From all of us at CSI, we’re wishing you and yours a very happy new year! As we kick off 2023, we wanted to take a moment to pause and reflect on all of the progress, events, and people from 2022. And of course, we’re excitedly looking forward to all that 2023 will bring – impactful work from our members, growing our community, and more.

For our November Innovator Drinks, we were lucky enough to host CSI Annex Member and author, Alessandra Naccarato, and our event sponsor, Book*hug Press, to discuss Alessandra’s latest book, Imminent Domains: Reckoning with the Anthropocene. Alessandra joined us to discuss her book, the process of writing at CSI Annex, and advice for ourselves in this changing world.

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 hosted a hybrid virtual/in person debate at each of its locations ahead of the June 2 provincial election, and invited candidates from all four major political parties to participate.

As many of us encounter more and more of the familiar trappings of our pre-pandemic lives, old lifestyle habits, values, and goals may not make sense anymore. Much of this shift is happening at our workplaces. That's where Challenge Factory comes in.

Most online spaces aren't designed for serendipity. They’re strictly regulated: every meeting is prescribed with purpose and a set list of attendees. This is great when you need to hit a deadline, but terrible when you’re looking to truly connect with people.

It’s snowing and the end of year is in the air as innovators across our community wrap up their work. At CSI, this usually marks the end of year holiday party, an all-out bash famous for its cocktail and cookie competitions and sweaty dance floor.

2021 is going to be a year of recovery, and we need big, bold ideas to get us started. We’ve chosen some highlights from the Next Economy Conversations we had last year, with the leaders from across Canada who are creating a future that is regenerative, equitable, and prosperous for all.

Bruce Wilson of Iron & Earth sat down with our Senior Programs Manager Shea Sinnott for an online conversation about the challenges faced by oil and gas workers, hydrogen as an energy source, and the complexity of the fossil fuel industry.