Community Articles (listed by posting date)
General News · 6th October 2025
Cortes Foundation
Cortes Social Profit Network Gathering
From Edge to Opportunity: Collective Pathways for Social Impact
Date & Time: October 14, 2025 • 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Location: Hollyhock Leadership Institute, Cortes Island
Hosted by: Cortes Island Community Foundation in partnership with Hollyhock Leadership Institute
About the Gathering
Across Cortes, Quadra, and Surge Narrows, social profits are already shaping vibrant possibilities — from co-ops and housing societies to childcare initiatives, education programs, and the social infrastructure that holds our communities together.
At the same time, like many rural and edge communities, we face pressing challenges: limited autonomy, scarce capital, human capacity gaps, and urgent needs for housing and physical infrastructure.
This gathering is an invitation to step into this pivot point together — to align frameworks, clarify the landscape, and be inspired by what is working elsewhere. With the wisdom of our region and the insights of two nationally recognized leaders, we’ll explore how to tend what is already growing here, and how to resource and expand the social infrastructure that sustains us.
Keynote Speakers
Andrew Greer (Purppl)
Andrew is the Co-Founder and Managing Director at Purppl, a social enterprise accelerator based in the Okanagan. He works with social entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and First Nations organizations to design sustainable impact strategies, diversify revenue, and build regenerative business models that put community well-being at the centre. With years of experience as both a social profit leader and entrepreneur, Andrew is known for bringing clarity to complex problems, blending financial literacy with social impact frameworks, and helping organizations scale their good work without losing sight of their mission.
Tara Janzen (Shorefast Institute)
Tara is the Senior Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships at the Shorefast Foundation, best known for its internationally celebrated work on Fogo Island. She has more than 15 years of experience in strategic philanthropy, partnership development, and capital campaigns, and her current focus is on advancing place-based philanthropy and community resilience. Tara works alongside communities to leverage their unique assets — cultural, social, and environmental — into durable strategies for well-being and economic strength. She brings a national perspective on how small, rural, and island communities can punch above their weight by combining vision, collaboration, and innovative funding approaches.
Event Details
Lunch provided ($20 per person; $10 if your organization completes the survey)
Registration deadline: October 3rd (limited spots available)
Audience: Community leaders (e.g. Eds/CEOs, project leaders, social enterprise owners)
Participation guidelines:
Smaller organizations: please limit to 1 attendee
Larger organizations: up to 3 attendees
Survey requirement: One organizational leader per organization must complete a short survey on the state of the Cortes social profit landscape. A discount on registration is provided once the survey is complete.
Register here: https://hollyhock.secure.retreat.guru/program/cortes-social-profit-network-gathering-from-edge-to-opportunity-collective-pathways-for-social-impact/?lang=en
Complete your organization survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWSCKdddAVbheuoTp3JYXpXjpRDVp0YMAzTmGX7EvKp__sZQ/viewform?usp=dialog
For questions, please contact: outreachcortesfoundation.ca
Learn more about the Cortes Social Profit Network at cortesfoundation.ca
From Edge to Opportunity: Collective Pathways for Social Impact
Date & Time: October 14, 2025 • 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Location: Hollyhock Leadership Institute, Cortes Island
Hosted by: Cortes Island Community Foundation in partnership with Hollyhock Leadership Institute
About the Gathering
Across Cortes, Quadra, and Surge Narrows, social profits are already shaping vibrant possibilities — from co-ops and housing societies to childcare initiatives, education programs, and the social infrastructure that holds our communities together.
At the same time, like many rural and edge communities, we face pressing challenges: limited autonomy, scarce capital, human capacity gaps, and urgent needs for housing and physical infrastructure.
This gathering is an invitation to step into this pivot point together — to align frameworks, clarify the landscape, and be inspired by what is working elsewhere. With the wisdom of our region and the insights of two nationally recognized leaders, we’ll explore how to tend what is already growing here, and how to resource and expand the social infrastructure that sustains us.
Keynote Speakers
Andrew Greer (Purppl)
Andrew is the Co-Founder and Managing Director at Purppl, a social enterprise accelerator based in the Okanagan. He works with social entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and First Nations organizations to design sustainable impact strategies, diversify revenue, and build regenerative business models that put community well-being at the centre. With years of experience as both a social profit leader and entrepreneur, Andrew is known for bringing clarity to complex problems, blending financial literacy with social impact frameworks, and helping organizations scale their good work without losing sight of their mission.
Tara Janzen (Shorefast Institute)
Tara is the Senior Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships at the Shorefast Foundation, best known for its internationally celebrated work on Fogo Island. She has more than 15 years of experience in strategic philanthropy, partnership development, and capital campaigns, and her current focus is on advancing place-based philanthropy and community resilience. Tara works alongside communities to leverage their unique assets — cultural, social, and environmental — into durable strategies for well-being and economic strength. She brings a national perspective on how small, rural, and island communities can punch above their weight by combining vision, collaboration, and innovative funding approaches.
Event Details
Lunch provided ($20 per person; $10 if your organization completes the survey)
Registration deadline: October 3rd (limited spots available)
Audience: Community leaders (e.g. Eds/CEOs, project leaders, social enterprise owners)
Participation guidelines:
Smaller organizations: please limit to 1 attendee
Larger organizations: up to 3 attendees
Survey requirement: One organizational leader per organization must complete a short survey on the state of the Cortes social profit landscape. A discount on registration is provided once the survey is complete.
Register here: https://hollyhock.secure.retreat.guru/program/cortes-social-profit-network-gathering-from-edge-to-opportunity-collective-pathways-for-social-impact/?lang=en
Complete your organization survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWSCKdddAVbheuoTp3JYXpXjpRDVp0YMAzTmGX7EvKp__sZQ/viewform?usp=dialog
For questions, please contact: outreachcortesfoundation.ca
Learn more about the Cortes Social Profit Network at cortesfoundation.ca