Ken Lyotier was a champion of the people in the Downtown Eastside, where he lived and worked since the 1970s. He was a tireless innovator and advocate for those living in poverty and for “binners,” people who earn money by collecting and returning recyclables.

Hamsa Jaser has a new dream that feels like hope: A cozy family restaurant that brings “a small part of her home country to her new home” in Richmond, with a few traditional Iraqi dishes such as quozi, lamb shank with traditional herbs and spices, served like home with starters, complimentary soup and a sauce.

As part of VCF’s commitment to strengthening social enterprise, and in order to help vendors with their sales our social enterprise developer worked with Megaphone to develop a workshop that would give vendors some tools to better understand where their customers are coming from.

Exceeding expectations is all the rage at Comox Valley’s Pet Treat Bakery. Not only do dogs get treated to a great assortment of locally sourced snacks, but the more snacks that Pet Treat Bakery produces, the more paid work is created for individuals with disabilities. This successful bakery, owned by the Beaufort Association for the Mentally Handicapped, now supplies a...

Atira Property Management Inc. means a lot of good for a lot of people. Atira Women’s Resource Society is a non-profit organization committed to ending violence against women. They do this through direct service, education, and increasing awareness about the impact violence against women and children has on our communities. Atira operates 12 transition and long-term housing sites in the...

The Tip Jar In 2014, Potluck’s community staff worked a combined 11,465 hours, which translated into $147,481.60 in earned wages for employees facing barriers. Vancouver’s Potluck Café Society and Potluck Catering are a pioneering example of a successful social enterprise. By utilizing funds from the catering operation, the organization is able to provide education and meal programs to encourage proper...

Common Thread is a cooperative social enterprise based in Vancouver. The co-op provides practical and flexible training and employment in industrial sewing for women who are newcomers to Canada, who are living with mental health challenges, or who are experiencing other employment barriers. These women are able to thrive and learn in a supportive environment, acquiring new skills and taking...