On October 4, 2024, we gathered for the 2nd annual Social Enterprise Symposium, a day filled with innovation, inspiration, and community spirit. Held at the Saint John Arts Centre, a social enterprise supporting local artists, the event brought together 75 attendees, all dedicated to advancing social enterprise in New Brunswick.

One of the highlights of the day was keynote speaker Shaun Loney, a renowned social enterprise leader from Winnipeg and Ashoka Fellow. Loney delivered an engaging talk on the two types of government funding—grants and procurement—and challenged New Brunswick’s nonprofits to rethink their relationship with the government. He urged them to consider using market-based tools to integrate into government procurement processes, sparking new conversations around sustainability and long-term impact.