Corporate Social Responsibility and Overseas Operations
Date: Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Time: 6:00 to 8:30 pm, talk commencing at 6:30 pm
Location: *NEW VENUE* West Hillhurst Community Centre (1940 – 6th Ave NW)
“Business has a responsibility beyond its basic responsibility to its shareholders; a responsibilty to a broader constituency that includes its key stakeholders: customers, employee, NGOs, government – the people of the communities in which it operates.” – Courtney Pratt, Former CEO Toronto Hydro
We are pleased to have Darrell Martindale (Portfolio Manager for Environmental Performance for Heavy Oil at Shell) and Kim Rafuse (Stratos Consulting, previously Advisor on Corporate Responsibility, Policy and Ethics at Talisman) join us for a discussion on the CSR issues that natural resource companies face when operating overseas.
International Development Drinks
co-hosted with the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation
The evening will start with a brief presentation by Heather McPherson (Executive Director, ACGC) highlighting the results of a recent public opinion poll commissioned by the Inter-Council Network of Provincial and Regional Councils (ICN) addressing the question “What Do Canadians Think About Global Poverty?. Following the presentation, there will be plenty of time to share a drink and build connections with individual across various organizations and institutions in Calgary who share your interest in social justice, poverty alleviation, fair trade and international development.
Date: Thursday, June 21, 2012
Time: 5:30 to 7:30 pm (if you can’t make it at 5:30 pm, no worries, just join us when you can)
Location: The Barley Mill at Eau Claire Market (201 Barclay Parade SW)
Introducing the 2012 Professional Fellows
The Professional Fellowship is a short-term overseas placement from August to December. The Professional Fellowship Program was created to build a new generation of leaders in the development sector. It helps fuel EWB chapters to sustain and build their knowledge and passion about human development, providing them with on-the-ground experience and a direct, personal connection to Dorothy.
Chelsea Markwart
Chelsea is a Professional Engineer currently working at Global Thermoelectric as a project engineer. Through work and personal travel she has had the opportunity to travel internationally over the past few years, recently returning from Peru. Chelsea also enjoys hiking and snowshoeing heading out to the mountains at every possible opportunity.
We asked Chelsea what she was looking forward to about being a Professional Fellow.
I am looking forward to being immersed in a culture and environment different from my own. To understand the life challenges communities face in a developing country, as well as see the similarities to Canadian life challenges. I am relatively new to development work and I’m looking forward to understanding how EWB has adapted their program over the years to more effectively help the communities in which they work. I want to understand the gap between how Canadians feel development work should be done and the realistic side of how development projects need to operate to actually bring sustainable change. Overall I’m looking forward to being challenged mentally to think of development work in new ways, overcoming environmental challenges, lack of technology I’m use to having with work, and all other challenges that a placement like this will bring.
Kate Halverson
Kate is currently an E.I.T. focused on transportation planning with HDR. She has been actively involved in various volunteer activities since her youth, including Big Brothers & Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, the Calgary Interfaith Foodbank, and various on-campus initiatives while in university. Outside of work, Kate enjoys coaching at the Calgary Rowing Club (Recreational Program).
We asked Kate what motivated her to apply to the Professional Fellowship program.
I am passionate about international development because I feel that I can make positive changes that will help those facing challenges in the developing world. I feel strongly about international development in particular, because I was exposed to the conditions faced by those in a developing nation at a young age, and have had an opportunity to provide volunteer assistance in a developing country. I spent 4 years of my childhood living in a developing country (Yemen). I saw firsthand as a child the level of poverty that so many people in the world live with every day. It made me understand how fortunate I really am. When I graduated from University, I spent two months in Cusco, Peru volunteering with an after school program for kids. This experience really solidified the idea that I am so fortunate to have been born in Canada and received opportunities that many in developing countries will never get. Helping those in developing countries receive some of these opportunities will make a positive impact.
Getting Involved with EWB
Internationally
EWB is looking for people to work in Africa who have a passion for social change and the skills to develop start-up businesses. You’ll be embedded within an African agriculture-based Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SMEs) to accelerate their growth by developing young managers, enhancing supply chain management, developing management information systems, business process design, and more. We have 8 contracts that start mid-August in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Mali and Zambia. The high demand for our Business Development Services is due to EWB’s reputation for attracting and engaging people with incredible talent and passion necessary to work alongside business owners and managers to create change. More details can be found online or email Sarah Grant (sarahgrant@ewb.ca).
in Calgary
We are currently seeking volunteers interesting in communications and media, volunteer management, corporate engagement and fair trade. Details on opportunities will be posted on our website as they are available. If you interested in volunteering or would like additional information, please contact us at volunteer@calgary.ewb.ca.
Non-EWB Events Around Calgary
Tuesday, June 19 - The Spark of Innovation: Catalysing Change for Water’s Future. Hosted by: Waterlution
Tuesday, June 26 - What is social investing? Hosted by: Calgary+Acumen, CAWST
Speak. Share. Thrive. Not so much an event, but a chance to get involved in Alberta politics. The Alberta Government is currently seeking public input into the development of their new social policy framework for Alberta.