CSI Network News

CSI is chock full of amazing member organizations and entrepreneurs working on changing the world. Sustainable climate action start ups, literacy initiatives, newcomer services, and building leadership skills are just a few of the many ways our members are making a difference. Did you know that in addition to their changemaking work, some organizations also offer up awesome benefits to their fellow CSI members? One of those groups is Good Foot Delivery, a CSI member since 2014.

We hosted the first Six Degrees event in several years at CSI Annex, along with partners The Green Line and the Royal Society for the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA). Six Degrees: Toronto Talks Election 2022 brought together more than 60 attendees, as well as local candidates, to discuss urban futures and the October Toronto municipal election.

CSI members are doing world changing work, all over the globe - including right here in Toronto! One of our former DECAs and current members, Charles Ozzoude, is running for city council in Ward 1-Etobicoke North in the upcoming municipal election. We spoke to him about his experience as a first time candidate, the accessibility of politics, and how his time at CSI has helped him.

September 30 is Orange Shirt Day and Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It’s a day to honour the survivors and victims of the residential school system and reflect on the atrocities Canada committed against Indigenous Peoples.

While summer may be wrapping up, we’re still clinging on to all the sunshine, warmth, and memories. As we reflect, we’d be remiss to not mention and thank our wonderful CSI summer staff! We spoke to two of our summer staff members about their experience at CSI.

Jini served on CSI's board, and the first board of the Ontario Nonprofit Network (also co-founded by CSI's CEO Tonya Surman). Tonya would often describe Jini as her first call when she was starting something new, and a catalyst for much of the change she has made in her career.

You might be familiar with CSI’s two coworking locations (Spadina and Annex), but did you know about our third Toronto location? The CSI Community Living Room is located on the ground floor of the Daniels Spectrum Building at 585 Dundas Street East in Regent Park, a culturally diverse and vibrant neighourhood in transition. It officially opened in late March of this year - here’s what you should know!

"The Centre for Social Innovation provides a co-working space in Toronto for people who want to change the world. With 2000+ members working hard to make the world more sustainable and to fight inequality, CSI is helping grow and develop the social finance sector in Canada. " - The Honourable Karina Gould

CSI provides a home and community to Canada’s social innovators who are working to put people and planet first, and all those entrepreneurs and trailblazers have to start somewhere. We’re thrilled to highlight some of our members who are working with youth to help grow our future leaders in honour of World Youth Skills Day.