For Immediate Release October 26, 2015
Internationally-Renowned Social Innovator to Visit Cape Breton
(Sydney, NS) – Cape Breton University (CBU) is pleased to welcome internationally-renowned social innovator, Marty Donkervoort, to Cape Breton later this week. Donkervoort is also author of Inner City Renovation: How a Social Enterprise Changes Lives and Communities. His book chronicles the emergence and impacts of a Winnipeg-based company that does renovations and new construction, of which Donkervoort was general manager. The social enterprise creates good jobs for people who are hard to employ in the inner city, and at the same time revitalizes housing stock.
Dr. Catherine Leviten-Reid, associate professor at CBU in the community economic development program, connected with Donkervoort through her work as a board member of the Affordable Housing Renovation Partnership. She is planning on making the most of his time on the island. He will be visiting with several community groups, including Pathways and New Dawn, and will deliver a lecture at CBU on Thursday. Donkervoort will also lead a workshop on Friday to discuss how Winnipeg’s Inner City Renovation’s success could be applied locally.
Several local organizations are already looking at ways to address community need, particularly around housing and homelessness in CBRM. “Marty’s visit is timely….we have an opportunity to talk about his experience and develop a plan that suits local conditions. I look forward to seeing where this could go, and envision a social enterprise here in CBRM that both addresses employment and problems with our housing stock” says Dr. Leviten-Reid.
Anyone wanting to attend the workshop is asked to email tanya_andrews@cbu.ca or by calling 902-563-1492.
This visit is taking place through partnership with the Shannon School of Business, the Affordable Housing Renovation Partnership, the Tompkins Institute, NSCC-Marconi Campus, and Habitat for Humanity Cape Breton Chapter.
New Dawn is also inviting community members to hear Donkervoort speak at the Ideas Powered by Passion series on Thursday, October 29th at the New Dawn Centre for Social Innovation. This event is open to all and will include music by local musician Victor Tomiczek.
About Marty Donkervoort
Marty Donkervoort is internationally recognized as a leader in community development. Earlier this year he was named one of the “50 Most Talented Social Innovators” by the World Corporate Social Responsibility Congress.
Marty is also the author of Inner City Renovation: How a Social Enterprise Changes Lives and Communities. The book documents the impacts Inner City Renovation, a much-lauded social enterprise in Winnipeg, has had on its employees and on their community. Marty was previously the general manager and board member for this innovative social enterprise.
Marty’s contributions have been celebrated by the CBC, who named him “A Canadian making a Difference” in 2009 and by a special recognition award in 2010 from Ernst and Young in their Entrepreneur of the Year Competition. He is a leader in community economic development being a past or current director of the Canadian Worker Co -op Federation, the Worker Owner Development Foundation, and the Social Enterprise Council of Canada.
About Cape Breton University
Cape Breton University is one of Canada’s youngest and most ambitious universities with a comprehensive set of liberal arts, science and professional programs and a unique commitment to community, economic development, aboriginal learning and research into many aspects of environment and culture. Currently home to approximately 3500 students, CBU’s vision of higher education allows students to pursue diverse fields of study in programs with national reputations in final year student satisfaction, faculty-student interaction and employability. Cape Breton University delivers an authentic multicultural experience to all who become part of its academic community. Strong community involvement and a spirit of entrepreneurship enhance CBU’s position in post-secondary education.
Contact
Becky Chisholm
Manager, Communications & Media Relations
Cape Breton University
t: (902) 563-1638
c: (902) 574-5884
Marty Donkervoort 