Free Toronto Sustainable Economy Events!

Are you familiar with the amazing Toronto Sustainability Speaker Series? If not, let me make the introductions.

"The Toronto Sustainability Speaker Series (TSSS) was launched in 2008 to dispel the myth that sustainability is a cost to business and to share the experiences of companies that have found economic advantages by integrating sustainability into their corporate strategy."

This Thursday, February 7th, 2013 there will be a free live webcast & twitterchat (#tssschat) from 5:00 – 6:30 PM EST. Author of The New Sustainability Advantage and sustainability change agent Dr. Bob Willard explores cutting edge research on an emerging “Gold Standard” to recognize a truly sustainable enterprise – an enterprise that will lead us to Capitalism 2.0. During this interactive discussion Bob will highlight:

• The global effort to define new standards, principles, indicators, and metrics for a sustainable enterprise
• Why the current rankings of the most sustainable companies are not helpful
• Why important stakeholders are anxiously awaiting a better model to assess companies
• Why companies that have already started to set Gold Standard-like goals have achieved greater profitability, resilience and cultures of innovation
• Bob’s own suggested environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria for a Gold Standard

On a personal note, I saw Bob Willard speak at the Leading Change forrum at the past GLOBE 2012. He comes from the corporate world and has navigated working with very traditional corporations and industries. Coming from the opposite spectrum of sustainable business, I learned a lot about how larger companies think, how to work with them, and what to learn from what worked and what didn't work in creating long-lasting change in large organizations. Definitely worth checking out!

Next up!

 

Sustainable Fashion - Book Launch and Paper People Clothing Giveaway

"Thursday, February 21st, join Sarah Portway (fashion academic, educator and sustainability nerd) at Fresh Collective Queen Street for the official Toronto launch of her now published Master's thesis entitled Regenerative Abundance: Fast and Sustainable Apparel Production in Toronto... Added Bonus! We'll be giving away one of the Paper People Clothing Penny Dress!"

I'm going- I hope to see you lovely sustainable Toronto fashion people there! xo

The internets r awesome!

Here is a recap of some fancy things the internet is offering us this week...

First we have this neato party concept by GOOD Magazine, where you can win money having fun with friends.

To celebrate our latest print issue, “Beg, Borrow, or Steal,” we invite you to propose a plan for a magazine launch party that creatively reflects this theme. Submit here for a chance to win $300 and 50 copies of our latest issue to share at your event.

If you win send me a copy, mkay?

Have you heard about Girl Bike Love? It's an well done website dedicated to getting women on bikes, edited by the dedicated and funny Sarai Snyder. It's an excellent resource to get you more into your bike through tool introductions, product reviews, and cycle industry interviews. Sarai was just at NAHBS (I'm totally jealous) and snapped some great shots and is promising a few good interviews as well! GBL are also a blast to follow on the twitter.

In MORE money money money news, VanCity Credit Union here in Vancouver is offering up some serious start-up funds

The Good Money™ Impact Venture Challenge is for students and recent graduates building businesses that create positive change. We’ve got expertise, advice and financial support up for grabs. Three prizes - $50,000, $25,000 and $15,000 - will be awarded. Deadline to apply is Friday, March 16, 2012.

So if you are a new social entrepreneur, get on that!

Good luck. 1<3