Trico Charitable Foundation and Haskayne School of Business recognize best social enterprises

Check Time Magazine’s 2018 World’s Greatest Places list and the only Canadian entry you will find is Skwachàys Lodge. Among the collection of theme parks, libraries and restaurants on the list, the boutique hotel stands out for its unique social mission.

The venture was created by social housing organization the Vancouver Native Housing Society to support their mission and help to ensure financial sustainability. Onsite there are also 24 studio apartments that offer a life-changing housing program for practising Indigenous artists where they can also access a shared artist workshop and programming opportunities.

Unlike the society’s other 18 social housing buildings in Vancouver, they received no government subsidy for this property – it is entirely self-sustaining.

Skwachàys Lodge has been selected as the 2019 recipient of the $100,000 Social EnterPrize. This is the first year that the biennial award has been presented in collaboration between the Trico Charitable Foundation and the Haskayne School of Business.

“Social enterprises are uniquely positioned to tackle the world’s most vexing problems and to enact social change. Skwachàys Lodge is an outstanding example,” says Dr. Jim Dewald, dean, Haskayne School of Business. “Our collaboration with the Trico Foundation, coupled with our new Trico Foundation Social Entrepreneurship Centre, is building on Calgary’s strengths to creating a flourishing social entrepreneurship ecosystem.”

At the awards event on Nov. 21, 2019 Dewald will deliver a keynote speech about the power of the market to transform our world. He will connect the evolution path from the foundations of capitalism to a future of social enterprise as a means to create value while solving important issues.

Accepting on behalf of Skwachàys Lodge will be David Eddy, chief executive officer of the Vancouver Native Housing Society, who will share what was learned as his organization moved into social entrepreneurship in 2012 to increase self-sustainability and revitalize community pride.

“When I heard of the Trico Foundation and the work they were doing to support the practice of social enterprise it was like someone had shone a spotlight on an area too long kept in the dark,” says Eddy. “To then apply for and be advised that your organization was the successful applicant and would be receiving the Social EnterPrize Award, well it was almost too much to imagine! We are humbled and honoured to accept the award.”

New to the Social EnterPrize awards evening is What’s Next YYC. This is an opportunity to showcase some of the best social enterprises in Calgary and area.

“We were hearing local social enterprises telling us they often feel like there isn’t much additional support after they get an award or after they complete a social enterprise program,” says Dan Overall, executive director, Trico Foundation. “What’s Next YYC builds on the work of Calgary and area’s social enterprise support system and helps local social enterprises get to the next level.”

There will be a live pitch fest featuring the 10 finalists for What’s Next YYC, each vying for $25,000 for the most popular audience choice. Three additional awards of $25,000 each will be selected by judge Charmian Love, entrepreneur in residence at the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Said Business School at Oxford University.

Live voting will take place at the event, with organizations only able to receive one award for the evening. The evening will begin with a networking reception followed by a delicious three-course dinner. Tickets for this exciting evening are available now with registration closing on Nov. 14, 2019.

The Haskayne School of Business and the Trico Charitable Foundation believe Calgary can be a global hub for social entrepreneurship and leaders in the evolution of capitalism. The Trico Foundation Social Entrepreneurship Centre was established at Haskayne in 2019 thanks to a $5-million gift from the Trico Foundation to support student experiences inside and outside the classroom, including community-based learning, internships, curriculum development and research.

To build on this momentum, both organizations are collaborating on the Social EnterPrize award for outstanding Canadian social enterprises and What’s Next YYC, which awards prize money to Calgary & area based social enterprises. Learn more about social entrepreneurship.