation. Join over 100 mental health and disability experts for presentations, networking, and problem solving that aims to improve disability services and mental well-being in Canada and beyond.

B Corp Certification Readiness

Date: August 24, from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PDT

Location: Online

Description: Learn about the processes and requirements of becoming a certified B Corporation, discover areas of positive impact where more work is needed, and determine your submission readiness at this free virtual session.

Inclusive Leadership – The Impact of Unconscious Bias in Hiring

Date: August 24, from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM PDT

Location: Online

Description: Participate in Canadian Equality Consulting’s inclusive leadership best practices session to better understand the impacts of unconscious biases and the benefits of addressing biases in hiring practices.

CAMSC Supplier Knowledge Xchange

Date: August 30, from 1:00 – 2:00 PM EDT

Location: Online

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

September

Stronger Together Conference

Date: September 10, from 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM EDT

Location: the BAYT, 613 Clark Avenue West, Vaughan, Ontario

Description: Collaborate with business professionals, students, teachers, and parents to help counter antisemitism, and participate in workshops and presentations from prominent Jewish organizations and industry leaders.

Pioneers for Change

Date: September 14, from 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM EDT

Location: Design Exchange, 234 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario

Description: Celebrate the contributions immigrants and newcomers make to Canada and network with diversity champions at this annual fundraising gala.

2023 SDG Summit

Date: September 18–19

Location: UN Headquarters, New York City, New York

Description: Kick off a new phase of Sustainable Development Goals progress with the 2023 SDG Summit. Marking the half-way point of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the event will provide policy guidance, review implementation progress and recent challenges, address the impacts of crises facing the world, and focus on ways to meet everyone’s basic needs.

Indigenomics SHE

Date: September 18–19

Location: Fairmont Winnipeg, 2 Lombard Place, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Description: Join Indigenous women entrepreneurs and allies at this event that aims to uplift the voices of Indigenous women in business against the background of the emerging $100 billion Indigenous economy.

2023 Social Impact World Summit

Date: September 20–21, from 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM PDT

Location: Online

Description: “Building Impact from Scratch” is the theme of this purpose-driven virtual summit. Get the guidance you need to further your impact and turn your business into a force for good, and enjoy talks from a line-up of purpose-driven leaders.

Indigenous Ways of Knowing

Date: September 21, from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM PDT

Location: Online

Description: In honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, attendees of this webinar will learn about the seven Indigenous ways of knowing and how to cultivate workplaces that encourage this framework.

Sustainable Production Forum

Date: September 25

Location: CBC Toronto Broadcast Centre, Toronto, Ontario

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.

Elevate Festival

Date: September 26–28

Location: Multiple locations in Toronto, including Meridian Hall, St. Lawrence Centre for Arts, and the Design Exchange

Description: With a mission to connect innovators using technology to build an equitable and sustainable future for everyone, attendees will enjoy an extensive line-up of world-class speakers, including astronaut Chris Hadfield, television journalist Lisa LaFlamme, and Knix Founder Joanna Griffiths, as well as networking and evening socials.

CAMSC’s 2023 Annual Business Achievement Awards Gala

Date: September 29, from 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM EDT

Location: Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex at Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Celebrate supplier diversity in Canada with CAMSC’s Business Achievement Awards Gala. Enjoy a keynote presentation, authentic food, and entertainment while honouring diverse-owned organizations that are driving positive change.

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
Events Impact Inspiration & Initiatives

Purpose-Driven Events to Attend in April – June, 2023

Participating in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) events can help your brand expand its reach and impact. That’s why Sparx has compiled a list of mission-aligned ESG events that provide valuable opportunities to increase education and discover unique perspectives, connect and collaborate with like-minded professionals, and learn innovative strategies. 

Keep scrolling to learn all about purpose-driven ESG and CSR events taking place both in Canada and internationally this April, May, and June.

April 

The New Normal: How Adaptive Leaders are Supporting Mental Health at Work

Date: April 11, from 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM EDT

Location: Rotman School of Management, 105 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario 

Description: Join this expert panel discussion about critical strategies, trends, and lessons in today’s shifting mental health landscape, and discover how businesses can ensure their teams are healthy and supported.

CAMSC Procurement Fair 2023

Date: April 18 – 19, from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM EDT

Location: Beanfield Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario

Description: “Mission Possible – People, Planet, Profit” is the theme of this exciting two-day networking event. Participate in discussions and workshops, and connect with over 300 fellow attendees. 

Fifteenth International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Date: April 20 – 21

Location: Online & In-Person at The University of British Columbia, Robson Square, Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: “Responding to the Climate Emergency: Scalable Solutions for the Climate-Nature Intersect” is the special focus of this mission-aligned conference. Join leading thinkers, innovators, and researchers with the goal of building a cross-disciplinary community and discussing solutions to combat climate change. 

Rebuild Equity Conference

Date: April 21, from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM EDT

Location: Ajax Convention Centre, 550 Beck Crescent, Ajax, Ontario

Description: Hosted by the Kujenga Family Wellness Project and in collaboration with community partners, this conference empowers professionals and workers from across disciplines to join forces and rebuild inclusive and equitable spaces in organizations that serve the community. Featuring keynote speaker, Joy DeGruy, expert professional on equity and diversity in supporting Black and racialized community members.

ADVANTAGE 2023

Date: April 21, from 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM ADT

Location: Joan Harriss Cruise Pavillion, 74 Esplanade, Sydney, Nova Scotia

Description: Celebrate the strength, resilience, and power of women at this empowering conference. Enjoy a line-up of guest speakers, including keynote speaker Julie Cole, award-winning entrepreneur, best-selling author, and mother of six.

Circular Economy Speaker Series: Reducing Single-Use Item Waste

Date: April 24, from  9:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT

Location: Victoria City Hall, 1 Centennial Square, Victoria, British Columbia 

Description: Join purpose-driven businesses and nonprofits to discuss sustainability, learn from seven experts in the waste reduction space, and network over locally-made refreshments.

May

ClimateWest Forum: The benefits of early adaptation action

Date: May 3 – 4

Location: Online & In-Person at Inn at the Forks, 75 Forks Market Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba 

Description: Network, collaborate, and learn at this free event, which brings together ClimateWest’s expanding, multi-sector network across various communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba to address the benefits of taking early action against climate impacts.

Benevity Live!

Date: May 9 – 12

Location: Limited Online Agenda; In-Person at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, 2100 Costa Del Mar Rd, Carlsbad, California

Description: At this four-day event, join over 500 purpose-driven companies for networking, keynote speeches, and impactful sessions with like-minded changemakers and inspiring brands.

Women of Diversity Summit & Awards 2023

Date: May 13, from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM EDT

Location: The Centennial College Event Centre, 937 Progress Avenue, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Enjoy networking, expert discussions, and fireside chats, and celebrate the accomplishments of pioneering women of colour in a safe, diverse, and inclusive environment.

The Indigenous-led Economy

Date: May 16, from 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM EDT

Location: The Westin Ottawa Hotel, 11 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, Ontario

Description: Join Indigenous leaders and Canada 2020 for solutions-focused conversations on economic reconciliation and best practices for building wealth and well-being for Indigenous communities.

CAMSC Supplier Forum & Supplier Networking Session

Date: May 17

Location: Online

Description: Stay tuned for more details! 

Developing Diversity, Empowering Equity, Inspiring Inclusion Summit

Date: May 25 – 26

Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Toronto Airport West, 5444 Dixie Road, Mississauga, Ontario

Description: Participate in speaker sessions that will provide mentorship, education, and inspiration to racialized, Indigenous, and marginalized employees and employers so they can succeed and build inclusive work environments.

The World Circular Economy Forum 2023

Date: May 30 – June 2

Location: Online participation open to all; In-person invite-only in Helsinki, Finland

Description: Get ready to explore circular economy solutions at this event, co-organized by Nordic Innovation and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, which brings together thought leaders, innovators, and international game-changers in the space. 

June 

Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase 2023

Date: Jun 1 – 2

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre West Building, Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: Join business and Indigenous leaders for open and forthright dialogue on economic reconciliation, thought leadership, and storytelling, and learn how you can help build toward an inclusive vision of reconciliation.

Canadian Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Summit

Date: June 1, from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM EDT

Location: The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto 1, Harbour Square, Toronto, Ontario 

Description: Enjoy a full schedule packed with workshops, panels, and honest conversations that tackle the biggest questions and most pressing concerns in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space.

Circularity 23 

Date: June 5 – 7

Location: Hyatt Regency, Seattle, Washington 

Description: Connect with game-changers, participate in actionable break-out sessions, and get inspired by thought-provoking keynote speakers at this solutions-oriented expo all about accelerating the circular economy. 

2023 Canadian Circular Economy Summit

Date: June 19 – 20

Location: Toronto Board of Trade Offices, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Spend two days collaborating with circular economy champions, exploring and addressing urgent environmental issues and participating in outcome-focused workshops at this summit, presented by Circular Economy Leadership Canada (CELC) and the Circular Innovation Council (CIC).

B Corp Certification Readiness – Preparing for Your B Corp Journey

Date: June 22, from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PDT

Location: Online

Description: Learn all about what it takes to become a certified B Corporation, discover areas of positive impact where more work is needed, and determine your submission readiness at this free virtual session.

Summit on Responsible Investment

Date: June 27, from 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM PDT

Location: The Innovation Centre, 460 Doyle Avenue, Kelowna, British Columbia

Description: The Canadian Securities Exchange and Sparx Publishing Group are teaming up to host the first-ever Summit on Responsible Investment. Get the latest insights on socially responsible investing (SRI) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) trends and regulations, and enjoy presentations from industry experts and a late-afternoon networking reception. Admission fees are by-donation only, with the proceeds collected going to support the Central Okanagan Food Bank.

RSVP for a Free Consultation with Sparx

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Categories
Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Sustainability Tips

Sparx’s Sustainable Valentine’s Day Gift-Giving Guide: 25 Eco-Friendly and Zero-Waste Gift Ideas for 2023

Whether it’s romantic love for your partner, love for family and friends, or your devotion to a cause, love makes the world better. It motivates us to do better, to work harder, to grow in understanding, to act with compassion, and to share ourselves and what we have with others.

In celebration of love and its ability to amplify good, Sparx has created another sustainable gift-giving guide, this time for Valentine’s Day gifts that will help express your love while supporting the environment and other wonderful causes. Because nothing says heartfelt like a gift with real impact.

***

1. Treat Them to Something Sweet 

Sustainable alternatives to decadent delights. 

Image: Drizzle

Drizzle Cacao Luxe Raw Honey: This all-natural, sustainably sourced, bee-friendly, allergen-free, Canadian-made honey has a chocolatey twist and a delicious chocolate-covered strawberry recipe. Plus, it’s made by a women-owned, certified B Corporation.

Pukka Love Tea: This soothing and fragrant tea will touch the heart of your beloved in more ways than one. Pukka is part of 1% for the Planet, Fair for Life certified, Soil Association organic certified, and B Corp certified.

Raaka Chocolate Valentine’s Day Collection: Choose from a variety of ethical and unique non-GMO, vegan, certified organic, and kosher treats to share with your beloved. Raaka crafts its single-source chocolate in small batches and practices transparent trade – its supply chain process is even integrated into its packaging. 

Ritual Chocolate Après Chocolate Bar: This 70% dark chocolate bar is infused with sparkling white wine and topped with raspberries. Best of all, the chocolate is vegan and ethically sourced, the packaging is fully recyclable, and the company is working toward net-zero and fully solar-powered goals. Also purchasable from impact-driven Canadian vendor The Better Good. 

Southbrook Wine Valentine’s Day Bundle: Canadian-made, this romantic bundle of organic wines and condiments is made by Southbrook Organic Vineyards, a company with numerous certifications, including Demeter, Ecocert Canada, LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario, and VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) for grape wines.

T.Kettle Loose Leaf Teas: Make your loved one a (heart)warming cup of certified kosher, vegan, organic, and 100% Fair Trade Strawberry Fondue Tea from T.Kettle, a values-driven company.

2. Pamper Them 

Gifts that feel good and do good.

Encircled Renew Sleep Mask: Help your loved one relax with this eco-friendly Tencel™ Lyocell and recycled polyester fleece sleep mask, made by a Toronto-based, certified B Corporation. 

Harlow Salty Soak Bath Salts: These vegan bath salts are made from Saskatchewan Red Salt, smell intoxicatingly of flowers, and come in a compostable pouch. Plus, Vancouver-based company Harlow sources from social enterprises like Hives for Humanity.

Image: Old Soul Soap Company

Old Soul Company Sweetheart Collection: Pamper your soulmate with this ethical and sustainable, all-natural collection, which includes its Be Mine soap, Be Mine heart-shaped bath bomb, Be Mine massage & body oil, tea light candles, and lip balm. 

Sequoia Soap Sets: Made by 100% Indigenous women-owned and -operated brand Sequoia, the Sweet Blends and Night Sky Four Soap Gift Sets are beautiful, sustainable, and ethically sourced.

Yukon Soap Wild Side Shave Soap: This sustainable, handcrafted shave soap is made by Indigenous-owned and -operated brand Yukon Soap, which is on a mission to make the world better by supporting economic diversification and empowering, nurturing, and elevating Northern Indigenous cultures, communities, and people.

3. Bring Them “Flowers”

Lasting gifts that serve as wonderful alternatives to classic perfumes and bouquets.

Image: Goodee

All Things Being Eco Organic Rose Geranium Bulk Essential Oil: This fragrant oil is Natural Organic Program (NOP) certified and sold by a purpose-driven BC-Based company that’s on a mission to make the world better through offering organic, ethically-produced, and locally-sourced products.

Goodee The Floral Kits: With this sustainable kit from B Corp certified Goodee, your valentine has everything they need to grow and shape their own bouquets. Plus, this kit supports multiple causes, including marginalized communities, gender advocacy, and community engagement.

Flowerink Plantable Tandem Love Greeting Card: You and your valentine can watch your love blossom with this plantable seed paper card, made from 100% recycled content. Plus, these cards are Canadian-made by a company that donates to health and environmental organizations.

Le Comptoir Aroma Love Pebble Essential Oil Diffuser Stones: These 100% natural heart and rose-shaped diffuser stones are made by a Canadian family-run business that uses recyclable and recycled materials, along with other eco-friendly practices.

Mala the Brand Candles: Check the classic romance boxes with bouquet or rosebud candles that are sustainably packaged and hand-poured in small batches by a Vancouver-based brand. Plus, a tree is planted for every candle purchased.

Recycled Ideas Pink Seed Paper Flowers Valentines Day Gift Box Set: These flowers are made from plantable seed paper and packaged in a box that can be used as a personal greenhouse. You can also find them on etsy.

Wild Coast Perfumes Floral Collection: Made with pure, all-natural, sustainably-harvested ingredients from Vancouver island, these perfumes smell beautifully of flowers and come in recyclable bottles with no plastic overwraps. Plus, $1 per every 50ml bottle sold in the perfumery goes to the Ancient Forest Alliance.

4. Get Them Ready for Date Night

Beautiful gifts that protect the beauty of the environment.

Image: Cheekbone Beauty

Cheekbone Beauty Sustain Lip Kit (Red): This gorgeous, low-waste, consciously-sourced lip kit is made by Cheekbone Beauty, a values-driven, Indigenous-owned and -operated, Certified B Corporation that’s part of 1% for the Planet and donates to multiple causes. Check out this guide for recycling its lipstick. 

Elate Refillable Cosmetic Cases: These fully customizable cosmetic cases are recyclable, made from bamboo, and sustainably packaged. Plus, Elate donates 2% of its profits to causes that share its values every year: 1% to social and 1% to environmental initiatives.

Luna & Rose Recycled Silver Heart Necklace: Ethically crafted, this heart-shaped necklace is made from recycled sterling silver by a company that is part of 1% for the Planet.

Treats Designs Tagua Valentine Heart Pendant: Made from sustainable tagua, with natural dyes and a tumble-until-they-shine method, these pendants are created by a BC-based artist. They are also available for purchase through sustainable, Vancouver-based Hemp & Company.

5. Spend Quality Time with Them

Want a truly zero waste alternative? Consider giving your valentine the gift of experience — because nothing takes the single out of single-use more than creating lasting memories. 

There are plenty of sustainable ways to engage in quality time with your beloved. For example, you could go for a picnic using sustainable items, such as beeswax food wraps, zero waste bamboo cutlery, and reusable storage bags, and have a beautiful, waste-free moment that has a truly positive impact.

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Would You Be Our Valentine?

Are you engaging in purpose-driven efforts to make the world better? We (not-so-secretly) admire that. Contact us for a free marketing consultation. We would love to gift wrap your message and help deliver it to your audience.