SSE Community Consultation - Toronto continued.

Another key point of discussion was the aim or the wider goal of an Ontario-made SSE. Are we trying to change things in a big way and reinvent the way we function as a society?  If so, what are the mechanisms to do so?

If what we need is a solid, accessible infrastructure, then we already have a number of groups that are doing that separately at the moment. Is launching a new organization the answer? Or, should there be some high level infrastructure to bring existing groups together? To clarify: if we need a central place for people to go, then lets start coming together more often to talk about how to provide it.

Continuity is currently a problem. Perhaps the reason that no big ideas “live” in a big way is that we don’t connect enough. We should not try to launch a one-off.  We should generate continuity and promote it to a diversity of people who might be involved in SE.

The idea of involving high school students resurfaced; some panelists felt that high school students have the energy and passion needed to become entrepreneurs. One panelist stated that projects started by youth will often receive seed funding but then don’t know how to make themselves sustainable. Others wondered if accepting only those with a project was too narrow? Perhaps the school should also consider those who have the drive and a vision, but don’t know where to start. 

At the end of the session, the panelists split into 2 groups to create their own version of an SSE. It was a brainstorming session, where anything might be possible. One group focused on a blended, accessible, collaborative model with a focus on promoting the “3rd sector” and new business models. The school would incorporate both a theoretical and hands-on approach, and would advocate for SEs to support them beyond the “classroom”. The school would not be an ivory tower - it would be more like a trade school than an academic institution.

The second group focused on how they might be able to introduce a complimentary curriculum or lesson plans to high schools. Ideas included field trips, classroom speakers and awareness building. They also identified and discussed some challenges the school would face: where to locate it? if it’s called a school, will it create certain expectations? 

Overall, the group identified that there are plenty of excellent resources - courses, associations, incubators, mentors - in Toronto. The issue is, perhaps, that there are SO many it can be overwhelming and individuals have a harder time knowing who to turn to. If organizations involved in SE/SI or NFP start sharing who does what and does it well, then we could more easily point people in the right direction.

With thanks to: Ashoka Canada, Manifest Communications, Toronto Community Housing, St. Stephen’s Community House, Youth Challenge Fund and Social Enterprise Centre for Excellence (SECE), Young Social Entrepreneurs of Canada (YSEC), and Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CBYF).