THUNDER BAY — The United Church of Canada will hold an event in the city next month to spur ideas for making Thunder Bay "a better place to live."
It's hosting what it bills as a Social Innovation Challenge, in which anyone with an idea for a social business can register to deliver a 60-second pitch.
The organizers define social enterprises as businesses that exist primarily to create social and/or environmental value.
In a news release, they said say they are open to a wide variety of ideas, and welcome the participation of innovators with no experience.
Ideas can be at any stage of development, from conceptual to already launched and running.
Participants in the March 9 event will vote for the top ten projects that would make a profit and be self-sustaining.
The proponents of the winning submissions will spend the rest of the day working with mentors to develop sustainable business plans.
The challenge will conclude with the innovators making a pitch to a panel of judges, with about $4,000 in prize money up for grabs for the winners.
"I see the Innovation Challenge as a unique opportunity to use market mechanisms to solve social problems," said Rev. Randy Boyd, the minister at Trinity United.
The Waverley Street church will host the event on Saturday, March 9 from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
More information and registration information is available here.
