Blog | Social Finance

Canadian Task Force on Social Finance celebrates a year of momentum

By Ilse Treurnicht - December 13, 2011 - Comments

One short year ago, the Task Force on Social Finance released its report, Mobilizing Private Capital for Public Good [PDF]. It was time to more formally embrace the growing impact investment movement as a viable and necessary economic activity for Canada.

Tonight we will reflect on recent developments in social finance relevant to the recommendations of the Task Force. We will also hear from Antony Bugg-Levine, recognized thought leader and CEO of the US-based Nonprofit Finance Fund, about opportunities to propel impact investing to greater heights. Tomorrow, we get our hands dirty at the Social Finance Forum: Investing in Good Deals Conference.

Categories: Public Policy Responsible Investment Social Innovation National

Momentum Gains for the Canadian Task Force on Social Finance

By Ilse Treurnicht - March 15, 2011 - Comments

“Companies must take the lead in bringing business and society back together. The solution lies in the principle of shared value, which involves creating economic value in a way that also creates value for society by addressing its needs and challenges. We believe that it can give rise to the next major transformation of business thinking.” (in “The Big Idea” by Michael Porter and Mark R. Kramer, Harvard Business Review, January-February, 2011)

Creating sustainable value is our 21st century challenge. That is the message from well-known Harvard business strategist, Michael Porter. The Canadian Task Force on Social Finance focused on accelerating shared value creation when we launched our report, “Mobilizing Private Capital for Public Good” at the end of 2010. MaRS Discovery District welcomed over 400 people at the release of the report, where they also heard endorsements of the Task Force recommendations from global impact investing leaders, and support for the pioneering work of the community in Canada.

Categories: Public Policy National

This Is Canada’s Opportunity

By Ilse Treurnicht - November 30, 2010 - Comments

Today marks the launch of a seminal report entitled, Mobilizing Private Capital for Public Good from the Canadian Task Force on Social Finance. The report calls on institutional investors, corporations, philanthropists, foundations and governments to work together to build a robust impact investing marketplace in Canada.

The Task Force, which was conceived by the national partnership Social Innovation Generation (SiG) and builds on two years of background work, is comprised of social finance pioneers, and leaders from business, finance as well as the community sector across Canada.

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Social Finance: A National Imperative and Nascent Opportunity

By Ilse Treurnicht - October 20, 2010 - Comments

Fork in the Road Canada, like many other jurisdictions, is at an innovation crossroads. Governments are faced with tough choices as the global economy finds a new normal, against the backdrop of increasingly complex societal challenges crippling communities, education and health care systems, and the environment.

These challenges require a renewed commitment to innovation, not just in academe or in business, but in government and the community sector. Sustainable solutions to our most pressing problems are unlikely to come from a single person – scientist, business guru, political or non-profit leader - or a single institution or currently favoured sector. These solutions will require new thinking, new models of collaboration, and new working partnerships between the public and private sector.

In this context, I am excited to announce that Social Innovation Generation (SiG), a national project partnered with MaRS, has launched an independent Task Force on Social Finance. This effort is modeled after the UK’s Social Investment Task Force, chaired by Sir Ronald Cohen. The UK Task Force played a key role in catalyzing that country’s social finance marketplace a decade ago, influencing the investment of significant government and private capital in a new breed of funds building blended value enterprises. Similarly, the Canadian Task Force, which I am proud to Chair, aims to help accelerate the development of a vibrant social investment sector focused on addressing social and environmental challenges in Canada.