Section 1: Learning Outcomes

Let’s take a deeper look…

Understand the legal and regulatory framework for starting a social enterprise in Alberta, Canada, including the requirements for incorporating a business and obtaining necessary licenses and permits.
Develop an understanding of the social and economic landscape in Alberta and how to identify opportunities for creating a social enterprise that addresses specific community needs.
Understand the concept and principles of social entrepreneurship, including the importance of considering the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual impact of one's work.
Gain insight into how personal and ancestral values can inform and guide social entrepreneurship efforts.

Section 2: INTRODUCTORY video

Homefire

Introduction to social entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurs are leaders who use their skills and resources to create economic and social value for the community, rooted in each individual’s personal and ancestral values. To build a successful enterprise, you must first understand the values and needs of the communities in which you want to make a difference.

Always consider the Physical, Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual impact of your work. This approach comes specifically from an approach adapted by my father, Tom Snow, that uses the fours sections of a Nakoda or nêhiyaw medicine wheel to inform measurement. Find a way to nurture these areas in your life.

Daniela Papi-Thornton

Daniela Papi-Thornton has a distinct global viewpoint on social entrepreneurship that she has acquired through her six years of experience working for social change in Cambodia and her position as a professor at Oxford's Sad Business School. When focused on the role of the social entrepreneur as a “hero,” volunteer travel and social change education can have negative impacts on future social change leaders. Instead, she offers tools and perspectives that will help educators, parents, and budding change makers reposition themselves and rethink how we teach, fund, and incentivize social entrepreneurs.

Section 3: Quiz 1

HomeFire

"What are the key takeaways from the video that you just watched and how do you plan to apply them to your own social entrepreneurship efforts?"

"What was the most valuable piece of information or insight that you gained from the video and how do you plan to use it in your work as a social entrepreneur?"

"What are some of the key success factors that the social entrepreneurs in the video highlighted and how do you think these apply to your own social enterprise? What steps can you take to ensure that you are on the path to success?"

Section 4: what’s really important?

HomeFire Approach to Social Entrepreneurship

Section 5: starting your social enterprise

In Alberta, Canada, there are several types of business structures that can be registered, including:

Sole Proprietorship (SP): This is the simplest and most common form of business structure, where a single individual owns and operates the business. SPs are not separate legal entities from their owners, meaning the owner is personally liable for all debts and obligations of the business.
Limited Liability Company (LLC): LLCs are separate legal entities from their owners, meaning the owners (known as members) have limited liability for the company's debts and obligations. This means that the members' personal assets are not at risk in the event of the company's failure. LLCs can be owned by one or more individuals or other legal entities.
Limited Partnership (LP): LPs are a type of partnership in which there are one or more general partners who manage the business and are personally liable for its debts and obligations, and one or more limited partners who do not participate in the management of the business and are only liable for the debts and obligations of the partnership to the extent of their capital contributions.

It's important to note that the choice of business structure will depend on the specific needs and goals of the business, and it's always a good idea to consult a legal professional for guidance.