Planning Committee

1) I began my social enterprise journey back in 2011 when I had my coop during my College summer break at Niagara Sustainability Initiative where I was their Events and Marketing Coordinator. I really enjoyed the working culture of the sector and saw the future opportunities within it. Currently, I am the Communications Coordinator at The Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet) in Toronto. While at CCEDNet I have been helping Social Enterprise Ontario with their website, social media and Steering Committee meetings, and helped Social Enterprise Toronto with their 2016 Conference. Social Enterprise is important to me because it offers a model that is unique to every organization, is locally minded and offers a better business planning structure for a more sustainable future.

2) I was surprised by the number of great initiatives happening in Niagara this past year, a social enterprise forum, followed up with the monthly meetups at Mahtay, as well as an attracting and retaining youth under 40 strategy by the region. Before I had left for Toronto, I did not know about a sprawling freelancing hub that is Cowork Niagara. The launch of Southridge Jam last year was also a welcomed sign of things to come in Niagara.

3) If you are looking to get a sense of the social entrepreneurial system in Canada, create a copy account of CCEDNet’s twitter on who we follow and you will see all the great things happening – just browse through that for a month, read a few articles a day and it’ll open your mind to what’s really possible and how we can try and replicate something here in Niagara. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, there are so many great organizations already out there, and many willing to give you some of their own time to tell you about their stories to help you start the journey of your own story. I encourage you to take a look at our Resource page as it has resources that has helped me and resources I have found in my 2 years at CCEDNet. Look into social intrapreneurship. Come out to #SENiagara meetup at Mahtay, and let’s try to build a better Niagara, together.

1. I am an educator of economic development and international business. I have special interest in social entrepreneurship because I am convinced that the growing societal and economic problems can only be tackled by adapting innovative and unconventional approaches.

2. I learned over the past years that Niagara like many other small communities faces lots of challenges. But, I have also observed that Niagara’s potentials are great in many areas. I am especially optimistic about the interest of many young people taking up on social and environmental challenges. Niagara has to continue to coordinate its resources including its social capital optimally to support such initiatives.

3. The first step I recommend to people is to get excited about social entrepreneurship. The best way to do it to talk to existing social entrepreneurs in the region. These individuals are doing remarkable things using minimal resources, but maximum effort and commitment.

Leah Feor is the owner of Simply Sustainable, a small business that has evolved from a fair trade mobile shop to a strategic consulting firm serving entrepreneurs with a social or environmental vision. Balancing her clients’ Triple Bottom Line – people, planet, profit – is Leah’s utmost goal, and is supported by her background in accounting and environmental management.

Adaptability is crucial in today’s fast moving global economy. Leah encourages clients to align their core values with the world around them; empowering entrepreneurs to master their company’s own internal sustainability. She develops and improves systems by integrating positive impact and responsible business practices. Leah educates clients throughout the process by actively engaging with them; allowing for the development of self-sufficiency, reducing long-term reliance on initial services.

Leah was born and raised in Niagara Falls, studied in Ottawa, and has travelled extensively throughout Latin America. Now residing in Crystal Beach – close to her family and natural beauties of Niagara – she is pursuing the Canadian Securities Course, followed by a specialization in Responsible Investment. Outdoor adventures, healthy living, and astrology are just a few of Leah’s personal passions.

1. I am an educator of economic development and international business. I have special interest in social entrepreneurship because I am convinced that the growing societal and economic problems can only be tackled by adapting innovative and unconventional approaches.

2. I learned over the past years that Niagara like many other small communities faces lots of challenges. But, I have also observed that Niagara’s potentials are great in many areas. I am especially optimistic about the interest of many young people taking up on social and environmental challenges. Niagara has to continue to coordinate its resources including its social capital optimally to support such initiatives.

3. The first step I recommend to people is to get excited about social entrepreneurship. The best way to do it to talk to existing social entrepreneurs in the region. These individuals are doing remarkable things using minimal resources, but maximum effort and commitment.

Leah Feor is the owner of Simply Sustainable, a small business that has evolved from a fair trade mobile shop to a strategic consulting firm serving entrepreneurs with a social or environmental vision. Balancing her clients’ Triple Bottom Line – people, planet, profit – is Leah’s utmost goal, and is supported by her background in accounting and environmental management.

Adaptability is crucial in today’s fast moving global economy. Leah encourages clients to align their core values with the world around them; empowering entrepreneurs to master their company’s own internal sustainability. She develops and improves systems by integrating positive impact and responsible business practices. Leah educates clients throughout the process by actively engaging with them; allowing for the development of self-sufficiency, reducing long-term reliance on initial services.

Leah was born and raised in Niagara Falls, studied in Ottawa, and has travelled extensively throughout Latin America. Now residing in Crystal Beach – close to her family and natural beauties of Niagara – she is pursuing the Canadian Securities Course, followed by a specialization in Responsible Investment. Outdoor adventures, healthy living, and astrology are just a few of Leah’s personal passions.

Leah Feor is the owner of Simply Sustainable, a small business that has evolved from a fair trade mobile shop to a strategic consulting firm serving entrepreneurs with a social or environmental vision. Balancing her clients’ Triple Bottom Line – people, planet, profit – is Leah’s utmost goal, and is supported by her background in accounting and environmental management.

Adaptability is crucial in today’s fast moving global economy. Leah encourages clients to align their core values with the world around them; empowering entrepreneurs to master their company’s own internal sustainability. She develops and improves systems by integrating positive impact and responsible business practices. Leah educates clients throughout the process by actively engaging with them; allowing for the development of self-sufficiency, reducing long-term reliance on initial services.

Leah was born and raised in Niagara Falls, studied in Ottawa, and has travelled extensively throughout Latin America. Now residing in Crystal Beach – close to her family and natural beauties of Niagara – she is pursuing the Canadian Securities Course, followed by a specialization in Responsible Investment. Outdoor adventures, healthy living, and astrology are just a few of Leah’s personal passions.

Coming Soon…

1. During my work in 2010 at the Ntinga OR Tambo development agency in South Africa I was inspired by the many business and social innovations, including co-operatives, that were being used to address persistent community challenges there. Since then I’ve worked to inspire local innovation through my work with government, non-profits, small businesses and students. Social enterprise is important to me because it can integrate the unique strengths of both non-profits and businesses to make our community better in away that is financially sustainable.

2. I’ve heard from several business leaders in Niagara that they fear that the label of Social Enterprise would undermine their image as a “real business” while many non-profits and charities express a fear of what it could mean for them to be seen to be earning healthy revenues. Despite this, Niagara does have exemplary social enterprises, including Trivium Industries, Cowork Niagara, Niagara Sustainability Initiative (NSI), and the Grimsby Benevolent Fund, to name just a few.

3. I believe that social entrepreneurial activity will continue to increase in importance globally and locally, so it just makes sense to me to support local Niagara capacity in this area, and share about local successes.  I think the best place for someone to start is to find a community where you can access a variety of knowledge and experience from both the private and non-profit sectors, and where you will feel supported as you cut your teeth as a social entrepreneur. ​

Coming Soon…

Rachel Crane works at Niagara College, managing its entrepreneurship hub, ncTakeOff, and teaching entrepreneurship. Having a passion for all kinds of entrepreneurial applications, she tries to weave social enterpreneurship and intrapreneurship into all projects she gets involved with. As a dedicated volunteer, Rachel is a Board member for Turn Around Projects of the Arts and works to engage Niagara’s emerging generation (those under the age of 40) in making our community better in her role as Chair of NEXTNiagara. In 2014, she was recognized with a Top Forty Under 40 Business Achievement Award.

When not working away, Rachel can be found chipping away at her Master of Arts in Leadership degree or on a hike with her husband and adopted dog from Greece, Paul.

Coming Soon…