New Holiday Gift Guide Launches in Support of Community

The Social Enterprise Gift Guide helps you "buy social" with gifts that give twice

TORONTO, Nov. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - Each gift you buy this holiday season can have significant impact on your community. Thanks to the newly launched Social Enterprise Gift Guide, extending the impact of your gift giving is now easier than ever. The Guide features a wide variety of products created by Canada's diverse social enterprise sector, representing for-profit and non-profit organizations, cooperatives and B Corps.

"This guide is a practical and unique way for anyone to support Ontario's social enterprises. It's a win-win. The gifts allow you to give twice – to your loved ones and to your communities in need," says Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development and Growth.  

Ontario has approximately 10,000 social enterprises that each employ an average of 38 people and generate $1.2 million in yearly revenue. Poverty reduction is a very common mission for these social enterprises, with many focussing on training and hiring people with employment barriers as a direct solution. The sale of goods and services is essential to their social impact, making this guide especially vital during the challenging holiday season.

The Social Enterprise Gift Guide includes a broad range of products and is fully searchable by product type, price range, region and other categories. For example, you'll be able to purchase calendars or greeting cards from Options Mississauga Print and Office Services, beer from Beau's All Natural Brewing Company, meals cooked by Syrian refugees from Newcomer Kitchen, Inc. and order a gift basket of local preserves made by Youth Opportunities Unlimited in London.

"We're delighted to be a part of this special guide," says Dan Kershaw, Executive Director of Furniture Bank "The gifts listed are not only of high quality, they produce such important impact."

This project was made possible thanks to a collaboration of various community organizations and the financial support of the Government of Ontario. You can find the full catalogue of products and services online at http://seontario.org/feature-products-gift-guide-2016/

SOURCE Canadian Community Economic Development Network

For interviews and more information, please contact: Paul Chamberlain or Matthew Thompson, Canadian CED Network, Ontario Office, Email: [email protected] or [email protected], Phone:[phone] or 416-760-2577