Everywhere in Quebec, November is Social Economy Month. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about this business model and discover both the economic and social benefits generated in the various regions of Quebec.

From November 1 to 30, 2020, the First Nations Social Economy Regional Table (FNSERT), in collaboration with the Chantier de l’économie sociale as well as the province’s 21 Pôles d’économie sociale wish to send a strong message to Quebecers : the social economy is emerging as a solution for a better economic recovery in Quebec.

“The pandemic has helped bring to light the current system’s shortcomings. A growing number of people and organizations have started to raise their voices to demand that Quebec’s economic recovery be more inclusive and more sustainable. This recovery must, in particular, be focused on transformation, strive for a decent quality of life for all, recognize the value of everyone’s work, and above all, give all communities the means to be responsible for their own development,” said Béatrice Alain, Executive Director of the Chantier de l’économie sociale. “As Social Economy Month begins, it’s a good time to remind people that collective entrepreneurship can effectively address these concerns as well as the province’s modern economic challenges.”

“Our commitment to our nation is where we find the inspiration and the drive to keep going and go further”, says Karine Awashish, Social Economy Consultant Resource, FNQLEDC.

An economy with many facets

At present, there is already a strong movement of collective entrepreneurship in Quebec, which provides solutions to the challenges facing the community, particularly in key sectors like local services, home support services, CPEs, and respite care centres, during this health crisis. Throughout the month of November, the Chantier and the Pôles will have the objective to present the people who work every day to make a difference for a healthier economy in Quebec.

To accomplish this, the 2020 edition of Social Economy Month will revolve around the five sub-themes that characterize the world of social economy: 1) sustainability, 2) locality, 3) prosperity, 4) inclusion and 5) participation. Speakers specializing in each of these themes will be presented to the population and will demonstrate the full impact of collective entrepreneurship.

“The five sub-themes presented this year are fundamental components of collective entrepreneurship,” added Ms. Alain. “Respect for the environment, proximity to communities, economic prosperity for the benefit of communities, the promotion of diversity, the implementation of democratic management: these are some of the many aspects specific to the social economy that we will be highlighting over the next few weeks, which will clearly demonstrate how this economy contributes to the quality of life in communities, and is especially more human.”

To help the general population and future entrepreneurs learn more about these sub-themes and to demystify them, specific pages for each of them have been created on the event’s website: www.mois-es.com/en. This includes personalized information, such as company profiles as well as information about where events are being held.

Activities offered across the province

The various Poles working in all regions of Quebec will also organize a variety of activities to raise public awareness of the social economy, in addition to providing tools to people who work in the social economy or who are interested in collective entrepreneurship, in particular by putting them in direct contact with specialists in the field.

Panels, lunchtime conferences, workshops, webinars and happy hour soirées are just a few examples of the rich programming planned for Social Economy Month.

The FNSERT, in partnership with the Pôle des entreprises d’économie sociale de la Capitale-Nationale, is pleased to present a national conference on the theme ” Indigenous Perspectives on Territorial Development “. For more information, visit the event page on this website.

To find out about upcoming activities, visit the Social Economy Month Facebook page.

About the First Nations Social Economy Regional Table (FNSERT)

The FNSERT is a regional concertation structure coordinated by the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission (FNQLEDC). It was created in 2016 to promote the social economy as a model of socio-economic development for Indigenous communities in Quebec. It brings together social economy partners and enterprises with the common goal of promoting and developing collective and social entrepreneurship (social economy) among the First Nations of Quebec. The FNSERT is part of a national network composed of the Chantier de l’économie sociale and the regional social economy poles.

For more information on Social Economy Month, visit www.mois-es.com/en.