Quarter Down

Stormy Shore Studios is a social enterprise that preserves culture and history in engaging forms of digital media. They combine entertainment and education into one package that encourages cultural engagement around the world.

To learn more about: Stormy Shore Studios

Buy a Toque, Give a Toque- For every toque purchased, Toques From The Heart gives a toque to a Canadian in need. With the purchase of a new Toque From The Heart, they will repurpose a pair of gently used hockey socks into a toque for someone that needs it most.

To learn more: Toques From The Heart

Lucky Iron Fish is a simple, reusable and effective cooking tool that adds extra iron to your daily foods or drinks. It is an affordable solution, especially for those with iron deficiency anemia. Portion of each sale is used to help undernourished communities locally and internationally. 

To learn more: https://luckyironfish.com/

Last20 started as a sustainable clothing brand - Last20 Apparel and has pivoted to sustainable pavement. Back in 2020, the co-founders Lauren and Lucas launched a podcasted called Sustainable Sessions where they host experts, businesses and public figures to open up conversations about climate change and talk about solutions that are being developed! Today, Lauren joins us to discuss how Last20 aims to achieve a circular economy, how upcycling plastic waste into pavement works and what Last20 has planned for 2021.  

To learn more: Last20 and to listen to their podcast: Sustainable Sessions

EarthSuds is a business that believes in a plastic-free economy where sustainability does not compromise quality. EarthSuds achieves all three dimensions of sustainability; economically it generates and re-invests profits, socially it employs adults with developmental disabilities, and environmentally it eliminates single-use plastics. Today Lindsay, the Enterprise Manager for EarthSuds, joins Quarter Down to discuss the sourcing of packaging, segmenting into new markets and EarthSuds marketing strategy. 

To learn more: EarthSuds

Be One To Give (B12Give), is Canada’s #1 food redistribution app. Canada has a $49 billion food waste issue! Tony, the founder, is looking to combat this by never wasting food again. We discuss the process of getting the food to food insecure people, his B2B food redistribution app and his current expansion (p.s. positions are open for YOU!). B12Give goal is to eliminate 100% of avoidable food waste along the supply chain across Canada.

To learn more: Be One To Give

All profits made from Spread Goodness Nut Butter go directly to charities, such as, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Good Shepherd Ministries, Friends of Ruby, Breakfast Club Canada and more!

In this bonus episode, Jo joins us to discuss running a social enterprise passion project while working a full-time job, new flavour offerings and her rotational jar return setup to limit packaging waste. Listen to this episode if you have been planning to operate a social enterprise but are nervous to take the step with a job- every action counts! 

To learn more: Spread Goodness Nut Butter

Today we have Jacquie and Kayli, the co-founders from A Friendlier Company, a social enterprise that works with both businesses and consumers to work towards a food packaging solution that is sustainable. This reuse system contributes to zero-waste and can be used at locations in Kitchener, Guelph, Erin and more!

To learn more: A Friendlier Company

Today we have Aisha, the founder of Power To Girls Foundation which aims to empower marginalized Afro-diaspora girls in the Greater Toronto Area and abroad. Founded in 2011, this non-profit organization offers mentorship, personal development, relationship building, mental health, leadership, and entrepreneurship to young girls.

To learn more: Power to Girls Foundation 

For Quarter Down, this year it is going to be centered on our similar mission of having on leaders, mentors and entrepreneurs but there is going to be a twist. Each guest will in some capacity build innovative solutions to social, cultural or environmental issues. This is the year we highlight business objectives that make social change by providing purpose in a sustainable way. 

What is a social entrepreneur?

A person who establishes an enterprise with the aim of solving social problems or effecting social change.

What is a social enterprise? 

An organization that applies commercial strategies to make a positive difference for social benefit. Social enterprises seek to maximize profits while maximizing benefits to society and the environment. Their profits are principally used to fund social programs.

We are welcoming two new faces to our podcast: Nicole Crocker and Kiana Cooper and saying Goodbye to Vanessa Kelly who has recently graduated and ended her term on DECA U Canada's Board of Directors and entering into a full-time role. Nicole is a proud University of Ottawa student commencing her fourth and final year in Communications and Psychology. Her experiences in the DECA world over the past six years (time really does fly when you’re having fun) has blossomed into a true passion for business and nurtured a love for surrounding herself with the highly-ambitious individuals that the competition attracts. Hence, she is thrilled to put on her “big girl” heels this year as an incoming member of the DECA U Canada Board of Directors. Similarly, she finds it such a privilege to work alongside the driven and beloved DECA U Canada president, Laura Fallowfield, as the new co-host of Quarter Down. If you could see Nicole right now, you would see the huge smile on her face because her enthusiasm for what is in store for the DECA family this year is immense.

Kiana is also a fourth year student at the University of Ottawa with a major in Visual Arts and a minor in Management. Studying Visual Arts enables her to work towards a career in marketing while continuing to study her greatest love — painting. She initially joined DECA in high school to explore her interest in business, however from the case studies to competing as a Provincial Finalist in the Ad Marketing Campaign, and from being the Vice President of Marketing for DECA uOttawa to the Vice President of Creative Marketing for DECA U Canada, DECA has provided her with industry experience, knowledge, and inspiration beyond what she has ever imagined. Undoubtedly, her greatest strengths lie in her creative disposition and her attention to detail, so keep an eye out for her creative vision for DECA U Canada of which she is ecstatic to collaborate with other members and implement throughout this upcoming year!

If you know an individual or an organization who is a social entrepreneur and would like to share their story on Quarter Down, please reach out!