The Province has proclaimed May 20, 2016, as B.C.’s third Aboriginal Social Enterprise Day to celebrate the accomplishments of Aboriginal social enterprises and their contributions to the vitality of British Columbia and the strength and resilience of Aboriginal communities.

This year marks the beginning of a new initiative that aims to harness the entrepreneurial spirit of Aboriginal communities. Urban Matters, a Community Contribution Company (C3), has launched the Aboriginal Social Enterprise Program today – an Aboriginal-led, independent social enterprise that will help create meaningful Aboriginal employment opportunities and support First Nations businesses whose goals include profits as well as bettering their communities.

The Aboriginal Social Enterprise Program will identify budding social entrepreneurs, mentor and coach individuals and organizations through the early years of starting a social enterprise and support the long-standing spirit of innovation and respect for community and cultural values that help Aboriginal social enterprises succeed.

Aboriginal social enterprises throughout B.C. are thriving.

For example, Songhees Seafood and Steam, a brand-new food truck located in Victoria’s inner harbour, provides Aboriginal youth with culinary training. Menu choices like bison tacos served on house-made bannock and wild B.C. sockeye salmon burgers with cranberry and sage chutney are inspired by traditional First Nations cuisine. The business is operated in partnership with the Victoria Clipper ferry service, with training support from Camosun College.

Smokehouse Restaurant and Smokehouse Catering, operated by the Prince George Native Friendship Centre, supports a four-month training program designed to give participants the prerequisites they need to enter the hospitality industry or pursue further culinary training.

Skwachàys Lodge is a Vancouver boutique hotel that is making a difference. All profits from the Skwachàys Lodge Hotel and street-level Urban Aboriginal Fair Trade Gallery flow directly to the Vancouver Native Housing Society, supporting its mandate to provide safe, secure and affordable housing to Vancouver’s urban Aboriginal population.

River Select draws upon generations of First Nations experience to selectively harvest wild salmon from B.C. Rivers. “Selective fishing” methods conserve natural environments and allow River Select to harvest and sell sustainable wild salmon products including canned, smoked, frozen and candied salmon.

Social enterprises use business strategies to create a social or environmental impact. They range from thrift stores to businesses that provide skills training, affordable housing and jobs for people with disabilities. They can also be a for-profit business focused on social objectives. Like any other business, a social enterprise aims to create revenue. What sets a social enterprise apart is that their revenue is directed to a social or environmental goal.

This is the third Social Enterprise Month in British Columbia. Throughout May the hashtag #Impact4BC will connect people in a conversation about Social Enterprise and Social Innovation in the province. Visit HubcapBC.ca, B.C.’s online social innovation hub, to find Social Enterprise Month events and learn more about social innovation in B.C.

Quotes:

Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation Michelle Stilwell –

“Aboriginal communities throughout B.C. have embraced social innovation and social enterprise as a way to create jobs, improve access to education and skills training and strengthen community resources and services. I hope everyone will celebrate Aboriginal Social Enterprise Day by learning about and supporting B.C.’s Aboriginal social entrepreneurs.”

Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconcilation John Rustad –

“Doing business for the benefit of the community is something I hear often when I talk to Aboriginal business leaders. Social enterprise is a movement that acts in a responsible way to give real benefits back to the communities that support it, and I believe that the Aboriginal business sector can be a real model for the benefits of social enterprise and innovation for businesses across British Columbia.”

Leslie Varley, executive director, BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres –

“In the progression of reconciliation and healing for Aboriginal people, social enterprise is a vital catalyst providing the means for self-determination and Aboriginal community development and sustainability. Every day in B.C., Aboriginal organizations and communities are developing new innovations that provide skills training, community resources and essential services, as well as employment opportunities, through Aboriginal social enterprises.

“Today we celebrate, along with the Province of B.C., all the Aboriginal innovators, on and off reserve, whose approach to social enterprise provides strength and resiliency for Aboriginal people and communities.”

Tonii Lerat, community development planner, Urban Matters –

“People want to work with socially-minded businesses and it is exciting to see Aboriginal enterprises being showcased in this way. Social enterprise is a new name for a very old concept. First Nations people have always approached enterprise as a way to benefit community and family – it is a way of doing business that has strong roots in Indigenous tradition and culture.”

Quick Facts:

• The Government of B.C. proclaimed the first Aboriginal Social Enterprise Day on April 22, 2014, and the first Social Enterprise Month in April 2014.
• Aboriginal entrepreneurs make significant contributions to social innovation in B.C. through successful social enterprises that turn profits into solutions for social and environmental challenges. They also support the success and sustainability of non-profit organizations and contribute to B.C.’s economic growth.
• British Columbia was the first jurisdiction in Canada to create a Community Contribution Company (CCC or C3) – a hybrid corporation that bridges the gap between for-profit businesses and non-profits.
• The B.C. government co-chairs the BC Partners for Social Impact, created in 2012 to implement the council’s recommendations and support social innovation in B.C. The Partners for Social Impact now includes more than 100 multi-sector partners such as Vancity, Simon Fraser University, Telus and the Business Development Bank of Canada.
• Partner resources like Hubcapbc.ca provide resources and opportunities for social innovators, entrepreneurs, educators, funders, and public policy makers to connect with each other.

Learn More:

View the Aboriginal Social Enterprise Day proclamation at: http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/oic/OIC_CUR/AborSocEntDay2016

Learn more about the Aboriginal Social Enterprise Program: http://www.aboriginalsocialenterprise.ca/

BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres: www.bcaafc.com/

Urban Matters: http://www.urbanmatters.ca/

Songhees Seafood and Steam: http://www.songheesseafood.com/

Skwachàys Lodge Hotel & Gallery: http://skwachays.com/

Smokehouse Restaurant and Smokehouse Catering: http://www.pgnfc.com/

River Select: http://www.riverselect.ca/

To learn more about B.C.’s Social Innovation and Social Enterprise sector or find events and activities around B.C., visit: www.hubcapbc.ca/

Get information on the BC Partners for Social Impact: www.sdsi.gov.bc.ca/social-innovation/index.htm

Find out how to start a social enterprise: www.socialenterprisecanada.ca

Join the conversation by following @HubcapBC on twitter and use #Impact4BC.