Enactus has often been called one of Canada’s best kept secrets. That is changing.
What Enactus teams across the country accomplish every year is incredible, and one of our strategic goals is to tell more people about the work you do.
Political figures attending Enactus team-based events are constantly amazed by the work being done in local communities across Canada, and are reaching out to learn more. For example, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, attended Enactus uOttawa’s launch of their social enterprise CigBins and the Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of the Status of Women, met with the Enactus Lambton team to learn about their women’s empowerment initiatives.
We consistently hear business leaders discussing how much they love Enactus – and Enactus students. David Clanachan, President and COO of Tim Hortons Canada, and countless other corporate partners have nothing but incredible things to say about their experiences with Enactus.
Enactus is also becoming more widely known within the social entrepreneurship and innovation space as is demonstrated by the confirmation of the Chief Executive Officers of the Centre for Social Innovation and Ashoka Canada as Final Round Judges at this year’s Enactus Canada National Exposition.
Thus it was an exciting turn of events when a House of Commons Standing Committee, conducting a study titled “Exploring the Potential of Social Finance in Canada”, reached out to Enactus Canada to deliver a presentation on Enactus and give our thoughts on social finance.
The preparation was exciting; gathering information and data on projects related to social finance from teams across the country, meeting with the Enactus Canada Government Relations Committee and putting together recommendations to aid in the growth of social finance in Canada.
The other panelists presenting to the Standing Committee included Mr. Brian Emmett, Chief Economist for the Charitable and Non-Profit Sector at Imagine Canada as well as Al Etmanski and Vickie Cammack, co-founders of PLAN.
All in all, it was a great opportunity for our community to share who we are and what we do. It was an honour to be invited to present, and it speaks volumes to the level of recognition that Enactus teams are earning based on the quality and impact of their work coast to coast.
Keep up the great work and know that each and every member of the Enactus Canada community continues to make us proud as you serve as strong brand ambassadors for our incredible organization.
By Preston Aitken, Director of Programs, Enactus Canada