CHNGR was temporarily put on ice in 2018, but we have partnered with the City of Montreal to revamp the program. Below you can find information about previous years, as well as the “Open Source Toolkit ” (french) that was created to make it possible to replicate the CHNGR program in other cities.
The 2014-2018 CHNGR team and cohorts
The 3rd CHNGR cohort gathered 8 students selected from 3 universities in Montreal, who share our interest in the movement which aims to construct a fairer and more democratic economic model.
Meet the 3rd CHNGR cohort, 2017-2018 :
The CHNGR ambassadors are 13 students selected form 8 post-secondary institutions in the Greater Montreal area, who share our interest in the movement which aims to construct a fairer and more democratic economic model.
They receive a CHNGR engagement bursary, $2000 (Cégép) or $4000$ (University) and have a mandate to:
◆ COLLABORATE with the various stakeholders of their institutions (professors, student associations, departments, career services, entrepreneurship centres, and research chairs)
◆ INTEGRATE notions (social innovation, social economy, collective and social entrepreneurship, democratic decision-making) and opportunities of employment, projects, entrepreneurship with a positive social impact within their campus
◆ RAISE AWARENESS AND DIRECT students wishing to have a positive social impact to the appropriate spaces
Meet the CHNGR ambassadors – Cohort 2, 2016-2017 :
CONCORDIA - Mauricio Buschinelli
Mauricio continues to believe that by exploring the intersection of democracy, technology, community organizing and social business, we can co-create resilient community economies. Now back for a second term at CHNGR, he is building onto last year's experience by focusing on incorporating systems thinking and asset-based community development to his practice.
CONCORDIA - Cameron Stiff
With over 13 years of experience in social innovation, Cameron is more excited than ever before at the explosion of interest in transformative projects, organizations and experiences across society. He is thrilled to be a CHNGR ambassador, helping grow the movement for a truly social economy at Concordia and beyond.
CONCORDIA - Matthieu Bister
For Matt, the social economy is a really tangible and efficient way to enable the transition towards a new society, one that’s decentralized and actually fair to everybody. Through the design and facilitation of experiential sessions (personal development, ideation, co-creation, trainings...), he makes this transition happen by inviting participants to challenge their perception of society and their role within it.
Brébeuf - Coralie Michaud
Coralie firmly believes that collective and social entrepreneurship is a shared concern. Good listener and determined, she wishes to promote, through CHNGR, a dialogue between the many actors essential to the present and future development of the social economy.
HEC - Abrielle Sirois Cournoyer
Graduate in mechanical engineering, Abrielle decides to pursue her dreams by registering in a Master’s in social innovation at HEC with the aim of bettering society. Involved in many projects, she discovers the Social Economy, and wishes to combine this area with engineering since she believes it's TOGETHER that we can make a difference!
HEC - Erika Gaudreault
Master's degree student in social innovation, Erika is passionate about collective entrepreneurship and the Social Economy. She has a strong interest in the cooperative model. Involved on different levels in multiple organisations, she wants to explore alternative models that aim to make this world a better place. CHNGR is also an opportunity for her to keep on making discoveries!
McGill - Jonathan-Félix Giroux
Felix would like to reframe the values and motivations that drive entrepreneurship. He aims to foster a stronger democratic economy through supporting and encouraging social and collective entrepreneurs, which in turn will facilitate the growth and development of marginalized groups. Thanks to CHNGR, this International Management student at McGill is now well-equipped to bring significant positive changes to the entrepreneurship landscape.
ETS - Pierre-Antoine Laine
Always willing to lend a helping hand, Pierre-Antoine is now ready to give the current economic model a kick in the butt! He’s heard it many times, “think globally, act locally”. Now, he brings this mindset to the CHNGR team with the hopes of promoting a more democratic economy through collective and social entrepreneurship.
ETS - Laure Cerisy
Laure is passionate by cities and the urban ecosystem, which has been her field of study for several years. As a new social economy supporter, she views collective and sustainable initiatives as a solution to adress the ills in our cities and our society. Eager to broadcast this innovative approach, she wishes to promote this career path by sharing her passion with other students.
UQAM - Jessica Léonard
Having recently become involved in social innovation projects, Jessica is a first year master's student working on local development and food security in Quebec. Eager to learn and passionate about social change, she is now ready to introduce and integrate social and collaborative economic initiatives and solutions on campus through CHNGR. For her, communication and teamwork between different institutions are key components that will enable her to complete her mission, which is to promote and to strengthen the social and collaborative economy throughout the community.
De Lanaudière - Jean-Sébastien Marceau
Philanthropist and thirsty for knowledge, Jean-Sébastien is also an atypical researcher. Studying in social innovation and working as an analyst for the Table Régionale d'Économie Sociale de Lanaudière, the CHNGR program offers Jean-Sébastien the opportunity to use his knowledge to promote and develop the social economy within his cegep. And he's really happy about it!
De Lanaudière - Laurie Pilote
Having completed many programs in CEGEP, Laurie has discovered her calling in the social innovation program offered at Lanaudière. She likes to learn from others and is always looking to help. She believes CHNGR will help her discover the multiple facets of entrepreneurship which, she hopes, will help her develop her own ventures.
Polytechnique - Émile Lord
Involved for a while now in the food security field, social inequalities have always had an important place in Émile’s thoughts. He thinks that the social economy will allow us to reshape the world so that it represents every citizen. That’s why individual property will have to move on and make place for collective property. He believes that our generation will stand out by moving towards values like sharing and mutual aid instead of growth and individualism.
Meet the CHNGR ambassadors – Cohort 1, 2016-2017 :
ETS - Pierre-Antoine Laine
Always willing to lend a helping hand, Pierre-Antoine is now ready to give the current economic model a kick in the butt! He’s heard it many times, “think globally, act locally”. Now, he brings this mindset to the CHNGR team with the hopes of promoting a more democratic economy through collective and social entrepreneurship.
De Lanaudière - Joani Gagné-Beauchamp
Joani is enthusiastic. She discovered collective and social entrepreneurship thanks to her curriculum. CHNGR is an opportunity for her to promote tangible and positive impacts generated by this kind of entrepreneurship, in addition to developing personal social skills.
De Lanaudière - Marc-Olivier Froment
Studying social innovation, Marc-Oliver discovered collective and social entrepreneurship during his last semester, which offered a new lense through which he could see the world. He likes to discuss with peers to find new ways to approach old problems.
UQAM - Dominique Richard
Dominique is a fun guy. He enjoys meeting new people and listening to their stories, and hopes he will have the opportunity to connect many motivated students!
Collège Ahuntsic - Jean-François Gagnon
Student in accounting and management, Jean-François discovered collective and social entrepreneurship through his involvement as an administrator in a COOP. He has since been involved in several organisations holding various roles in order to promote this kind of entrepreneurship.
Collège Ahuntsic - Yan Teor
Since an early age, Yan was interested in the different ways to make a change for a better world. For him, CHNGR is an easy way to connect people and create a change within the community!
UdeM - Marina Jolly
Specialized in business management, Marina has built bridges between the private and plural sectors through her experiences advising social economy projects. Student in environmental and sustainable development (DESS), she wants to take advantage of this year to stimulate creativity and awaken collective and social entrepreneurial vocations within her campus, in addition to adding a hands-on component to her education.
Johanna and Nicolas were the two coordinators of CHNGR for cohorts 1-3. In charge of the strategy, the development and the communications of the project, they were also here to support, day-to-day, the ambassadors’ projects.
With a number partners behind them, they gathered the operational working group on a regular basis so that they could benefit from their various expertises.
WORKING GROUP
Maude Brossard
Chantier de l'Économie Sociale
Project coordinator, Youth engagement
Emilien Gruet
TIESS
Knowledge Transfer Consultant
Geneviève Huot
TIESS
Knowledge Transfer Coordinator
Dylan Hervé
District 3
Social Entrepreneurship Coordinator
Julie Hamel
District 3
Social Entrepreneurship Coach
The 2014-2018 steering committee represented the board of directors of CHNGR. They are the ones who came up with the idea of the project. In Autumn 2014, they answered the call from RECODE (program of the McConnell Foundation) to tender.
For information about the current steering committee, click here.
Marguerite Mendell
Université Concordia
Director, Karl Polanyi Institute
Professor, School of Community and Public Affairs
Xavier-Henri Hervé
District 3
Director and Founder
Nancy Neamtan
Chantier de l'Économie Sociale
Former Director
Vincent Vanschendel
TIESS
Director
Projects of CHNGR 2016-2018
PROJET COLLECTIF :
Cartographie (271 éléments) : cette cartographie des acteurs des campus (et au-delà) a été réalisée en 2015-2017 sur PODIO (les paramètres de partage étant limités, voici une version exportée en Excel).
DÉTAILS SUR LES PROJETS COLLECTIFS :
- Les Génies du Collectif : Évènement pour démystifier les pratiques alternatives de gestion en ingénierie
- Sondage sur l’économie sociale
- Campagne de sensibilisation sur l’économie sociale
- Défi curriculum : Pour la co-création d’un certificat en innovation et en entrepreneuriat social
PROJET COLLECTIF :
Semaine PerspectivES : une semaine pour découvrir les entreprises collectives
PROJETS PAR CAMPUS ET PAR THÈME :
Curriculums :
MBA HEC : intégrer des notions en économie sociale au MBA
BAA HEC : intégrer des notions en économie sociale B.A.A.
COOP HEC : pour faire travailler les étudiant.e.s sur les problématique de leur coop universitaire (campus intelligent)
MBA Internship Concordia : donner accès à des stages en entreprises collectives
Concours-Compétition :
Compétition Uni5 : pour intégrer l’entrepreneuriat collectif à cette compétition académique interuniversitaire sur l’entrepreneuriat
Concours de cas COOP (UQAM + Concordia): aider au développement et à la promotion de cette nouvelle compétition académique
Accès à l’information :
Job Posting Concordia : intégrer des offres d’emplois en économie sociale sur le portail de Concordia
Pôle d’information économie sociale UQAM : regrouper l’information sur l’économie sociale à l’UQAM et aux alentours
Médias HEC : intégrer des exemples d’économie sociale dans les médias
Autre :
HOJO Concordia : supporter la création d’une équipe soudée – comité de la première coopérative d’habitation étudiante à Montréal
The CHNGR project takes off
The CHNGR project has taken root thanks to funding provided through the RECODE program of the J.W. McConnell foundation ($500,000 on three years). This initiative, created in partnership with thought leaders and partners from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors, aims to catalyze social innovation and social entrepreneurship in higher learning institutions across Canada. At its initial stage, eighteen Canadian colleges and universities received matching grants.
The CHNGR objectives’ are also encompassed in the Je Vois Montréal project, “Entreprendre collectivement pour une prospérité inclusive” (collective entrepreneurship for a shared prosperity) now called Je fais Montréal. Adding the Caisse d’économie solidaire Desjardins (CECOSOL) as a partner, the project increased the scope of the initiative and encourage cooperation between institutions, notably through the work of the student ambassador team.
PARTNERS-CREATORS
The initiator of the CHNGR initiative, Concordia University brings, in addition to its financial support, its expertise in curriculum development, working to adapt curriculums in order to include a social innovation component.
District 3, located at the heart of Concordia University, is a startup incubator open to all. Its collective and social branch offers support, training and coaching to the entrepreneurs wishing to start a social enterprise including collective enterprises such as non-profits, COOPs or mutuals.
The Chantier de l’Économie Sociale is a network of networks at the regional and national levels. Its mission is to promote the social economy as an integral and legitimate part of Québec’s plural economy and to connect different actors. Responsible for the ambassador training and offering ongoing learning opportunities, the Chantier offered a large network of experts and resources useful for our “changers”.
The mission of Territoires innovants en économie sociale et solidaire (TIESS) is to organise the transfer of knowledge and best practices in the social economy field, from one territory to another. Master at monitoring, connecting and disseminating, the TIESS supported the CHNGR ambassadors in their mission of creating smarter campuses.
COLLABORATORS
The interest in collective and social entrepreneurship and financial support on the part of the École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) allowed for three ambassadors to be part of the first and second cohorts.
The HEC Montréal was also selected to be part of the RECODE program, working in collaboration with CHNGR on the development of their social innovation center, IDEOS in order to create a system to help bring together those with social impact projets and potential collaborators.