29-30
Oct
2025
Social Enterprise
World Forum
Alberta
Edmonton
&
calgary ➤

Flourish Alberta presents SEWF25: a global hybrid gathering by social enterprise for social enterprise. Join us as we make space for entrepreneurs, innovators and changemakers from around the world to learn, connect and be inspired.

Oct 29-30
10+ sessions, trade show & meals included
Supreme Steel Atrium
28169 96 Ave, Acheson, AB
Get Tickets for Edmonton

What is a SEWF Community Hub?

The Edmonton and Calgary Community Hubs are Alberta’s local gatherings connected to the global Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF). Each hub brings people together in person to experience SEWF programming and join in local conversations about the future of social enterprise.

These hubs make SEWF accessible without leaving the province, while celebrating the unique contributions of Alberta communities to the broader global movement.
Participants gain the best of both worlds:
Global Connection

Access to SEWF’s international speakers, workshops, and panels

Local Relevance

Programming shaped around Alberta’s social enterprise ecosystem, including tradeshows, networking, and community-led discussions.

Schedule

Wednesday
Oct 29
8:30 - 5:00pm
thursday
Oct 30
8:30 - 3:30pm
8:30
AM
Welcome and Opening Activities
SEWF25 Recorded Session
Welcome to SEWF25: People, Planet and Action: Building solutions in times of crisis
Networking break
SEWF25 Recorded Session
The power of networks: Collaborative ecosystems for sustainable change
Social enterprises thrive in supportive ecosystems where networks, intermediaries and support agencies play a pivotal role in facilitating growth, sustainability and impact. This session will focus on how key players collaborate to create strong ecosystems that foster innovation and scale. By sharing best practices and successful models, the panel will discuss the necessary ingredients for building resilient and supportive environments that enable social enterprises to reach their full potential. Join this session to explore how cross-sector partnerships can drive systemic change and empower social enterprises to grow and thrive.
Group Discussion: Who’s in the room and how are we connected
12:00
PM
Lunch & Networking
SEWF25 Recorded Session
SED Talks (SEWF's version of TED©)
SEWF’s Social Enterprise Development Talks (SED) are back for another year. Hear from three outstanding social enterprises as they share their stories and lessons learned and answer your questions in the Q&A.
Group Discussion: Explore what commonalities we have with each other
Networking Break
SEWF25 Recorded Session
Debate: This house believes that it takes a village — not a city — to drive social change
Join us for a playful yet provocative debate to close the day’s programme on whether villages or cities hold the true power to drive social change. Expect sharp contrasts, unexpected arguments and a good dose of humour. While the format will be light-hearted, the discussion will spotlight serious issues about where innovation, resources and community power really lie. Audience members—whether in Taipei, online, or at a Community Hub—will have the final say by voting via the SEWF event app.
Group Discussion
Group Discussion: What might we want to experience and what do we believe is possible?
Join us for a playful yet provocative debate to close the day’s programme on whether villages or cities hold the true power to drive social change. Expect sharp contrasts, unexpected arguments and a good dose of humour. While the format will be light-hearted, the discussion will spotlight serious issues about where innovation, resources and community power really lie. Audience members—whether in Taipei, online, or at a Community Hub—will have the final say by voting via the SEWF event app.
Closing Remarks
Social enterprises thrive in supportive ecosystems where networks, intermediaries and support agencies play a pivotal role in facilitating growth, sustainability and impact. This session will focus on how key players collaborate to create strong ecosystems that foster innovation and scale. By sharing best practices and successful models, the panel will discuss the necessary ingredients for building resilient and supportive environments that enable social enterprises to reach their full potential. Join this session to explore how cross-sector partnerships can drive systemic change and empower social enterprises to grow and thrive.
Showcase and Networking
8:30
AM
Welcome and Opening Activities
SEWF25 Recorded Session
SEWF Day 2 Urgent Rethink: The economy is broken - what comes next
SEWF25 Recorded Session
Networking Break
Local communities understand their strengths, needs and priorities best. This session highlights how social enterprises grounded in place are driving innovation, inclusion and sustainability. Featuring social enterprises from rural Australia, the Philippines and an Indigenous community in Taiwan, discover how tailoring solutions to local realities fosters resilience, revitalises economies and builds stronger, more self-sufficient communities.
SEWF25 Recorded Session
Rethinking Partnerships: Building resilient communities: Place-based solutions for a sustainable future
Partnerships between social enterprises and businesses are unlocking new pathways to impact. This session showcases successful collaborations that bring social enterprises into supply chains, generate shared value and build more inclusive economies. Hear how cross-sector partnerships are scaling solutions, the challenges they’ve faced and practical strategies for making collaboration work in real-world contexts.
Group Discussion
Group Discussion: Moving to Coordinated Action - Asks and Offers
Local communities understand their strengths, needs and priorities best. This session highlights how social enterprises grounded in place are driving innovation, inclusion and sustainability. Featuring social enterprises from rural Australia, the Philippines and an Indigenous community in Taiwan, discover how tailoring solutions to local realities fosters resilience, revitalises economies and builds stronger, more self-sufficient communities.
12:00
PM
Group Discussion
Extended Lunch for Tradeshow and Conversation
Local communities understand their strengths, needs and priorities best. This session highlights how social enterprises grounded in place are driving innovation, inclusion and sustainability. Featuring social enterprises from rural Australia, the Philippines and an Indigenous community in Taiwan, discover how tailoring solutions to local realities fosters resilience, revitalises economies and builds stronger, more self-sufficient communities.
SEWF25 Recorded Session
Building a circular world: Lessons and insights from social enterprises
Circular economy models are not just a response to the climate emergency—they're an opportunity to redesign our systems for long-term resilience and equity. Discover how social enterprises are leading the way and turning waste into opportunity. This session will spotlight social enterprises applying circular models across industries, sharing key lessons, strategies and solutions to common challenges. With a focus on action, this discussion will inspire you to rethink waste, value and your role in building a circular world—starting today.
Group Discussion
Group Discussion: Panel Q&A
Local communities understand their strengths, needs and priorities best. This session highlights how social enterprises grounded in place are driving innovation, inclusion and sustainability. Featuring social enterprises from rural Australia, the Philippines and an Indigenous community in Taiwan, discover how tailoring solutions to local realities fosters resilience, revitalises economies and builds stronger, more self-sufficient communities.
Closing Remarks
Mingle and Network

Meet your hosts

 Edmonton — Supreme Steel Atrium

The purpose of Flourish Alberta is to amplify courageous actions in Alberta communities for equitable prosperity.

 Calgary — Social Innovation Hub

Flourish Alberta's partner, Innovate Calgary will be hosting an intimate gathering for people in the Calgary region. While Flourish AB and Innovate Calgary are linked and supportive, these events are designed independently based on local and partner considerations.
‍More details & tickets
Trade Show

Discover Alberta’s Social Enterprise Ecosystem

The Edmonton Hub will feature a community tradeshow, highlighting local social enterprises, co-ops, non-profits, and purpose-driven businesses. This is a chance to meet the organizations leading change in our province, explore their products and services, and connect with the people behind the work.

Register your table

What is Social Enterprise World Forum?

SEWF’s goal is to grow the global social enterprise movement to transition to a new global economy that puts people and planet first.

Its work focuses around three pillars:
• Collective visibility and identity through People and Planet First.
• Influencing wider systems through policy and research work
• Movement building including through its flagship two-day hybrid conference, which in 2025 is being co-hosted by Impact Hub Taipei in Taiwan with opportunities to join in person, online and at Community Hubs around the world.

Founded in 2008, SEWF is a non-profit Community Interest Company registered in Scotland.

Find out more

With Thanks to Our Supporters

The Edmonton Hub is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors and partners. We gratefully acknowledge:
Additional sponsors will be recognized here as they join us.

Become a Sponsor

Showcasing the support of your organizations at SEWF is a unique opportunity to connect with the businesses, academics, service providers and not-for-profits that attend.
To explore sponsorship options, email Leanne Petrin at lpetrin@ualberta.ca to request the sponsorship package.