Imagine Canada: Professional Development 

On Friday, November 19^th, four informative workshops will be offered from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Each of these two hour workshops will be offered twice, allowing you to attend two of the four offered. There will be a $50.00 flat fee to attend the morning workshops. (The $50 fee applies whether you decide to attend 1 or 2 workshops.)  The topics include:

• Social Enterprise & Social Finance in the Non-Profit sector presented by Vancity Community Foundation and the Community Forward Fund
• Human Resources and the Non-Profit sector presented by the HR Council for the Non-Profit Sector
• Risk Management in the Non-Profit sector presented by Imagine Canada
• Approaches to collaboration through shared services and shared infrastructure among Non-Profit organizations presented by Tides Canada Initiatives

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

“Risk is Normal – Losing sleep is Not” 
An Introduction to Risk Management for Nonprofits and Charities of all sizes
Presented by: Imagine Canada
Workshop Leader: David Hartley

Managing risk is a key component of  non-profit sector leadership, and there are limited resources available to help identify, understand and mitigate the risks associated with different organizations.  Responding to the growing demand for this information, Imagine Canada has developed a series of workshops and materials around risk. This fast paced 2 hour workshop draws from the material developed by Imagine to provide a useful and enjoyable experience to help improve your capacity in this important area. 

A number of specific topics will be covered, including:
-  How to Motivate Your Board, Staff & Volunteers to Manage Risk
- Covering Your Assets and Protecting Your People
-  Key Legal Concepts
-  The Boundary Form
- Creating a culture of candour
-  How to Find & Prioritize Your Key Risks
- Four Questions Nonprofits Need to Ask About Each Risk
(BONUS:  7 Questions to ask your insurance broker in writing each year.)

David Hartley is the Director of Imagine Canada's Insurance & Liability Resource Centre for Nonprofits. Previously a licensed insurance broker, in 1998 David began a career training insurance professionals, eventually for 3 Canadian insurers, until he joined Imagine Canada with the opening of this Centre in June, 2007.  Since that time David has conducted more than 140 training sessions in over 50 Canadian cities with several thousand nonprofit leaders. 

Forward Thinking - Strategic Human Resources Management for Nonprofits 
Presented by:  HR Council for the Nonprofit Sector
Workshop Leader: Amanda Hudson

Effective nonprofit organizations  have strategies and compelling visions that must be executed by great people.  This workshop is  based on content developed through a series of professional development events presented by the HR Council for the Nonprofit Sector. Through an interactive and engaging workshop , this session will focus on setting or fine-tuning your organization's strategic HR plan - ensuring you have the people to drive your mission and deliver results. Geared towards senior leaders and board members, we will have you thinking about effective HR planning and management because getting and keeping the right people is critical to your organization's success. 

Amanda Hudson is a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) who holds a diploma in Business Administration from Algonquin College, and is currently completing her Executive MBA at Queen’s University. She is an active member of the Ottawa chapter of the Human Resources Professional Association and recently earned the Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) designation. Amanda teaches classes at Algonquin College on HR topics including Employee Relations and Health & Safety.

Financing and Social Enterprise
Presented by: Vancity Community Foundation
Workshop Leader: Derek Gent

Increasingly, nonprofit organizations are seeking to access different forms of financial capital, re-asserting their role in the “economy”  and with many developing new ways to generate revenue through enterprise activity.  This workshop builds on an experience base supporting a wide range of social enterprises and in structuring  financial  support for organizations through philanthropic grants, market based lending and various forms of blended value investing (sometimes referred to as grants, loans and “groans”).  Content will cover some of the current best practice in social enterprise and profile innovative financing tools, including real life examples and active participation expected from the experience of practitioners in the room.   Discussion may extend into some broader  dialogue about  breaking down longstanding boundaries between traditional definitions of private sector,  non-profit and  government in the current context.

Derek Gent  leads an  arms length charitable foundation associated with Vancity Credit Union. In addition to its core endowment, the Foundation has grown to include over 100 different donor advised funds and support for collaborative programs like ‘enterprising nonprofits’. Derek has worked most of his career in the credit union sector, including roles in retail and commercial banking, as well as venture capital and social responsibility.  He has a Queen’s MBA and international experience in Bangladesh, Brazil and Northern Italy

Collaboration in the nonprofit sector through shared services, administration and infrastructure
Presented By; Tides Canada Initiatives
Workshop Leaders: Justin Ho, Margaret Dixon, Leslie Wright

In today’s difficult operating environment,  many nonprofit organizations have been seeking opportunities to work together more effectively and efficiently toward common purposes.  Tides Canada and the United Community Services Coop will share their work, experiences and learnings in developing new ways of working through shared services, administration and infrastructure models with their nonprofit colleagues across the country.

The workshop will profile the development of good practices, ideas and hands-on experiences in new ways of working and organizing that support collaboration and social change, build and extend resources and expertise, increase impact, create efficiencies and strengthen the capacity of the nonprofit sector.

The conversation will also engage participants in thinking about how the sector can foster a culture of sharing and develop the leadership skills and competencies needed to work in these organizational and service models.

Justin Ho is the Manager of Business and Membership Development for the United Community Services Co-op. As part of the Co-op's Strategic Consulting Partnership, Justin provides marketing and communications consulting services and, in addition, he coordinates secretariat services for the BC Social Economy Roundtable.

Margaret Dickson is the Director of Tides Canada Initiatives, providing oversight to over 40 of the country’s leading environmental and social justice projects which have found a home at TCI. Prior to joining Tides Canada in May 2010, Margaret was Director of Inclusion for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Leslie Wright  is an Associate with Tides Canada Initiatives (TCI), facilitating outreach and partnership development with nonprofit sector partners and funders in the development of the TCI model. She brings to her work over twenty-five years of experience in the nonprofit sector at the front-line, executive director, board and consultant levels.

Hotel accommodations can be arranged directly with:

Coast Plaza Hotel and Suites
1763 Comox Street, Vancouver

Guest Room Rate the "Vancouver Foundation Room Block": $129 

Phone:  604-688-7711 Toll Free: 1-800-716-6199 

Deadline for room reservations: Friday October 22^nd .