Originally established in 1995, the non-profit Canadian Business for Social Responsibility(CBSR) has become a pillar of Canadian business ethics advocacy and the organization views itself as “the Canadian representative in a world-wide network committed to corporate social responsibility.” With offices in the Canadian business hubsof Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary, the CBSR has a strong and influential presence on the corporate scene. During its almost two decades of existence, more than seventy major Canadian corporations have become members of the CBSR in order to reap the rewards of accurate, insightful, and constructive consulting in the area of CSR principles and practices. The motto of the CBSR is clearly reflective of the organization’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, stating that this initiative is “changing the way business does business.” Indeed, the central focus of the CBSR is to assist Canadian companies with the adoption and implementation of CSR policies in order to promote sustainability and efficiency, which the company believes are the ingredients for a “better world.” In order to realize the tenets of its overarching mission, the CBSR has built a platform based on a set of core values which see the firm as a key player in the evolution and conceptualization of responsible business practice. By tapping into the latest trends with the help of professionals who are equipped with “high impact management tools,” the CBSR envisions itself as a cutting-edge source of CSR policy planning and implementation. As mentioned previously, the CBSR has served and continues to work with many major clients in the area of corporate social responsibility from both the private and public sectors. Over the years, the firm has worked with organizations such as the Royal Canadian Mint, Loblaws Companies Limited, Farm Credit Canada, Kal Tire, Scotiabank, and Talisman. In its role as an advocate of CSR policies, the CBSR produces CSR reports, enhances stakeholder engagement, and assists with the creation of CSR performance management frameworks. In early 2013, the CBSR underwent a wide-ranging overhaul after a strategic review, in order to “ensure CBSR’s relevance and leadership in a rapidly evolving CSR marketplace,” as the Board of Directors became concerned that the firm’s relevancy was being outpaced by the changing environs of the CSR sector. A membership at the CBSR provides clients with an outlet for a wealth of valuable resources on corporate social responsibility, including practical and academic research services, access to exclusive learning and networking events, a gateway to increased exposure through the CBSR’s media contacts, potential recruiting opportunities through the CSR Job Board, and a growing directory of CSR experts around the country. In addition, the CBSR will now focus on the link between government and the private sector in advancing sustainability in Canada, while also developing an accredited CSR certification regime of its own. The company plans to launch a CSR Education Foundation to advance CSR knowledge in post-secondary institutions from coast to coast. The repository of research data that the CBSR possesses on CSR issues is significant, and it is no wonder that the firm has become a leading node of research on corporate social responsibility in Canada. The CBSR engages in both sector-specific and cross-sectoral research, and has covered a diverse number of issues including corporate community involvement, social media, sustainability communications, supply chain risks, employee programming, collaboration tools, corporate governance, community impact, and more. The company also runs a blog called the “CSR Dialogues,” and it produces monthly newsletters which are transmitted to its members, while also maintaining a direct line to the public through its Twitter profile.
Aside from its technical and advisory services, the CBSR has also become widely known in Canada through its staging of the Annual CBSR Summit, the flagship event of this organization. Most recently, the organizers of the summit invited Canadian corporate bosses and business scholars to Toronto in November 2012 to explore and discuss “the evolution of CSR,” particularly where “transformational companies” are concerned. In a nutshell, transformational companies are seen as corporations which strive “to effectively deal with today’s uncertainties and successfully operate in a world in which energy, water, toxicity, carbon emissions” and other obstacles to growth are targeted with cogent CSR strategies. The theme of the 10th Annual CBSR Summit was “the essential role of business in building a sustainable future,” and featured expert speakers from GreenBiz Group Inc., the Business News Network, Bombardier, Export Development Canada, HP Canada, Rona, Unilever Canada Inc., Rio Tinto, and leading corporations.
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