SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — David LePage

Honourable senators, we often talk in this place about social inequity and poverty in Canada. I rise today to mark the retirement of a Canadian leader internationally renowned for his efforts to address these issues through the social enterprise and social economy ecosystem: David LePage.

David’s professional journey began in community economic development and community public radio in the United States, before he moved to Vancouver in 1999 to build a new life with his partner, Kim Boutilier, who grew up in Brantford, Ontario.

David was struck early on by the emerging role of community economic development and social enterprise in addressing the social and economic challenges in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Colleagues, 24 years on, if you have a successful social enterprise-based catering service, cleaning company, bike repair shop or other social enterprise in your town, it is likely that these virtuous initiatives flourished with the support of David’s advice and the broad community of practice he has helped to establish.

Ottawa alone has 120 social enterprises offering employment training, bookkeeping and food services, all supported by the Centre for Social Enterprise Development.

David’s advocacy was crucial at the national level, spanning both the Harper and Trudeau governments and resulting in the introduction of social value requirements in large federal infrastructure project — for example, in creating training opportunities in the construction trades for youth, people with disabilities, Black Canadians, Indigenous peoples, newcomers and others in often marginalized populations. That, colleagues, is making a huge difference.

David LePage has been a visionary leader in building a strong and resilient social enterprise ecosystem in Canada, weaving social values and social goods into previously binary, buy‑and‑sell economic exchange relationships. His vision has had an impact on governments across Canada, Australia and Scotland and in numerous other countries around the world.

Alongside this, David was the founder and Chair of the Social Enterprise Council of Canada, and Program Manager for Enterprising Non-Profits, which published the first Canadian guide to social enterprise. His flagship organization, Buy Social Canada, now trains and certifies social enterprise managers and practitioners and provides support to private and public social procurement initiatives. And, yes, as you might expect, David has also been an influential board member of the Social Enterprise World Forum.

This is quite the legacy, Mr. LePage. On behalf of the Senate of Canada and Canadians across this country, thank you for your vision, unrelenting hard work and leadership. Your work will have a lasting impact in Canada and continue echoing around the world.

Colleagues, please join me in recognizing Mr. David LePage.