About
Social Innovation Generation (SiG) is a group who believes that serious social problems can be solved. To that end, SiG and its partners help foster social innovation to achieve impact, durability and scale by engaging the creativity and resources of all sectors. SiG seeks to address Canada’s social and ecological challenges by creating a culture of continuous social innovation. Our focus will be on social innovation that has the potential for impact, durability and scale. In order to nurture the health, resilience and vibrancy of our linked social, economic and ecological systems SiG will work to develop a "living laboratory" of social experiments that have the potential to achieve system change and improve the well-being of Canadians. The responsibility for addressing our social problems cannot be delegated to any one group or sector. Our aim is to search for solutions that engage the creativity and resources of all sectors. Particular attention is paid to innovations that engage vulnerable and excluded people, that encourage and benefit from the abundant natural, social and cultural diversity of Canada and its rich heritage of innovation. We see SiG as its own living laboratory where we can experiment with a different way of telling a story, learning new practices for tipping or changing systems, and the creation of new possibilities for building resilience. SiG is a collaborative partnership between The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, the University of Waterloo, the MaRS Discovery District, and the PLAN Institute. Our ultimate goal is to support whole system change through changing the broader economic, cultural and policy context in Canada to allow social innovations to flourish.
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Experts (7)
Tim Brodhead
Senior Fellow (SiG National)
A non-profit pioneer who continues working to create a more resilient society by enhancing inclusion, sustainability, and social innovation
Philanthropy Non-Profit Management Social Innovation Social Finance Sustainability Grant Writing Leadership in Non-Profit Organizations
Tim Draimin
Executive Director, Social Innovation Generation (SiG) National
SiG tackles social & ecological challenges by creating a culture of social innovation that develops entrepreneurship for the common good
Social Innovation and Finance Social Enterprise Social Finance Cooperatives and Economic Development Social Entrepreneurship Private Capital for the Public Good Public Policy Development Community Revitalization Enterprise Development Ethical Investing
Al Etmanski
President and Co-Founder – Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN)
No money will change hands, but you are sure to profit from the social innovation wisdom of Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network's Co-Founder
Social Finance Social Entrepreneurship Human Rights
Allyson Hewitt
Director, SiG@MaRS and Director, Social Entrepreneurship
Creating the conditions that expand the realm of entrepreneurship so it incorporates a strong social component is what SiG@MaRS achieves
Social Innovation Social Finance Nonprofit Management Fundraising Social Enterprise Community Development Corporate Social Responsibility Stakeholder Engagement Social Entrepreneurship
Stephen Huddart
President and CEO – The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation
Best job in the world! Improving the present and renewing the future of all our communities with empowering social innovation initiatives
Social Innovation Non-Profit and Leadership Social Finance Social Innovation and Resilience
Cheryl Rose
Director, Partnerships and Projects for SiG@Waterloo
SiG@Waterloo's Director of Partnerships is enthusiastic about civic engagement and developing community-based social innovation initiatives
Social Innovation Social Finance Entrepreneurship and Community Development Leadership for Social Innovation Enhancing Individual and Organizational Resilience Creating Effective Networks
Dr. Frances Westley
JW McConnell Chair in Social Innovation, University of Waterloo
Putting the SOCIAL in change is the JW McConnell Chair in Social Innovation at SiG@Waterloo, which builds capacity for social innovation
Sustainable Development Social Innovation Social Finance Engagement and Social Change Social Innovation and Resilience Funding Social Innovation Building Partnerships for Social Innovation
Industry Experience (6)
- Cleantech
- Non-Profit/Charitable
- Philanthropy
- Public Policy
- Renewables and Environmental
- Research