The Gathering

Using institutional purchasing to build community wealth: meet the groups making social procurement happen.

Over the last year, the City of Winnipeg has been developing a Social Procurement policy. This comes on the heels of a multi-year advocacy campaign from the community to ensure our city considers community wealth and well being within its purchasing.

Many other examples of community wealth building from government and institutional purchasers exist in Manitoba, thanks to the work of community builders creating alternatives. The University of Winnipeg procures its food services from Diversity Food Services social enterprise. Manitoba Housing purchases from a variety of social enterprises to retrofit and renovate social housing units. Many municipalities divert mattresses to Mother Earth Recycling, an Indigenous-owned social enterprise.

This session is a discussion with purchasers and suppliers who strive to create a marketplace that focuses on building community wealth rather than a mere economic value transaction. Timed well with the City of Winnipeg taking a big step forward in considering a Social Procurement policy, this session will leave you feeling excited and engaged in how this community-driven innovation can strengthen communities across Manitoba.