Briana Sim

The lululemon Centre for Social Impact invites organizations to apply for the 2025 Here to Be Grant. The grants aim to accelerate the work of community-led nonprofits advancing the well-being of their communities, and serving those most impacted by systemic inequities. Eligible organizations are invited to apply for up to $50,000 USD in operating support, which should not exceed 40% of their operating budget. Eligibility Organizations that meet the following eligibility criteria: 📌Must be a registered nonprofit or charity, or fiscally sponsored by one 📌Must be working to advance wellbeing outcomes through physical, mental, and/or social wellbeing programming 📌Must be community-led, have diverse and representative leadership, and serve populations most impacted by systemic inequity 📌Must be operating in Australia, Canada, China Mainland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, India, Ireland, Japan, Macau SAR, Malaysia, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, UK, USA, and/or Vietnam 📌Annual budget of less than $2 million USD preferred Application deadline: June 28, 2024 https://lnkd.in/dFwtb-by #grants #funding #socialimpact

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Many governments recognize that engaging citizens and stakeholders in decision-making brings benefits. I learned the value of public engagement in Stratford PEI, during my tenure as CAO.    We created the Triple C approach to engagement. We communicated when we had information to share, we consulted when there were discrete options, and we collaborated when the decisions had a high cost and/or high impact.    The level of engagement increased with the import and impact of the decision. Annual surveys showed a high level of satisfaction with engagement.   Politicians are elected to represent the people but that does not mean that citizens should just show up at the ballot box once in a while and forget about the rest. Most of the politicians I worked with in my career, at all levels of government, want to hear from their citizens to ensure they are fairly representing their views. And citizens can't complain if they do not seek to have their voice heard.   Outside of the election campaign, politicians tend to hear from people in their social network and people in their neighbourhood. They do not always hear from a broad cross section of their constituents. Perhaps more importantly, the feedback they do receive is often superficial, and perhaps not well thought out or informed by evidence.   Enter Civonus, which is derived from the Latin words civicus and onus, meaning “civic responsibility.” Civonus helps citizens to provide more thoughtful, evidence informed advice to politicians, and live up to their civic responsibility.    #governance #policy-making #civic-responsibility #citizen-engagement #civonus

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Can you guess how many diverse communities are currently on Magnet's network? 🤔💡👇 445 and counting 📈 These communities are united by a singular goal: to empower the labour market ecosystem. Our network includes colleges, universities, industry associations, chambers of commerce, donors, enterprises, provincial and municipal governments, and more—all collaborating to harness the power of collective effort. Jean-Pierre Giroux, President of Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium, highlights Magnet's impact: "Magnet’s track record and knowledge of labour market systems and players is providing an excellent platform to drive more connectivity among service providers, and better alignment between employers' needs and the supply of labour. I see Magnet being well positioned to continue generating workplace impact but also to drive, in the coming years, significant system-level change and collaborations for a more responsive and integrated labour market system." As we celebrate 10 years of Magnet, we reflect on a decade of building a resilient and inclusive labour market ecosystem. Discover more about Magnet’s contributions over the past decade in our Retrospective here: https://lnkd.in/gG7WZv5k #MagnetAt10 #Empowerment #Collaboration #LabourMarket #Community

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So back in 2017, quite literally on a dare, a team of 6 people decided to run FWD50 in Ottawa. I did NOT have "be a free library of hundreds of public sector innovation talks" on my Bingo card. But here we are. Since 2020, we've also been recording, captioning, and publishing our talks. In 2023, our best-attended workshop happened online—with over 850 participants. If you're wondering how AI might impact your job in the public sector, you should watch it. It's called "How to use AI tools for your work in government," from our amazing partners at Apolitical. https://lnkd.in/eeZ5gspA AI is transforming the public service, and this just one of many talks full of practical knowledge about service design thinking, AI, team culture, data privacy, and more. Did I mention this was free? In 7 years, FWD50 has become not just an event where the people building tomorrow’s government go to learn, connect, and recharge; it's also become a great community (I got to see some of them on recent trips to DC, San Francisco, and London!) Anyway, new drop. #ai #machinelearning #publicservice #FWD50 #digitalgovernment

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The growing frequency of climate-related events – from extreme heat to floods and drought – is having a dire impact on people in BC. Communities have told us they need additional funding certainty to address their climate-risk needs, so we’re introducing a new program to help begin to give them reliable, long-term funding to make people and their communities safer https://lnkd.in/gytusxXK

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In the context of my post on public sector salaries in Ontario (https://lnkd.in/geF3w8r2), here are some quick figures: The average total compensation of the top 100 earners in the 2023 Sunshine list was $642,290.00. Number one overall was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ontario Power Generation, who's salary was $1,925,372. Given the job market competition for individuals with specific skill sets, some of those salaries make sense - like the people running OPG, major hospitals, and the Ontario Public Service Pension Board. Some, like a few very well paid radiologists are predictable. But $600k for the CEO of the Registered Nurses Association Of Ontario for $500k+ or 17(!) university professors could be a bit harder to explain.

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Canadian #nonprofit organizations play a crucial role in our communities and around the world. It's imperative that these essential institutions are not left behind in the fast-paced digital landscape. Great reports released today from Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience | Centre canadien pour la résilience numérique 🙌

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5 Reason WHY this wont work To ensure a successful and mutually beneficial partnership, beyond the financial investment , at the FNPMC conference 2024 #AFNMPC2024 , I heard Indigenous youth and leaders say attributes that indigenous communities will EXPECT from resource companies.   1.     Cultural Understanding and Respect: Partners that demonstrate a deep understanding and respect for Indigenous cultures, traditions, and values that want to build a relationships based on mutual respect and cultural sensitivity. 2.   Community Engagement and Empowerment: Partners who prioritize community involvement, economic development, and social impact initiatives 3.    Environmental Stewardship: Partners that prioritize environmental sustainability and responsible resource development.. 4.   Long-Term Vision and Commitment: Partners who demonstrate a commitment to the project's success over the long term, beyond short-term gains, 5.    Transparency and Communication: Partners who communicate openly, honestly, and transparently and foster a positive working relationship. #FNMPC2024 #IndigenousLeadership #SustainableDevelopment

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Join The Test Tribe Calgary for an exciting event where our community members share their invaluable insights and experiences in geolocation testing! 🔍 Learn from Your Peers: Hear firsthand accounts and practical advice from fellow testers in our community. Discover how they tackle geolocation testing challenges and implement innovative solutions. 📍 Deep Dive into Geolocation Testing: Geolocation applications can be challenging, requiring specific approaches, understanding of law regulations, and specialized testing methods. This meetup will provide in-depth knowledge and practical tips from the QA’s point of view. 🤝 Network with Industry Experts: Connect with leading experts and fellow testers. Share insights, discuss challenges, and build valuable professional relationships. 💡 Gain Practical Insights: Learn from real-world case studies and practical sessions presented by your peers. Apply these insights directly to your projects to enhance your testing effectiveness. Event Details: 📅 Date: May 22, Wednesday 🕒 Time: 5:30-8:30 PM 📍 Location: Platform Calgary Don't miss this chance to grow your expertise and connect with the best in the field. Register now and secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/gHsj7-uJ * AI testing is happening while you're reading this :D

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As I write in this short blog piece, it's been some time since I felt quite so excited about a gathering. The Future of Labs is going to be a short but deep dive exploring what we mean by Labs, what we can achieve with them, where we situate them in the spectrum of social change contribution and how we can use the methods, better and/or differently to achieve greater outcomes. Can't wait to get started! #FutureofLabs #socialinnovation #sociallabs Social Innovation Canada https://lnkd.in/gej2HB34

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Are you an activist - policy wonk - building scientist - campaigner? Efficiency Canada is looking for someone with this unique group of skills and motivations to lead policy research and advocacy in areas like building codes, building performance standards, and labeling. This is an area where you can make real, tangible change. Efficiency Canada's previous work has contributed to: 1) A building code acceleration fund, helping provinces and municipalities prepare for net-zero codes. 2) A ministerial directive to produce a net-zero emissions national model building code 3) Rejection of planned delay of the model alterations to existing building code 4) Creation of retrofit market development teams through the Greener Neighbourhood Pilot Program and Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative 5) Addition of buildings to the Canada Infrastructure Bank's mandate Our work and policy recommendations on building performance standards & GHG implications of adopting vs. ignoring net-zero codes while meeting Canada's housing goals was cited in the recent Canada Electricity Advisory Council report. You can make a difference in this job as the national advocate for efficient / zero-carbon buildings, while providing resources to provincial and municipal activists across the country.

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I am excited to share some fantastic news from the 2024 Canadian federal budget. The government has committed to providing $14.5 million over two years to Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada for the Innovation Asset Collective. This funding will allow IAC to continue it's efforts to help Canadian clean tech SMEs grow and leverage IP effectively. This investment is not just a boost for our ongoing initiatives but a pivotal moment to drive forward our strategic vision. Since we were founded, IAC has been dedicated to empowering our members to align their IP strategy to commercial goals. This ensures Canadian companies not only innovate but also own their innovations, thereby increasing their freedom to operate in global markets. Over the next two years, IAC will continue to: Empower Clean Tech SMEs: The dedicated funding allows us to continue our mission of providing IP support to SMEs, empowering them to build effective IP strategies that include risk mitigation. Strengthen Canada's IP Ecosystem: By enhancing the capabilities of Canadian business leaders to develop effective IP strategies, this funding helps solidify the foundation of a resilient and competitive clean tech sector in Canada. Fostering Commercial Success: The financial support will enable more Canadian businesses to implement strategic IP tools that are crucial for scaling and entering new markets. With this funding, IAC can continue to support the growth of innovative Canadian companies on the global stage. The government's recognition of the importance of IP in securing a strong economic future is commendable. We thank ISED for this further investment in IAC.

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An incredibly comprehensive and activating lecture by Nate Hagens on 'the human predicament' or the metacrisis. His analysis makes a solid case for the approaches the bioregional movement is bringing forth and for humanity shifting to a worldview and economy that acknowledges our entanglement with the rest of life. #regeneration #bioregionalism #gaia #regenerativeeconomy

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SAP is part of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty https://lnkd.in/epsU4Src with the aim of achieving a circular economy for plastics and to end plastic pollution. SAP provides software solutions to help companies and our customers in achieving this goal. What is the goal? Currently, most plastics are not designed for a circular economy nor are they circulated in practice. Yet, the best available scientific analysis shows us that known circular economy solutions, if applied at scale, can reduce annual volumes of plastic pollution by at least 80% by 2040 compared to business-as-usual and achieve near-zero plastic pollution by 2060 globally. To find out more please visit our sites: https://lnkd.in/e7prwV24 and https://lnkd.in/eykvVgV6

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An update as we head into the summer heat - Council of Canadian Innovators | Conseil canadien des innovateurs is still measuring what's working (and what's not) inside the ecosystem, this includes the sentiments around access to capital which have been top of mind for all of us lately. We have a short survey for the ecosystem to fill out - we'd love to hear from you: You can complete the survey here: https://lnkd.in/gcR9nMce

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Here's an interesting addition to your sustainability education gaming collection that's centred on energy resources and its climate change impacts. #climatechange #seriousplay #sustainability

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I have a few thoughts on municipal revenue, related to research I led, published by Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG) a couple of years ago. 1. ABSOLUTELY, municipalities should not be shouldering the burden of building or maintaining nonmarket housing, including public housing. The federal government should be shouldering housing infrastructure costs and the provinces operating costs. Provinces & territories have contributed the most to creating homelessness through low social assistance & minimum wages and terrible tenant protections. The federal government must enforce basic income and tenant rights with PTs. 2. There is the need for a generational upgrade of physical & social infrastructure, ranging from water and sewer lines to parks and recreation centres. This is true whether population grows or declines. Federal, provincial and territorial governments should cost-share and provide funding conditional on necessary zoning and approvals changes to enable more housing near this improved infrastructure. 3. Property taxes are ridiculously opaque and regressive. PT should be assessing annually & making this information public, which they won't do without federal interference. Municipalities should NOT be allowed to charge higher rates for apartment buildings and SHOULD be allowed to levy progressive property taxes (higher rates for more expensive homes) & land taxes (including vacant land taxes, especially when there has been a rezoning). 4. If houses and universities don't pay taxes, neither should nonmarket housing.https://https://lnkd.in/gMRHd3Pq

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