Mark Your Calendar

In This Newsletter:

🌟 Register Today! Join us February 21st for Mapping Our Region of Changemakers: Building a Sustainable, Collaborative Future.

🌍 Green Economy Hub Pilot Update: See how businesses are driving sustainability in South Georgian Bay.

🎉 Celebrating Roz Morrison: Honoring her leadership as she transitions to a new role.

📋 Thank You for Your Feedback: Your input guides our work—find out how to stay involved.

Mapping Our Region of Changemakers: Building a Sustainable, Collaborative Future

Date: Friday, February 21st, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Doors open at 12:45 PM)
Location: Community Impact Lab, Georgian College South Georgian Bay Campus at 499 Raglan St, Collingwood, ON. Room A10 – Second Floor

Collaborating with residents and leaders from business, government, nonprofits, and philanthropy, the Institute has explored many key issues in our region through collaborative events and initiatives. Together, we have learned about Housing, our Environment, Climate Action, Health, Education, the Arts, and Economic Development.

Following up on The Institute’s November screening of “Uncharitable”, the next step is to map out the ecosystems required – including people, partnerships, and resources – to implement many of the solutions we have learned about.

On February 21, 2025, join us for a working and learning session in the new Community Impact Lab at the Georgian College South Georgian Bay Campus, helping to celebrate the Lab’s official opening at the start of the session.

Join The Institute, in collaboration with Georgian College’s Change the Now (#CTN) program and the Academy of South Georgian Bay, for an interactive, hands-on workshop where Changemakers from across Southern Georgian Bay will come together to map out bold pathways for sustainable, inclusive communities.

Who should Attend?

You. Because we are ALL Changemakers.

This session is an opportunity to be heard, seen, and connected. Share your work, highlight collaborations that have amplified your impact, identify gaps, and uncover new opportunities to collaborate for growth.

Using Georgian College’s #CTN methodologies we will aim to explore:

Conversations around working differently around the issue
Different ways we can redesign working together
How to design collaborations moving forward.
The art of possibility

This event is another pivotal step toward UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Through knowledge mobilization and shared resources, we’re building a stronger, more aligned social impact ecosystem—one that supports flourishing communities and economies.

Why Attend?

Contribute to a collective ecosystem map that identifies existing efforts, gaps, and opportunities for collaboration.

Network and build relationships with changemakers across sectors.
Showcase your commitment to sustainable growth and social impact, reinforcing your position as a forward-thinking organization, business or economic leader.
Be part of the launch of Georgian College’s new Community Impact Lab, a hub for innovation, collaboration, and social impact. Participate in guided design thinking exercises and explore Georgian College’s #ChangeTheNow tools and resources to foster innovation in your community initiatives.

Registration:
This event is free, but space is limited. Reserve your spot today to be part of this transformative conversation.

Green Economy Hub Pilot Kicks Off in South Georgian Bay

We are thrilled that the first cohort for the Green Economy Hub Pilot launched on December 1st, 2024. This cohort consists of a group of six forward-thinking businesses representing four of the six municipalities within the South Georgian Bay region, all united in their commitment to sustainability.

Limited discounts for membership are still available, so if you are interested, don’t wait to reach out! Cohort 1 will continue accepting businesses and organisations until the end of February 2025. Looking ahead, a second cohort is planned to launch in the late spring of 2025, providing additional opportunities to join this impactful initiative.

By becoming members of Green Economy Canada’s network, businesses gain access to valuable resources and support. This includes guidance on measuring their carbon footprint, setting reduction targets, developing effective strategies, tracking progress toward their sustainability goals, 1-1 coaching, training, access to funding resources and more.

If you’re curious about how to future-proof your business, we invite you to attend one of Green Economy Canada’s free climate action bootcamps February 4 or 11 1-2pm. In this bootcamp you will learn how the economic landscape is changing, including how climate action can help you cut operating costs.

Stay tuned for more local events and workshops happening in the South Georgian Bay region. Together, we can build a thriving, sustainable future.

For more information about the Green Economy Hub Pilot or to get involved please visit our site: https://www.collingwoodclimateaction.com/greeneconomy/ or contact Laura Vermander at [email protected].

Celebrating Roz Morrison: From Chair to Champion of Connection and Change

Once upon a time, Roz Morrison stepped into the role of Chair of the Institute of Southern Georgian Bay with a simple but transformative belief: there is power in people and place. Today, as she transitions from Chair to an active volunteer, mentor, and Design Team member, we celebrate her remarkable leadership and continued dedication to our shared mission.

Roz’s visionary leadership has left an indelible mark on the Institute. She brought people together—one meaningful conversation at a time—creating safe spaces for collaboration and inspiring action in the arts, environmental sustainability, social justice, and economic resilience. During the turbulence of the pandemic, Roz guided the Institute through a pivotal shift to online programming, ensuring we stayed connected and impactful. Her commitment to the arts community during this time led to the birth of the Arts Strategy, a beacon of support for a sector that brought joy to many during isolation.

Roz’s passion extended to addressing urgent regional challenges, including the growing need for affordable housing. Under her leadership, the Social Finance and Affordable Housing Group launched the Affordable Housing Toolkit, a groundbreaking resource challenging traditional funding paradigms and championing innovative social finance models. She quietly but powerfully introduced ideas and created opportunities for change—whether by convening municipal leaders, bringing in knowledge experts, or hosting workshops that sparked meaningful connections.

Roz also championed sustainability and climate action. Her support for co-hosting the Collingwood Climate Action Team (CCAT) event led to important conversations about piloting a Green Economy Hub in Southern Georgian Bay. More recently, her involvement in the successful Rethinking Philanthropy and Community Change event showcased her ability to inspire new ways of thinking and acting for the betterment of our community.

As Roz transitions from Chair, her contributions are far from over. She remains a passionate and active volunteer, mentoring younger board members on relationship building and fundraising. Her involvement on the Design Team ensures her legacy of meaningful connection and innovation continues to thrive.

Roz, we are deeply grateful for your leadership, vision, and unwavering belief in the potential of Southern Georgian Bay. Your endless passion has inspired us all to realize the power of people and place and to work toward a sustainable, equitable, and vibrant future. Thank you for the opportunities you’ve created and the foundation you’ve laid for us to build upon. Your journey with us is not ending—it’s evolving, and we are so fortunate to have you by our side.

Thank You For Your Feedback!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in our recent survey! Every bit of feedback is incredibly valuable and helps shape our work for 2025 and beyond.

Remember, our feedback channels are always open at [email protected]. The best way to make your voice heard is to get involved—attend events, join working groups, or be part of an event design team. Your participation helps us create meaningful programming and drive impactful change in our community.

Together, we can continue building a stronger, more connected Southern Georgian Bay!