Canada’s impact investing market is red hot, attracting more than CAD$9.2 billion ($7.2 billion) in 2015. Check out the winners of the Social Finance Awards, presented by the MaRS Centre for Impact Investing in partnership with ImpactAlpha.
This year’s “impact investor of the year” went to Deetken Asset Management, which manages the first registered, internationally focused, impact investment fund available to individual accredited investors in Canada. The Deetken Impact Fund has backed a dozen companies expanding financial, health and low-cost renewable energy for low-income customers.
The “social enterprise of the year” is Persephone Brewing Company in Gibsons, B.C. At what’s locally known as the “The Beer Farm,” Persephone grows “hops, food, beer and community” through regenerative agricultural practices and the inclusive hiring practices.
The Ewart Newton Award, for an “intrapreneur” working within an organization, went to Jory Cohen, the director of social finance and investment at Inspirit Foundation, where he’s leading an effort to invest the foundation’s entire asset base for positive impact.
Until the Last Child won the RBC Innovating for Youth Award for providing resources and encouraging innovation in tackling child welfare challenges.
