Though Bonnie Wong, former Investment Manager with Vancity’s Community Capital team discussed risk explicitly at several points in her presentation, the theme of re-defining risk in the field of impact investing resonated through all presentations and conversations at “Making an Impact through Social Finance”.

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This series of blogs talks about social purchase as a way to bolster demand for the goods and services produced by social enterprises. The Caledon Institute recommended this approach to the City of Hamilton as one option in pursuing its goal of social inclusion. The City was interested in this objective in respect of its role as co-host of the PanAm Games in 2015. For background, please read the previous post: Enough Talk. Where's the Action?

Turns out Vancouver helped blaze the trail*. The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee actively employed a Community Benefits Agreements approach described in blog #2 in this series. The benefits of a contract must go to more than just the successful bidders. Vancouver’s experience in developing Community Benefits Agreements grew from its commitment to social, economic and environmental sustainability.

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Note: Originally posted at SEE Change Magazine.

With titles, accolades and commitments as seemingly boundless as the 57-year-old’s energy level, Joel Solomon is a visionary, activist, mentor and investor rolled into one. I’m not sure when he finds time to sleep but here’s the current list of involvements: Board chair of Hollyhock, president of Renewal Partners, Chairman of Renewal2 Investment Fund, entrepreneur-in residence at RSF Social Finance in San Francisco and at Vancouver’s Vancity, volunteer board member of Tides Canada and Tides Foundation in the US. And let’s not forget his involvement in civic politics as an adviser and supporter of Vancouver’s green-hued mayor, Gregor Robertson.

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We are pleased to announce that the Canadian Global Impact Investing Group is expanding into Vancouver with its first local event, “Making Impact Through Social Finance”. Please join us as we hear from organizations deploying capital to transform lives, reduce poverty, fund social ventures, build communities, and support sustainable development. Presentations from the Vancouver for Acumen Fund chapter,Vancity, the Global Catalyst Initiative, and Opportunity International Canada will give us insights into each organization and how they are making an impact. We hope that you will gain a broader understanding of social finance, mission related investing, microfinance,community based investment products, and how you can blend investment opportunities that generate a return while also making a difference.

This event will be held on Wednesday, November 23rd from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm,with speakers presenting between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm. The event is sponsored by the Segal Graduate School of Business and will be hosted at their facility at 500 Granville Street, at the corner of West Pender in downtown Vancouver.

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Interesting plural on Worlds; we don't usually think of more than one, but this past week showed how surprising co-existing 'worlds' can be when using divergent economic systems.

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