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.
Introduction to Social Procurement — SP-101
This session provides a complete introduction to social procurement concepts. Understand the what, why and how of social procurement and how it can play a role in COVID-19 recovery. Explore social procurement principles, best practices and examples, and learn to identify opportunities and next steps.
April 11, 2023
Social Procurement Implementation — SP-201
This 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.
May 3, 2023
Social Procurement in Construction Projects — SP-301
This two-part session focuses on the implementation of social procurement in construction and infrastructure projects under $250K. Topics covered include project planning and monitoring, identifying objectives and outcomes and options for unbundling of larger contracts.
Please ensure availability for both sessions before registering. Session two builds on the foundations of the first session and deepens member understanding of how to effectively implement social procurement in construction projects.
March 30 and April 4, 2023 | June 27 and 29, 2023
Social procurement training webinars
BCSPI hosts social procurement training in a variety of subject-specific webinars featuring procurement and industry experts. These sessions help provide purchasing professionals with knowledge and learning to support implementation.Member Webinar Library
Members can access past BCSPI webinars by signing in to the Member Home.
Upcoming Webinars
Stay up to date regarding upcoming webinars: register for the BCSPI newsletter.
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.
Upcoming Sessions: Purchasing Power 2022-2023
How can procurement help reduce hazardous chemicals?
Thursday, April 13, 2023 | 12 – 1 PM PT
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 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.
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
