Social procurement training and events
BCSPI offers core social procurement training sessions and subject-specific webinars designed to help governments and institutional purchasers implement social procurement practices across their purchasing. Members get free unlimited access to core training and all other webinars and events. Non-members can access webinars and other events at cost.
Social Procurement 301 – Social Procurement in Construction Projects
This session deepens member understanding of how to effectively implement social procurement by focusing on opportunities within construction and infrastructure projects under $250K. Topics covered include project planning and monitoring, identifying objectives and outcomes and options for unbundling of larger contracts.
November 13, 2025
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Social Procurement 101 – Introduction to Social Procurement
This two-hour session provides a complete introduction to social procurement concepts. Understand the what, why and how of social procurement. Explore social procurement principles, best practices and examples, and learn to identify opportunities and next steps.
March 26, 2026
10:00 am – 12:00 pm PST
Social Procurement 201 – Implementation of Social Procurement
This three-hour session digs deeper into implementation and connects social procurement outcome measurement with achieving local social and community development objectives. During this session attendees will work through a variety of procurement scenarios in groups from setting objectives, to including them in bid language to measuring outcomes.
April 23, 2026
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
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Member Webinar Library
Members can access past BCSPI webinars by signing in to the Member Home.
Upcoming Webinars
Lessons Learned in Supporting Local Governments to Adopt Social Procurement
2:00-3:30pm
At a time of uncertainty and change, local governments need every tool in their toolkit to address today’s challenges. Procurement is one such tool.
Join us to reflect on the BCSPI to date, and how a collaborative, local government-led initiative supported 45+ local governments to explore and shift their procurement practices, generating significant outcomes. BCSPI co-chairs Mayor Vickey Brown and Councillor Jenna Stoner, along with representatives from the project delivery team and other key players will share lessons learned from the growth and impact of BCSPI.
BCSPI presents: Purchasing Power
Are you interested in learning more about social procurement and how it can benefit the wellbeing of local communities? Join us for a lively conversation series about what social procurement can do to improve the health and wellbeing of local communities in B.C.
This speaker series, hosted by the British Columbia Social Procurement Initiative (BCSPI), features leaders who are putting the principles of a social value marketplace into action, and explores how local governments and institutions can use purchasing power to address the issues that matter to your community.
Purchasing Power
2022-2023: RECAPS AND RECORDINGS
During 2022-2023, BCSPI hosted the second season of the Purchasing Power series. We asked how social procurement could:
- Advance reconciliation
- Address poverty
- Support zero waste
- Increase housing affordability
- Reduce hazardous chemicals
While none of these systemic issues can be addressed through purchasing alone, this series highlights how purchasing, with social and environmental goals and tactics built in, can be a tool for organizations to move towards solutions.
This series wrap-up reviews the overarching themes shared in the 2022-2023 Purchasing Power events, along with specific learnings and actionable steps from each of the topics discussed.
Purchasing Power 2022-2023: Recaps and recordings
How can procurement Advance Reconciliation?
With speakers:
Janine Kruse, Manager, Indigenous and Rural Relations Department
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Matthew Foss, Research & Public Policy
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB)
Tim Laronde, National Director Indigenous Strategy
Chandos Construction
HOW CAN PROCUREMENT SUPPORT ZERO WASTE?
With speakers:
Sue Maxwell, Board Chair
Zero Waste BC
Jane Rushton, Purchasing Manager
City of Nanaimo
HOW CAN PROCUREMENT
HELP ADDRESS POVERTY?
With speakers:
Jill Zacharias, BC Manager of Growth and Impact
Tamarack Institute, Communities Ending Poverty
Susannah Cameron, Director of Inclusive Economy
EndPovertyEdmonton
Karen Bruno, Director of Indigenization
EndPovertyEdmonton
How can procurement support housing affordability?
With speakers:
Marla Zucht, General Manager
Whistler Housing Authority
Elizabeth Ballantyne, PhD Candidate,
School of Community & Regional Planning in the University of British Columbia.
How can procurement help reduce hazardous chemicals?
With speakers:
Mathew Coady, Environmental Scientist
SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd.
Brendan Woodruff, Director of Sustainability
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Darrin B Derosia, Deputy Counsel
New York State Office of General Services
Purchasing Power
2021-2022: RECAPS AND RECORDINGS
The first season of the Purchasing Power conversations series took place from October 2021 to February 2022. Read the wrap-up to this season of the Purchasing Power series, or visit the links below for detailed session-specific recaps and video recordings.
We asked, how can social procurement:
- Engage Indigenous businesses
- Support local economies
- Increase food security
- Support diversity and inclusion, and
- Address climate change
This summary reviews the overarching themes shared in the 2021-2022 Purchasing Power events, along with specific learnings and actionable steps from each of the topics discussed.
How can social procurement engage Indigenous businesses?
With speakers:
Judy Kitts, First Nations Engagement Manager
Greater Victoria Harbour Authority
Ron Arcos, Business Development Officer
Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation
How can social procurement Support my local Economy?
With speakers:
Amy Robinson, Founder & Executive Director
LOCO BC
Alisha Masongsong, Community Economic Development Planner
City of Vancouver
How can social procurement increase food security?
With speakers:
Heather O’Hara, Executive Director
BC Farmers Markets
Jennifer Reynolds, Co-Executive Director
Nourish
How can social procurement support diversity and inclusion?
With speakers:
Nerissa Allen, Co-Founder and President
Black Business Association of BC (BBABC)
Dugan Selkirk, Business Advisor for the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program
Community Futures BC
How can social procurement address climate change?
With speakers:
Mayor Karen Elliott
District of Squamish
Yamila Franco, Impact-Driven Entrepreneur