Group shot from re:Vision 2010

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re:Vision 2011 brings together all the key players: entrepreneurs, innovators, policy leaders, investors, students, educators, and government to discuss emerging issues and trends in social enterprise.

Discover opportunities and tangible actions you can take to advance social entrepreneurship in Canada.

Learn more…

Before the mix of festivities and chaos hit the streets of Toronto this past weekend, YSEC joined a panel of young entrepreneurs representing the city at the G20 Youth Summit. Known as MY SUMMIT, the event convened youth delegates from all the participating nations.

Moderated by Gavin Sheppherd of The Remix Project – a community organization with several budding social enterprises – the panel was prodded on their thoughts about the challenges and opportunities the city holds for young entrepreneurs.

Their verdict? Canada needs more community hubs and informal associations dedicated to young entrepreneurs, but stands to gain significantly from looming transformations in all social systems – from energy and agriculture, to healthcare and education.

As the delegates spoke about means of influencing the future, social entrepreneurship seemed to captivate their interest.

A delegate from South Korea contemplated the distinction between social enterprise and corporate social responsibility, while another from Mexico was concerned that developed nations were yet again dictating a prescribed development path for emerging economies by suggesting that they develop in cleaner ways. The latter point was an important cue in establishing a framework for collaboration among nations, but misses the point that a global full press of social innovation is needed to adapt to a rapidly shifting world. While it is entirely reasonable to demand that developed nations assume much of the burden of ensuring better social and environmental practices, it is also vital for all nations to do what they can to stimulate, aid and practice wide scale social innovation.

The event revealed the depth of interest young leaders from around the world are taking in social entrepreneurship as a concrete way forward. In contrast to the weekend’s moments of despair in the streets, the sense of promise was palpable. And that’s a very good thing.

The Young Social Entrepreneurs of Canada, in partnership with SiG@MaRS, present Earth Hour….

A Speakers Event on the current trends in social innovation and social enterprise at local, national and international levels.

Speaking are:

David Bornstein, Author ‘How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas‘, which chronicles and analyzes the work of social innovators who are successfully addressing social problems at scale in several countries.

Nathaniel Whittemore, Editor, Change.org, and Founder, of Assetmap, a platform for sharing and leveraging the social capital that exists within every community.

Tonya Surman, Co-Founder and Executive Director, of the Center for Social Innovation, whose mission is to catalyze social innovation in its home base of Toronto and around the globe. Click here to view a video of Tonya inviting you to this event.

Pre-register at http://revisionearthhourtoronto.eventbrite.com/
PWYC online or at the door.
Suggested donation of $15 for students and YSEC Members and $20 for the General Public.

MaRS Discovery District, 101 College Street.
Doors open at 6:30 PM, Event starts promptly at 7:00 PM
Event ends when MaRS turns the lights off for Earth Hour 2010, 8:30 to 9:30 PM

Note: re:Vision 2010 conference participants attend free. Apply by Monday the 8th of March to be eligible for subsidies. Registration closing the following week. Sign up for the conference here.

YSEC is launching a video competition for the chance to win a free ticket to YSEC’s Re:Vision 2010 conference, the Social Entrepreneurship event of the year!

Click here now to enter, and be sure to let your friends know!