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The School forSocial Entrepreneursin Ontario:
Opportunities andalternatives
A feasibility study and review prepared by MASS LBPCommissioned by SiG@MaRS and funded by The Ontario Trillium Foundation
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION 3
ABOUT THIS STUDY 6
ABOUT THE SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS (SSE) 8
WHAT WE HEARD FROM ONTARIANS 16
EXISTING RESOURCES AND DEMAND 24
BUSINESS MODELS 29
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 34
SELECTED QUOTES 37THE EVOLVING STATE OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION 45
UNDERSTANDING THE MARKETPLACE 50
APPENDIX 59
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SECTION 1
Introduction
Canada’s Social Innovation Generation (SiG@MaRS) is recognized for bringing global leaders toOntario, fostering relationships and seeding new ideas and initiatives across the province. Theidea for an Ontario-based School for Social Entrepreneurs started innocently enough. InNovember 2007, a supporter of the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) introduced theconcept to SiG@MaRS and it piqued their interest. It wasn’t long before Allyson Hewitt, theDirector of SiG@MaRS, visited the UK and met with Alastair Wilson, the SSE’s Chief ExecutiveOfficer. In 2008, SiG National invited Nick Temple, the SSE’s Policy and CommunicationsDirector, to Ontario to speak at the Social Entrepreneurship Summit at MaRS. Reciprocally, ateam of delegates from SiG National travelled to the UK where they visited the SSE as part of alarger UK Study Tour. This learning tour inspired and created new connections between the twocountries and the many people working to promote social innovation and social enterprise. TheOntario Trillium Foundation approved to the funding to conduct this study in June 2009.The UK has long been recognized as a leader in the field. Since May 2006, the Office of theThird Sector (OTS) has operated at the very centre of government and has enjoyed thepatronage of a series of talented young ministers. The OTS “leads work across government tofoster a thriving third sector — voluntary and community groups, social enterprises, charities,cooperatives and mutuals — enabling the sector to campaign for change, deliver publicservices, promote social enterprise and strengthen communities”
(www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector
).
This official recognition has worked to amplify theactivity of many organizations and initiatives, particularly in British cities. It has also helped tocreate a public consensus on the role of social innovation and legitimate its value as a driver ofeconomic productivity and positive social outcomes.Unlike the UK, the US, and Australia, the Canadian government has yet to formally recognize orfund social innovation or entrepreneurship. The Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN)published a thorough report on this issue, “Social Innovation in Canada: An Update.” Its author,Mark Goldenberg explains, “Canada, by comparison, has no office or mechanism to support oreven measure the impact of social innovation in our country. There is also no funding plan ornational strategy in place to enhance and maximize the benefits of [social innovation]. In fact, our
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