About Us
The Canadian Purpose Economy Project
At this time of economic challenge, pandemic recovery, and environmental emergency, Canadians are calling on all sectors of the economy to contribute to health and well-being across our society.
The Canadian Purpose Economy Project began to take shape in early 2020 to convene, connect, and collaborate to promote the uptake of social purpose action across the economy.
Check out our Social Purpose in Canada Status Report 2023.
Check out the video to hear from leading thinkers and thinking leaders on Canada’s purpose potential.
What is a Social Purpose Business?
A social purpose business is a business whose reason for being is to create a better world. Its purpose is to profitably solve the problems of people and planet and not profit from causing problems. It is the company’s strategic optimal contribution to long-term well-being for all.
What is the Purpose Economy?
An economy powered by the pursuit of long-term well-being for all in which business and regulatory and financial systems foster an equitable, flourishing, resilient future.
Our Purpose
The Canadian Purpose Economy Project exists to accelerate the transition to the purpose economy. It engages national ecosystem actors to create an enabling environment for social purpose businesses to start, transition, thrive and grow.
It convenes, connects, curates, and collaborates to drive the social purpose business movement in Canada toward an economy where social purpose business is the norm, attracting capital, talent, and partners. In this economy businesses unlock all their assets, influence, reach and scale in collaboration with others to help Canada address its societal challenges and realize a flourishing future.
Our Vision
Our vision is that by 2030, at least 25% of Canadian businesses are adopting, disclosing, and authentically embedding a social purpose across their operations and relationships, and collaborating with others to achieve it.
We have chosen that number because we believe 25% will create a tipping point beyond which it will be normal for Canadian businesses to have a social purpose as their reason for being—and will be unlocking all their assets for social good, putting Canadian society on a sustainable path.
Project Champions
Christelle Francois, Economic Council of Canada, US & Africa
“A welcoming, inclusive, social purpose economy will deliver well-being for all.”
Coro Strandberg, Strandberg Consulting & Project Founder
“Social purpose has the power to change the way Canada does business.”
Mike Rowlands, Junxion Strategy & Project Founder
“Social purpose leaders today are creating the success stories of tomorrow.”
Elizabeth Shirt, CBSR
“Businesses adopting a social purpose is an imperative to a just transition to a low carbon future.”
Keith Ippel, Spring
“Purpose led businesses maximize ROI Squared – Return on Investment and Return on Impact.”
Tessa Vanderkop, Project Founder
“Social purpose can unlock value in any organization—and across the economy.”
Peter ter Weeme, Star Entertainment Group & Project Founder
“Success at scale is defined by the impact social purpose businesses can have on the communities where we live, work, and play.”
Maureen Young, Coast Capital Savings & Project Founder
“Social purpose businesses
are future-fit, making them attractive to lenders and investors.”
Michelle Reid, BDC
“Social purpose guides you to co-create impactful initiatives for Indigenous communities through a collaborative lens.”
Project Support
The Canadian Purpose Economy Project is grateful for the commitments of financial and in-kind support of our Founding Champions and these social purpose businesses. We count on the generosity of sponsors to support our work. If you’re interested in lending support to accelerate social purpose and the purpose economy, please reach out to us at info@purposeeconomy.ca
Founding Purpose Champion
Purpose Supporters
Purpose Allies
Project History
The Canadian Purpose Economy Project was launched after more than three years of consultation and action within the Canadian Social Purpose Community.
Workshops, webinars, briefings and consultations with a wide range of stakeholders across the economy and the country all led up to the inaugural Propelling Purpose Summit in November of 2021. The Summit finalized a Purpose Economy Framework for Action and agreed on the levers of change to accelerate social purpose in business.
These levers of change were simultaneously ratified by the MaRS Business for Purpose Network in their capstone report. Key Summit organizers created the Purpose Economy Champions Group and launched the Canadian Purpose Economy Project to implement the Framework for Action, mobilize the purpose ecosystem and pursue the priorities needed to scale social purpose business in Canada.
The Project received start-up funding from Coast Capital Savings and engaged Canadian Business for Social Responsibility as the Project secretariat. We remain deeply grateful to both of these key partners, who have been instrumental to the Project’s momentum and successes to date.