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Buy Social Canada

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Buy Social Canada

Buy Social Canada is your access point to social procurement. We bring socially driven purchasers an

07/02/2026

Appreciation post: The Built for Impact, Ready for Market report and survey would not exist without the incredible collaboration of our partners, funders, and the broader ecosystem.

We extend our deepest gratitude to:
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) for their essential funding.

Our promotion and outreach partners: The Canadian CED Network (CCEDNet), Centre for Social Enterprise Development, Community Sector Council NL, Community Sector Network PEI, Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada, Fiducie du Chantier de l’économie sociale, Imagine Canada, Ontario Nonprofit Network, The Purposeful Group, Purppl, Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance, Scale Collaborative, SETSI, and Vantage Point.

The sector: Thank you to the 404 social enterprises who shared their data. You are the heart of this sector.

Let’s continue building a strong economy for all, together.

https://socialenterprisesurvey.ca/

06/29/2026

Ready to go deeper? The Built for Impact, Ready for Market report reveals the dynamic realities of Canada’s social enterprise sector.

🔍 Explore the full data:
• Methodology & Ecosystem pillars
• In-depth analysis of Access to Finance, Capacity, and Markets
• 10+ additional stories of impact
• Resources for buyers and suppliers

Access the full report & resources: https://www.buysocialcanada.com/posts/resources/built-for-impact-ready-for-market-canadian-social-enterprise-sector-survey-report/

Buy Social Canada gratefully acknowledges the support of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, and our partners on this project: The Canadian CED Network (CCEDNet), Centre for Social Enterprise Development, Community Sector Council NL, Community Sector Network PEI, Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada, Fiducie du Chantier de l’économie sociale, Imagine Canada, Ontario Nonprofit Network, The Purposeful Group, Purppl, Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance, Scale Collaborative, SETSI, Vantage Point.

06/26/2026

Social enterprises do more than sell. 57% of responding social enterprises intentionally provide wraparound supports to their staff, including:
• Mental health counselling
• Housing access
• Transportation support
• Skills training

This $5.3 million+ investment creates long-term public value that traditional businesses don’t capture. Read Built for Impact, Ready for Market to learn more: https://www.buysocialcanada.com/posts/resources/built-for-impact-ready-for-market-canadian-social-enterprise-sector-survey-report/

06/25/2026

The data is in. The sector is ready. Now we need action from government, funders, and buyers.

Our report calls for four key levers to unlock growth and resilience:
✅ Strengthen social procurement and market access
✅ Invest in tailored capacity building
✅ Expand access to fit-for-purpose finance
✅ Strengthen data, measurement, and visibility

With continued coordination across governments, funders, and market actors, social enterprise can play an expanded role in SME growth, support workforce participation, address the housing crisis, contribute to climate action, advance rural and community economic development, and contribute to long-term, inclusive economic growth in Canada.

Download Built for Impact, Ready for Market to learn more: https://www.buysocialcanada.com/posts/resources/built-for-impact-ready-for-market-canadian-social-enterprise-sector-survey-report/

06/23/2026

How do you grow a social enterprise without losing your mission? Respondents to the recent Canadian Social Enterprise Sector Survey shared several innovative approaches, including:

• Social Franchising: CleanStart & Just Like Family have launched CleanStart Franchising Inc. to bring professional cleaning services and inclusive employment opportunities to communities nationwide.
• Social Acquisition: CSCNL's SETA program is helping rural nonprofits and co-operatives acquire local businesses to preserve jobs and services and create new revenue streams to support their mission.

22% of respondents to the survey launched a new offering or enterprise last year. Innovation is alive and well.

See the innovation in action: https://www.buysocialcanada.com/posts/resources/built-for-impact-ready-for-market-canadian-social-enterprise-sector-survey-report/

06/22/2026

🛒 When buyers choose impact, everyone wins.

Social procurement is a growing movement that creates more community value with every dollar spent:
✨ DANI Gifts empowered adults with developmental disabilities through a retail partnership with a local grocery store in Toronto.
✨ RadiCare Ventures provided clean, safe washrooms in Calgary while employing individuals from vulnerable communities.
✨ Binners' Project created income opportunities for binners while diverting waste from landfills at a hospital in Vancouver.

These contracts prove that social value and commercial excellence are not mutually exclusive.

Read Built for Impact, Ready for Market for more contract stories and sector insights: https://www.buysocialcanada.com/posts/resources/built-for-impact-ready-for-market-canadian-social-enterprise-sector-survey-report/

06/19/2026

While new Buy Social Canada research shows the incredible impact of social enterprises in Canada, it also reveals the systemic barriers they face while working in systems not designed to accommodate their blended value model.

Social enterprises face barriers in three key areas: Access to markets (procurement), access to capacity building, and access to finance.

The findings from our new report serve as both a roadmap and a call to action: to invest in the sector, to reduce barriers, and to align cross-sector efforts to maximise the unique social and economic value that social enterprises deliver for Canadians.

Learn more: https://www.buysocialcanada.com/posts/resources/built-for-impact-ready-for-market-canadian-social-enterprise-sector-survey-report/

06/18/2026

Social enterprises are leading the movement for inclusive employment.
Based on new Buy Social Canada research on the sector, more than 5,600 social enterprise employees are individuals facing barriers to traditional employment. When social enterprises hire, not only do they create jobs, but they also provide wraparound support, training, and a path to stability.

One employee at Certified Social Enterprise RadiCare Ventures shared: "When no one believed in me, you did." That is the power of social enterprise.

Read Built for Impact, Ready for Market for more stories of impact: https://www.buysocialcanada.com/posts/resources/built-for-impact-ready-for-market-canadian-social-enterprise-sector-survey-report/

06/17/2026

The data is clear: Canada’s social enterprises are a vital part of our SME economy.

📊 Based on data from the first national survey of Canadian social enterprises in a decade, we know that just over 400 social enterprises created significant economic impact:
• $6.5 Billion+ in gross revenue (2025)
• $250 Million+ in wages paid (2025)
• 18,718+ employees
• 5,688+ employees facing barriers to traditional employment

We also know these numbers are only a snapshot of the full impact of the sector, as not all respondents shared or track this data, and the true size of the sector is much larger.

Regardless, the data shows that not only do social enterprises improve community economic resilience and wellbeing, but they are businesses driving real economic value.

Read Built for Impact, Ready for Market for more insights from the sector: https://www.buysocialcanada.com/posts/resources/built-for-impact-ready-for-market-canadian-social-enterprise-sector-survey-report/

06/16/2026

Congratulations to Community Gift & Thrift (MCC Thrift), the winner of the $500 Canadian Social Enterprise Sector Survey prize!

Based in Lanigan, SK, Community Gift & Thrift is a non-profit thrift shop, and part of the MCC Thrift network. Shopping at their store generates revenue for nonprofit activities and supports local economic and community resilience.

And a major thank you to all 347 survey respondents for sharing your time, knowledge and stories with us. We're thrilled to launch the Built for Impact, Ready for Market report to help raise awareness about the sector and the incredible achievements you've all made, and advocate for a concerted shift towards social procurement, patient capital, and tailored capacity-building support. Read it now: https://socialenterprisesurvey.ca/survey-findings

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Tuesday	8am - 4pm
Wednesday	8am - 4pm
Thursday	8am - 4pm
Friday	8am - 4pm

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