 Without a doubt, 2020 challenged us and yet brought to light the value technology plays out in our lives. More than ever, a sense of community and a spirit of collaboration has reverberated among us. 2020 started strong with bold initiatives for Rainforest and the Calgary ecosystem. There were projects up to the height of the Calgary tower to execute on: ecosystem mapping, a collaborative volunteer program, a teen tech showcase with the Library, Cheers to the Grassroots version two, visits to large tech companies for the summer tour, and that was just the first half of 2020! Well, you know what happened as well as we do. And yet, here we are, connecting weekly. Averaging 40 people per week online, consistently, and we couldn’t be more proud. The pandemic meant we teamed up with Edmonton to offer LWOL (Lunch Without Lunch) to a broader audience with combined efforts. The online format did not allow for the same serendipitous connections as in person events but we managed to bring value in other ways. Panel speakers, month long topics, and the summer tour continued to offer new musings about how, as a community, we can continue to improve the innovation economy in Alberta. Rainforest Calgary teamed up with Startup Calgary to offer Power Hour in conjunction with StartUp Pitches and Drinks online. This was a great way to expand our reach into the community. As StartUp Calgary moves under the Platform umbrella, programming and events are being updated to reflect the needs of the community. The goal for 2020 was to partner with other meetups as well. This may be realized into 2021 as many groups have successfully moved back online. Steven left the Rainforest team to pursue full-time work with the Leftovers Foundation in early April. Brigitte was hired at the end of August to breathe new life into Rainforest and continue the work of responding to the community into 2021. Kourtney announced her departure for the end of 2020 (though she is likely going to hang around a few hours a week supporting for a couple months into 2021). The community manager roles will always ebb and flow and this is part of how we can continue to ensure Rainforest stays relevant and not stuck in an outdated model of behaviour (also thanks covid for shaking that up). 2020 provided an opportunity for us to reflect as a community and measure ourselves. We put out three reports. Despite the challenges of 2020, the scorecard measurement went up from 629 to 686 and made big gains in the Culture and Leadership pillar. This is a testament to the continued efforts of the entire community committing to the values of the social contract and wanting to raise the bar in Calgary. The LIBI Podcast continued with weekly releases throughout 2020 with guests and hosts from across the province. The podcast continues to showcase innovators, dreamers, and amazing ecosystem builders. January 12, 2021 will be the 100th podcast episode! Highlights from 2020
Nine entrepreneurs worked through the LIBI Fund Program, getting training to help them validate their startup. They participated in Startup 101 and Customer 101 & 201 from StartUp Calgary, Marketing or Sales Kickstarter from 321 Growth Academy, received $200 in credits from Good Lawyer, and three expert sessions from Nicerr. The entrepreneurs will be presenting at LWOL session in January on their takeaways from the program. Thanks to every who supported the entrepreneurs in their early states.
All the best,
|
 | As we continue to connect the innovation community through collaboration and trust, a Marketing Coordinator is being brought on to help tell our stories and move our work forward. Please refer to this link for job description and application details. |
 | It has been an immense pleasure and learning experience to have been Co-Community Manager with Rainforest Alberta for two years. It’s also incredibly difficult to be leaving without being able to say goodbye in person. The community took a chance on me, the tech un-savvy, who as Mackenzie liked to joke, thought full stack referred to pancakes. I am still learning and believe I will never really stop as technology continues to disrupt us. |
I am so fortunate to have found amazing people to call mentors, friends, and role-models through this community. I have met talented, smart, kind, and determined people. I’ve been challenged, and you’ve let me challenge you too. I couldn’t ask for a better role to help me realize the potential and capacity I have to champion a bright and bold future for Calgary.
I’m stepping away at the end of 2020 to focus on a new goal, the ambitious one of being elected for Calgary City Council. Rainforest and the community has taught me to approach this challenge with an open mind, use data, be innovative, use more data, pivot when needed, and to use more data. Rainforest has shown me that the collective is better when the sum of its parts move together, openly, with trust, with room for everybody at the table, and with curiosity to know more.
I want to call out a few people who have made the last few years extra special.
To Mackenzie who brought this ignorant lady into the fold, and to Brigitte who took the hard blow of me leaving just weeks into starting - both of you are fierce advocates for change and I so appreciate what you both have taught me. To Steven in the middle of it all, who made me laugh yet kept me accountable to action. Aaron in Edmonton, thank you for working with me and being one of the most dedicated people I have ever met to supporting innovation in Alberta. Al has been a shining light of consistency and tenacity, who has been an arm to lean on from the beginning as both an educator and friend. Jim has been a constant source of inspiration and has modelled an abundance mindset to me. His outlook and optimism is continually a guiding light. Brad is the very foundation of trust. I have always felt capable and encouraged from his permissive leadership along his open-minded, willing, and inclusive approach. Those of you who come to LWOL weekly, laugh at my absurd topics, have gone with the flow of trying new formats, and who are all the while building community and companies, thank you.
Outside of the core Rainforest group I’ve found peers and friends through the Calgary Innovation Coalition - at Platform, Startup Calgary, SAIT, and beyond. I want to take all of you on this next step with me, building a smart, resilient, and innovative city.
I’m stepping away at the end of 2020 to focus on a new goal, the ambitious one of being elected for Calgary City Council. Rainforest and the community has taught me to approach this challenge with an open mind, use data, be innovative, use more data, pivot when needed, and to use more data. Rainforest has shown me that the collective is better when the sum of its parts move together, openly, with trust, with room for everybody at the table, and with curiosity to know more.
I want to call out a few people who have made the last few years extra special.
To Mackenzie who brought this ignorant lady into the fold, and to Brigitte who took the hard blow of me leaving just weeks into starting - both of you are fierce advocates for change and I so appreciate what you both have taught me. To Steven in the middle of it all, who made me laugh yet kept me accountable to action. Aaron in Edmonton, thank you for working with me and being one of the most dedicated people I have ever met to supporting innovation in Alberta. Al has been a shining light of consistency and tenacity, who has been an arm to lean on from the beginning as both an educator and friend. Jim has been a constant source of inspiration and has modelled an abundance mindset to me. His outlook and optimism is continually a guiding light. Brad is the very foundation of trust. I have always felt capable and encouraged from his permissive leadership along his open-minded, willing, and inclusive approach. Those of you who come to LWOL weekly, laugh at my absurd topics, have gone with the flow of trying new formats, and who are all the while building community and companies, thank you.
Outside of the core Rainforest group I’ve found peers and friends through the Calgary Innovation Coalition - at Platform, Startup Calgary, SAIT, and beyond. I want to take all of you on this next step with me, building a smart, resilient, and innovative city.
 | This is the point when the orchestra would start playing to get me off the stage. To the community - thank you. You are the heart and hustle of the innovation ecosystem. Continue to build each other up, extend a hand, and practice the social contract daily. Wishing all of you the best and more! |
Throughout September we dug deep into the topic of diversity + inclusion. Let's have a look at a recap of our learnings:
Week 1
Kourtney presented "Building a Welcoming Innovation Ecosystem" where we discussed our community's role in leading the D+I conversation. We learned about how our pillars and social contract drive the culture of the Rainforest. With that, comes the responsibility to host a welcoming, trusting, and diverse culture.
We discussed the unique makeup of the John Hopkins Diversity Wheel. We then defined inclusion, equity, equality, "othering", BIPOC, and LGBTQ2IA+. We talked about neurodiversity, mental-disabilities, and physical disabilities.
Overall, the message was clear - as a community we need to keep initiating conversations as we move through the journey from diversity to inclusion to belonging!
Week 2
In week 2 we were joined by panelists Rachel Wade, Ruthann Weeks, and Aatif Baskenderi.
The panelists described how diversity and inclusion need to co-exist. If we are lucky enough to have diversity in our organizations but don't provide an environment where everyone feels included, we may not be able to retain all of the amazing benefits that diversity brings. If we don't have diversity in our organizations (and in our lives), we need to put some intention behind who we surround ourselves with.
Equity is the result of doing D+I well. As Ruthann put it, "diversity is being invited to the dance. Inclusion is being asked to dance!"
To build D+I we need to be courageous, patient, and vulnerable.
Rachel provided us with great steps to take in our organzatons:
Aatif shared how Startup Edmonton has intention at the core of their D+I work. He encourages the ecosystem to be wary of marketing ourselves as being open and inclusive. When we do so, we are vulnerable to systemic barriers, which can prevent people from coming to our door. He recommends going from open to inviting, inviting to acccommodating + welcoming through agile sincerity.
Want to revisit the panel's discussion? Learn more from the experts and, while you are at it, learn from the insights of Ruthann's 16-year-old son here!
Week 3
This week was jammed packed with amazing stories of how D+I is alive and well within the innovation sector.
Garth Johnson from Auticon explained how the company hires over 250 consultants across the country who are on the spectrum and who bring incredible, unique value to the organizations that they work with. He talked about how Auticon is working to diversify the workforce and help other organizations do the same.
Ainsley Robertson discussed how Clio engages employees on their diversity, Inclusion, belonging and equity strategy. She also shares how she helped increase women in engineering at Clio from 13% to 25% in less than six months. See how she did it here!
Diego Martins shared Getty Images' mission to drive D+I both externally to customers and internally through training, company leadership principles, creating safe spaces for discussions, transformation of physical spaces, and a Global Advisory Committee.
Kristen Liesch joined us from Tidal Equality Inc. and shared how the Equity Sequence™ practice can be learned to build equity and equality through work and decision making. It provides a tangible, accessible way to make more purposeful decisions around D+I.
Connie Stacey from Growing Greener fosters an open and transparent culture to create an amazingly diverse team. This culture delivers a workplace of respect, broad perspectives, and a focus on users' unique experiences- fundamentals to driving innovation!
Week 4
In week 4 we had Kathryn Hotte visit from Prospect Human Services to talk about programming and success stories for entrepreneurs with disabilities. She also shared some shocking statistics around mental health among entrepreneurs and things we can all do to maintain our own.
We wrapped up week four by chatting in small groups about what we have learned and what we will do to keep D+I moving forward in our community.
What a month! Innovation doesn't exist when everyone and everything is the same! Diversity is the essence of the work we do and inclusion makes it possible for everyone to show up and flourish! Just like the Rainforest🌱
If you have more resources to share on the topic of D+I, please do so below.
See you next Wednesday!
Week 1
Kourtney presented "Building a Welcoming Innovation Ecosystem" where we discussed our community's role in leading the D+I conversation. We learned about how our pillars and social contract drive the culture of the Rainforest. With that, comes the responsibility to host a welcoming, trusting, and diverse culture.
We discussed the unique makeup of the John Hopkins Diversity Wheel. We then defined inclusion, equity, equality, "othering", BIPOC, and LGBTQ2IA+. We talked about neurodiversity, mental-disabilities, and physical disabilities.
Overall, the message was clear - as a community we need to keep initiating conversations as we move through the journey from diversity to inclusion to belonging!
Week 2
In week 2 we were joined by panelists Rachel Wade, Ruthann Weeks, and Aatif Baskenderi.
The panelists described how diversity and inclusion need to co-exist. If we are lucky enough to have diversity in our organizations but don't provide an environment where everyone feels included, we may not be able to retain all of the amazing benefits that diversity brings. If we don't have diversity in our organizations (and in our lives), we need to put some intention behind who we surround ourselves with.
Equity is the result of doing D+I well. As Ruthann put it, "diversity is being invited to the dance. Inclusion is being asked to dance!"
To build D+I we need to be courageous, patient, and vulnerable.
Rachel provided us with great steps to take in our organzatons:
- Meet stakeholders where they are at when it comes to D+I
- Collect data on demographics and ppsychographics and use data to ground conversations
- Educate and prepare stakeholders on the terminology used in this space so people feel comfortable contributing
Aatif shared how Startup Edmonton has intention at the core of their D+I work. He encourages the ecosystem to be wary of marketing ourselves as being open and inclusive. When we do so, we are vulnerable to systemic barriers, which can prevent people from coming to our door. He recommends going from open to inviting, inviting to acccommodating + welcoming through agile sincerity.
Want to revisit the panel's discussion? Learn more from the experts and, while you are at it, learn from the insights of Ruthann's 16-year-old son here!
Week 3
This week was jammed packed with amazing stories of how D+I is alive and well within the innovation sector.
Garth Johnson from Auticon explained how the company hires over 250 consultants across the country who are on the spectrum and who bring incredible, unique value to the organizations that they work with. He talked about how Auticon is working to diversify the workforce and help other organizations do the same.
Ainsley Robertson discussed how Clio engages employees on their diversity, Inclusion, belonging and equity strategy. She also shares how she helped increase women in engineering at Clio from 13% to 25% in less than six months. See how she did it here!
Diego Martins shared Getty Images' mission to drive D+I both externally to customers and internally through training, company leadership principles, creating safe spaces for discussions, transformation of physical spaces, and a Global Advisory Committee.
Kristen Liesch joined us from Tidal Equality Inc. and shared how the Equity Sequence™ practice can be learned to build equity and equality through work and decision making. It provides a tangible, accessible way to make more purposeful decisions around D+I.
Connie Stacey from Growing Greener fosters an open and transparent culture to create an amazingly diverse team. This culture delivers a workplace of respect, broad perspectives, and a focus on users' unique experiences- fundamentals to driving innovation!
Week 4
In week 4 we had Kathryn Hotte visit from Prospect Human Services to talk about programming and success stories for entrepreneurs with disabilities. She also shared some shocking statistics around mental health among entrepreneurs and things we can all do to maintain our own.
We wrapped up week four by chatting in small groups about what we have learned and what we will do to keep D+I moving forward in our community.
What a month! Innovation doesn't exist when everyone and everything is the same! Diversity is the essence of the work we do and inclusion makes it possible for everyone to show up and flourish! Just like the Rainforest🌱
If you have more resources to share on the topic of D+I, please do so below.
See you next Wednesday!
Hello Rainforest Community!
It is such a pleasure to be joining you. In only a few short weeks on the job it's obvious that this ecosystem is, in fact, full of dreamers and doers.
As a social entrepreneur and self-proclaimed Jill-of-all trades, I have worked in several sectors within various roles. Most recently I spent three years supporting entrepreneurs through training programs and business coaching and I have also been dabbling in business exit planning. The innovation sector has been tapping on my shoulder for a while now and I just knew I had to play a bigger role in the ecosystem - so here I am.
It is such a pleasure to be joining you. In only a few short weeks on the job it's obvious that this ecosystem is, in fact, full of dreamers and doers.
As a social entrepreneur and self-proclaimed Jill-of-all trades, I have worked in several sectors within various roles. Most recently I spent three years supporting entrepreneurs through training programs and business coaching and I have also been dabbling in business exit planning. The innovation sector has been tapping on my shoulder for a while now and I just knew I had to play a bigger role in the ecosystem - so here I am.
| Aside from my hubby and three kids, the love of my life is learning! I'm insatiably curious and will undertake any opportunity to learn more about the world and people around me. This is why I am so excited to be here as the Rainforest's co-Manager, Community. There is much for me to learn and you have all been so welcoming and forthcoming thus far. I look forward to hearing from more of you in the community. Please connect with me so we can get to know each other and continue to move the needle on innovation in our province! Cheers, Brigitte |  |
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