Spotlight on Indigenous Social Enterprise Begins with Keynote by the Right Honourable Paul Martin

 

Given that Canada is hosting SEWF for the first time ever, it seemed only fitting to spotlight social enterprise in the context of a key element of Canada’s past, present and future – its Aboriginal people.

That spotlight will shine on October 4, 2013 when Friday morning activities will include nine breakout sessions dedicated to building, investing in, and mobilizing Indigenous social enterprises (further details on the sessions are provided below).

Dan Overall

“While there will be a Canadian focus, we are honoured to be bringing in speakers from Australia and New Zealand to reflect the international flavour of SEWF and provide a truly global perspective on these crucial issues ” said Dan Overall, Executive Director of SEWF 2013.   “And we are truly fortunate to be able to set the context for those sessions with a keynote from the Right Honourable Paul Martin who, amongst his many incredible accomplishments as a Canadian and global leader, has shown a real passion and commitment to Aboriginal people at home and Indigenous people around the world.”

Examples of the Right Honourable Paul Martin’s work in this regard include the Kelowna Accord, his work in Africa, and his creation of the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative and the Capital for Aboriginal Prosperity and Entrepreneurship Fund.

The Right Honourable Paul Martin

“Aboriginal People are the fastest-growing segment of the Canadian population, yet they continue to have lower-education levels and lower standards of living than non-Aboriginal Canadians”, said the Right Honourable Paul Martin. “Using Canada as an example, the Social Enterprise World Forum is an opportunity for us to examine how the burgeoning social enterprise sector might help in improving the social and economic strengths of Indigenous people around the world.”

The Right Honourable Paul Martin will speak for 20 minutes followed by a 10 minute Q&A.  The keynote session will commence at 9:10 a.m. on October 4, 2013 and will be facilitated by Dr. Marie Delorme, CEO of The Imagination Group (see below for detailed biographies of The Right Honourable Paul Martin and Dr. Delorme).

Dr. Marie Delorme

“SEWF 2013 will engage participants in interesting and thought-provoking discussions” said Dr. Marie Delorme. “Social enterprises are businesses that are changing the world. We will hear the voices of research, share knowledge, provide tools and information, and build networks. The final day of the conference will showcase Indigenous social enterprise featuring a not-to-be missed keynote followed by a morning of panels with inspirational thought leaders from around the globe. Calgary looks forward to warmly welcoming the world to our beautiful city!”

The timing, title and speakers for the indigenous social enterprise breakout sessions are as follows (click on the session titles to see the biographies of the panel).

Session:  Building Indigenous Social Enterprise

• Facilitator: Robert (Bob) Breaker, Chief Executive Officer, Breaker Consulting
• Kevin Fong, Managing Director, Goolarri Media Enterprises
• Michael Ivy, General Manager, Apeetogosan (Métis) Development Inc.
• Alan D. Park, Chief Executive Officer, Tribal Wi-Chi-Way-Win Capital Corporation

Session: Investing in Indigenous Social Enterprise

• Facilitator: Peter Forton, Managing Director, CAPE Fund
• Leah Armstrong, Chief Executive Officer, Reconciliation Australia
• Blaine Favel, CEO, One Earth Oil and Gas
• Audrey Poitras, President, Métis Nation of Alberta

Session:  Mobilizing Efforts in Indigenous Social Finance and Enterprise

• Facilitator: Dominique Collin, Principal, Waterstone Strategies
• Brian Calliou: Program Director, Indigenous Leadership and Management, Banff Centre
• Chief Wilton Littlechild, Commissioner, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
• Te Taru White, Te Taru White Consultancy Limited

As well, during the October 3 ‘Crucial Mindsets’ main stage plenary, Dr. Wanda Wuttunee will discuss living rhythms and what aboriginal culture can teach social enterprise.

The Right Honourable Paul Martin

The Right Honourable Paul Martin was the twenty-first Prime Minister of Canada from 2003 to 2006.

He was the Minister of Finance during the period 1993 to 2002, during which time he erased Canada’s record deficit which had been built up over 25 years and virtually paid off Canada’s foreign debt the highest of the G7 at that time. He then recorded five consecutive budget surpluses and restored the financial integrity of the Canadian Pension Plan (the Canadian equivalent of US Social Security). He also strengthened the regulations governing Canada’s financial institutions, with the result that Canada is now viewed as an international model for sound financial regulation.

In September 1999, having initiated the concept, Mr. Martin was named the inaugural chair of the Finance Ministers’ G-20. As Prime Minister he pushed strongly for its elevation to the Leaders’ level which subsequently occurred in 2008.

As Prime Minister, Mr. Martin’s many achievements included setting in place a 10 year, $41 billion plan to improve health care and reduce wait times; Under his leadership, the Canadian Government reached an historic consensus with provinces, territories, First Nations, Métis Nation, and Inuit leaders (later known as the Kelowna Accord) that would eliminate the gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians in the areas of health, education, housing, economic opportunity, and accountability.

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Currently, Mr. Martin is the chair of a two hundred million dollar British-Norwegian poverty and sustainable development fund for the ten nation Congo Basin Rainforest. His co-chair up until recently was the late Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai. He also sits on the advisory council of the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa, an initiative sponsored by the African Union, the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank that deals with critical Pan African issues.

Domestically, he is responsible for two initiatives. First, the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative which focuses on improving the elementary and secondary school education of Canada’s Indigenous peoples. Second, he founded with his son David, the Capital for Aboriginal Prosperity and Entrepreneurship Fund, which helps establish and grow successful Aboriginal businesses both on and off reserve.

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Before entering public life he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The CSL Group Inc, which operates the world’s largest fleet of self-unloading vessels and offshore transshippers.  Its acquisition by Mr. Martin in 1981 represented the most important leveraged buyout in Canada at that time.

Mr. Martin graduated in honours philosophy and history from St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto and is a graduate of the University of Toronto Law School. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1966.

He married Sheila Ann Cowan in 1965. They have three sons: Paul, Jamie and David and three grandchildren Ethan, Liam and Finn.

Dr. Marie Delorme, CEO, The Imagination Group

Dr. Marie Delorme is CEO of The Imagination Group of Companies. She is Vice-Chair of the Mount Royal University Board of Governors, serves on the RCMP Foundation Board, and is an advisor to two Universities. She has served on numerous boards and co-chaired the 2010 Calgary United Way Campaign which raised over $51 million.

Her awards include: Alberta Centennial Medal; University of Calgary Dr. Douglas Cardinal Award; Alberta Chamber of Commerce Business Award of Distinction; Calgary Chamber of Commerce Salute to Excellence Award, and Métis Nation Entrepreneurial Leadership Award.

Dr. Delorme holds a Bachelor of Science degree, a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University, and PhD from the University of Calgary. Her research focuses on inter-cultural leadership.

About SEWF:

The Social Enterprise World Forum is a global gathering to hear inspiring speakers, connect, share ideas, and advance a movement dedicated to a powerful idea – that working together we can use markets and innovations to solve the world’s most complex and confounding social, economic, and environmental challenges.

Each year SEWF gives a different host country an incredible opportunity to celebrate and nurture its own social enterprise movement. 2013 is Canada’s chance to shine. Event host, TRICO Charitable Foundation, is partnering with the Social Enterprise Council of Canada, the MaRS Centre for Impact Investing, Social Innovation Generation, and the Canadian Community Economic Development Network to make this a watershed moment for social enterprise, for Canada and for the world.

SEWF 2013 by the numbers:

• Attendees: 1,200 from 30 countries
• 6 Program Tracks: Social Finance/Impact Investing, Indigenous Social Enterprise, Social Enterprise Skills Building, Research and Public Policy, Cross-Boundary Collaboration, Social Innovation
• Breakout Sessions: 36, featuring 120 speakers from 20 countries
• Main Stage Speakers: 17
• 1st time in Canada
• October 2-4, 2013, Calgary, Canada

Click here to register.