Fostering economic citizenship through local solutions and grassroots action
| | | | Community Innovation in Uncertain Times: Building Resilient Main Streets with Local Solutions Thursday, April 17 | 12 p.m. ET | Live Zoom Webinar | | | | | | Turning Uncertainty Into Opportunity The cure for uncertainty is action. As the current economic turbulence continues —fueled by tariffs, supply chain shifts, and inflationary pressures—main streets across the country are responding with creativity, collaboration, and a renewed focus on community-based economic models. This session will explore how local economies are adapting through innovative grassroots strategies, tools that promote economic transparency, and programs that empower both businesses and consumers to invest in their communities. Join us to examine how small business campaigns, shared procurement strategies, and local-first incentives are being deployed to keep dollars circulating close to home, while also exploring emerging frameworks that treat purchasing decisions as a form of economic citizenship—empowering residents to shape the future of their neighbourhoods. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical insights on how communities can lead the way in building resilient, people-powered economies.
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| | Financial Innovation Lead | Shorefast Institute Gwen Patrick is the Financial Innovation Lead at the Shorefast Institute, where she oversees program execution and the development of financial and economic tools. Her primary focus is on Economic Nutrition—a transparency tool created by Shorefast, inspired by food nutrition labels, that illustrates where money goes and what it pays for. Gwen grew up on Salt Spring Island, BC, where she founded the Foundation of Youth, a youth advisory committee of the Salt Spring Island Foundation. While earning her Bachelor of Commerce at Queen’s University, she received the Kehoe Fellowship, which enabled her to intern with Shorefast on Fogo Island. Following graduation, she earned her CPA designation and worked in public accounting at KPMG in Victoria and later at Deloitte in Toronto before returning to Shorefast. |
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| | Co-Founder | ShopLocal2Win Mary is the Co-Founder of ShopLocal2Win, created to make contest-based promotions more accessible to place management organizations after recognizing their potential to drive real results for Main Street businesses during the challenges of 2020. In 2021, her company won Interac’s Future of Retail Challenge, and in 2023, the International Downtown Association (IDA) recognized ShopLocal2Win as a “best practice illustrating expert application of professional urban place management principles.” Mary was a featured speaker at IDA’s Economic Development Forum in 2023 and is scheduled to present at IDA’s 2025 Annual Conference in Washington, DC. ShopLocal2Win is a made-in-Canada success story and remains the only agency in the world dedicated to facilitating large-prize promotions for urban place makers—offering end-to-end marketing, legal, and project management support to ensure impact and success. |
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| | Chief Operating Officer | Buy Social Canada With a passion for understanding the systems around us and working collaboratively on community-centred solutions, Tori believes in people and the power of shifting perspectives and objectives to create monumental change. As Chief Operating Officer, she spearheads consulting services and works across the social procurement ecosystem. She is also a board member of the Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet) and sits on the Stronger Together Solidarity Working Group to help bring inclusion, diversity, equity, and access to the social innovation sector. |
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| Can't make it? Watch the recording! | | For anyone unable to attend live, be sure to watch the recording on our CityTalk website! Recordings are posted within a week of the event. | | | |
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