A select few examples of our most recent social enterprises and community projects celebrated
in the news.
For media interested in writing an article on our work, please scroll to the bottom for our contact form!
Creating a mission-aligned social enterprise
By the Tamarack Institute, April 10, 2024.
This webinar recording features a conversation about Social enterprises, how to challenge the service mindset, and the ways in which people with lived and living experience can co-design and have ownership of initiatives. Together, we explored the role of social enterprises in building sustainability into non-profit funding, and the opportunity to funders in seeding social enterprises.
Do More Good Dialogue: “Doing Good Business” Building Sustainability for Nonprofits
By the Waterloo Region Community Foundation, July 10, 2024.
On July 10, 2024, WRCF hosted a Do More Good Dialogue about alternative revenue sources that can improve the sustainability of your organization.
Speakers included: Justin Chan, Executive Director, The Community Company, Marc Hull-Jacquin, Executive Director, Shelter Movers, Carla Leon, President & CEO, Just Like Family Home Care, Wayne Paddick, Executive Director, The Bridges, Blessing Akpan, Director, Community Impact, WRCF
Hope for Community Development launches Next Gen Photography in Kitchener
By Hope for Community Development, Nov 21, 2023.
On Saturday, November 4, 2023, Hope for Community Development was glad to launch the Next Gen Photography, a social enterprise providing employment to our Kitchener youth through the art of professional photography services in the Kitchener-Waterloo region.
Congratulations to the 12 youth who completed the Advanced Entrepreneurship program and graduated. It wouldn’t have been successful without our partner, The Community Company, supporters from far and wide and funders who invested in our program.
Cambridge Shelter’s In Our Backyard program: neighbours helping neighbours
By Barbara Latkowski, CambridgeToday, Feb 26, 2024.
With boots lined up and uniforms neatly hung at The Bridges Emergency Shelter in Cambridge, the In Our Backyard Garden and Yard Services program gears up for a second season this spring.
Launched last May, the program provides professional yard and garden maintenance services throughout Waterloo Region offering meaningful employment and personal development opportunities for clients.
This new business is more than just a landscaping job for men who stayed at Cambridge Shelter
By Carmen Groleau, CBC News, May 8, 2023.
After being homeless for 15 years, Bryan Andrews is now housed and has a new job as a landscaper thanks to a new partnership between Guelph's The Community Company and the Cambridge Shelter.
Together, the organizations created In our Backyard, a new landscaping company that's providing work opportunities to the men who stayed at the shelter and are now housed.
Former shelter clients working 'In Our Backyard' with employment opportunities
By Tyler Kelaher, CTV Kitchener, May 11, 2023.
Former residents of The Bridges Shelter in Cambridge who are now living in permanent housing are receiving meaningful employment in a new garden and maintenance program.
In Our Backyard offers clients of The Bridges shelter an opportunity to learn marketable skills and get back into the workforce while earning a part time wage at the same time.
New landscaping company connects Cambridge Shelter clients to meaningful work
By Doug Coxson, CambridgeToday, April 28, 2023
A new Cambridge landscaping company has a larger goal in mind than offering expertly manicured lawns and freshly mulched flowerbeds.
In Our Backyard is giving graduates of the Cambridge shelter system meaningful employment, a clear path to a better future and an opportunity to give back to the community and organization that supported them through some of their darkest days.
Winner of colouring contest to have artwork displayed Downtown Guelph
By Anam Khan, GuelphToday, July 28, 2024.
If you dreamed about your artwork displayed for all to see, here is your chance to shine.
A colouring contest put together by The Community Company and Otherwise Studios is encouraging Guelphites to colour one of two available templates that represent the Royal City.
The Better Food Company growing fresh produce to help feed families in Guelph
Heather Senoran, CTV News Kitchener, May 7, 2022.
The Better Food Company has launched a new initiative to help feed families facing food insecurity in Guelph.
The Seed-to-Table Project aims to improve the food system by growing produce in Hope House Guelph’s garden. The Better Food Company is a collaborative project between the charity Hope House and other local organizations.
Best for the World 2022
Published by B Labs, July 16th, 2022.
Every year, B Lab recognizes the top-performing B Corps creating great impact through their businesses. These B Corps are named Best for the World™, as their verified scores in the five impact areas evaluated on the B Impact Assessment - community, customers, environment, governance, and workers - are amongst the global top 5% in their corresponding size group.
These businesses are proving that competing not only to be the best in the world, but the best for the world, is a winning strategy, and they can lead the way as more businesses continue to join the movement that is transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet.
The Community Company was recognized with the ‘Best for the World for Customers’ designation in July 2022.
Every non-profit needs to seriously consider social enterprise
Opinion article written by Justin Chan, Guelph Mercury, April 26, 2022.
It used to be that for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations had their places: one existed to make money and the other existed to make our community better.
But have you noticed that more for-profit businesses are creating social impact? And more non-profit and charities are selling products? At the intersection of business and non-profit is social enterprise, and I believe non-profit are in the perfect position to become the leaders in this growing space.
Better Food Co. seeks volunteers to help grow 15,000 lbs of food
By Ariel Deutschmann, Guelph Today, May 25, 2022.
Green thumbs and helping hands are needed for a new project growing 15,000 pounds of produce.
The Better Food Company is seeking volunteers to help plant, maintain, harvest, prep, cook and distribute this produce for the Seed-to-Table project. This charitable initiative was created out of the money raised through the sale of pre-made meals by the Better Food Company at Hope House.
'I wanted to create social change in the world': Putting his heart into the Guelph community
By Matthew Strader, Guelph Mercury, December 23rd, 2021
The Community Company is celebrating three years in business, and it is becoming a legitimate business — that has been the biggest step of the past year for this charitable, socially aware passion project.
“One thing I’m really proud of right now, this past year we became a certified B corporation,” said owner and founder Justin Chan of Guelph.
“It means the business is committed to creating social good and had our financial statements and business practices thoroughly audited.”
The Community Company becomes a Certified B Corporation
Certified by B Labs, July 2021
Many companies will tell you they do good, but few can actually prove it. Being a Certified B Corporation means our financial statements and social impact model has been thoroughly audited and we are certified to meet the highest standards for a Social Enterprise.
An average business scores 50.9 on their B Impact Assessment. 80 qualifies a business for B Corp Certification. We scored 124 on our Assessment, ranking us as one of the highest scoring B Corporations in Canada. When you partner with a B Corporation, you can trust that you’re partnering with a credible organization that is using their business to make our community better.
Community-based food initiative to match donations for 200 holiday meals
By GuelphToday Staff, GuelphToday, December 17th, 2021
Every month, The Better Food Company accepts pre-orders for their made-in-Guelph meals that are prepared in HOPE House's commercial kitchen using mostly ingredients grown in their market garden at Ignatius Jesuit Centre.
Now, they’re ready to spread some holiday cheer by matching donations for every meal purchased this holiday season.
“This December, every meal purchased will donate one meal directly to our community,” said The Better Food Company’s director Justin Chan.
'It all starts at the farm': New social enterprise supports food security work in Guelph
By Jessica Lovell, Guelph Mercury Tribune, September 28th, 2021
Guelph’s HOPE House launched the Better Food Co in early September as a social enterprise that builds on the organization’s work to address food insecurity. Within days, the company’s 300 vegetarian meals had sold out.
“We think Guelph is the perfect city to launch a project like this because of how community-minded people are,” said Justin Chan, founder of the Community Company.
Top chef lends his talents to help launch new community-based food initiative
By Anam Khan, GuelphToday, September 9th, 2021
A top Canadian chef will be lending his talents to help launch a new community-first food initiative.
The Better Food Company is an initiative launched by HOPE House in collaboration with the owner of The Community Company, Justin Chan.
Every month, The Better Food Company will accept pre-orders for their made-in-Guelph meals that will be prepared in HOPE House's commercial kitchen using mostly ingredients grown in their market garden at Ignatius Jesuit Centre.
Guelph-based pandemic project reconnecting Ontarians one postcard at a time
By Nicole Lampa, CTV News Kitchener, August 16th, 2021
Thousands of postcards created to support adults with disabilities in Guelph are now circulating throughout the province as part of a project called Reconnecting Ontario.
Nathan Gatten worked with an artist to create the Let's Connect Postcard.
"I really want everyone to feel connected or loved you know, I really want people to know that there's someone who thinks of them and cares for them," he said.
Reconnect Ontario project spreads 'quite a bit of happiness' one postcard at a time
By Desmond Brown, CBC, August 11th, 2021
A Guelph-based social project is hoping to give away thousands of postcards this month to help cheer people up as they deal with various challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Justin Chan started The Community Company in November 2018 as a way to provide people overcoming hardships in life an opportunity to inspire them through storytelling.
'The world will bloom again': Guelph group wants to inspire connections with a sentimental touch
By Jonathan Duncan, Guelph Mercury Tribune, August 9th, 2021
In an age of ever-present connectivity, it's ironic that many people are feeling more disconnected than ever.
FaceTimes and group chats have kept us going for the last year and a bit, but they're a poor substitute for the real thing.
But a group in Guelph hopes to help rekindle a sense of community and connectedness through an age-old keeping-in-touch tradition: postcards.
The Community Company Supporting Social Causes
By Alexandra Pinto, CTV News Kitchener, August 4th, 2021
An interview with Founder of The Community Company Justin Chan to share more about our organization and our newest project in partnership with J.O.E.
Group sending holiday cards to care homes and social service organizations.
By Zayn Jinah, CTV News Kitchener, November 26, 2020.
“They're going to deliver holiday postcards to long-term care homes and social services organizations to share messages of hope with people who are isolated.”
“J.O.E. Guelph was behind the design and they've delivered more than 4,000 cards to homes and services around Guelph.”
“The Community Company creates its own cards each year and decide to partner with J.O.E.”
"In the midst of this kind of world that we're living in, giving a fight of hope is one of the nicest things you can do," card creator Paul Mahony said.
‘Addicts are people too’: teens create logo for Portage Ontario sweater fundraiser.
By Joanne Shuttleworth, Wellington Advertiser, November 7, 2020.
“Two young men who were in the Portage Ontario residential addiction recovery program have created the logo for a line of sweaters that bear a strong message: addicts are people too.”
“It’s a concept that’s dear to their hearts after completing the six-month program at the Elora-based centre. And the fact the project has come to fruition, and that people are wearing the shirts, is deeply satisfying.”
Wearing your Heart on your Sleeve: Period Shirts Tackle Menstrual Equity
By Melissa Gatti, UW Imprint, September 10, 2020.
It is often said that what we wear tells a story. With ‘Changing the Flow’ and ‘The Community Company’s new ‘Period Project,’ we can all help tell an important one.
Changing the Flow, a local social enterprise striving towards menstrual equity through education, awareness and implementation, is partnering with ‘The Community Company’ –a local organization that provides the community with a platform to create products and inspire – to create ‘Period Shirts.’
Community group delivers free wellness boxes to low income families.
By Anam Khan, Guelph Today, April 23, 2020.
While some have been hit harder by the pandemic than others, The Community Company in Guelph is making sure low-income individuals and families are not forgotten.
The group partnered with Lakeside HOPE House to create Wellness Boxes that contain healthy fruits, mental wellness items and a handwritten note of positivity.
“The boxes are building community by letting people know that in a time of crisis, their community has their back,” said The Community Company founder Justin Chan.
Startup of the Month: The Community Company
By Lazaridis Students’ Society, Wilfrid Laurier University, March 11, 2020.
Startup of The Month: Season 2, Episode 4.
The Community Company envisions a community where everyone has an opportunity to inspire and create. On this episode of Startup of the Month, our team met with Justin to see how he partners with local makers overcoming adversity to create products that start conversations.
In Studio with Natasha McKenty.
By Natasha McKenty, Rogers TV, December 16, 2019
“A message of hope during the holidays as Justin Chan, Founder of The Community Company joins Natasha to talk about his business.”
'I want to be a part of my family again': Man using Christmas cards to shine light on homelessness.
By Tyler Calver, CTV Kitchener, November 27, 2019
“The Christmas cards are in partnership with The Community Company, a Guelph-based company to help those overcoming adversity including homelessness.”
“The company pays people to create the products and gives them 50 per cent of profits from their products.”
Laurier alumni uses storytelling to help inspire and empower the KW community.
By Wilflrid Laurier University, December 13, 2019
“By humanizing those overcoming homelessness, as well as other life-changing adversities through storytelling, it allows us to challenge stigmas, to educate each other, and to be vulnerable. I often hear from our creators that their favourite part of the experience was being able to hear from community members, receiving support and belief from people they’ve never met, and feeling re-energized and ready to tackle their next challenge.”
Self-care books hidden around Guelph to show people 'you are enough'.
By CBC News Kitchener-Waterloo, October 4, 2019
“A social enterprise in Guelph has been leaving books filled with inspirational quotes and reminders about self worth around the downtown core.”
“And more books are expected to be hidden across southern Ontario this fall…”
Community members hide self-care booklets as part of bigger project.
By Anam Khan, Guelph Today, September 17, 2019
“Five community members walked around Downtown Guelph Monday hiding self-care booklets.”
“With a bright orange cover page and a sticky note that reads ‘Free! Here's a reminder that you are enough :)’ the booklet contains gentle every reminders…”
Guelph social start-up partners with people facing adversity to create products and hope.
By Tony Saxon, Guelph Today, June 14, 2019
“The Community Company partners with those people and uses their skills to create a unique product that is then sold online.”
Contact Us:
Please email us at info@communitycompany.org or fill out the form below to contact us and set up a media interview or to learn more: