Events: Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Action Networking Series
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About the SDG Action Networking Series
The SDG Action Networking Series is a project that brings together the SDG practitioners, policy makers, and experts from across Canada to discuss on building a more sustainable, just, inclusive, and resilient world. Through these series of events, Canadians will have an opportunity to:
- hear from organizations that are actively supporting progress on the 17 SDGs and the 2030 Agenda
- foster the exchange of lessons learned and resources on the SDGs
- build a networking opportunity between all stakeholders to achieve greater collaboration
These networking events are for SDG practitioners and enthusiasts from:
- all levels of governments
- federal
- provincial
- territorial
- municipal, and
- Indigenous
- Indigenous organizations
- Academia, think tanks and researchers
- for-profit organizations
- civil society and non-profit organizations
- international partners
- individuals interested in learning more about Canada’s role and commitments to the 17 SDGs
Past events
Poverty reduction in Canada – A Collective Effort
January 27, 2022, from 2:00 to 3:30 pm (EST)
Poverty forces individuals to make difficult choices, and it is one of humanity’s greatest challenges. As first of the SDG Action Networking Series, this event offered the participants to hear from the representatives from the Government of Canada, academia, National Indigenous Organization, and non-profit organizations in sharing their efforts towards achieving poverty reduction in Canada.
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Speakers
- Catherine Adam, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Service Policy Branch, Employment and Social Development Canada
- Olivier Bullion, Director, Sustainable Development Goals Unit, Employment and Social Development Canada
- Stephen Anthony Gaetz, Professor, York University, and Director, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness and Homeless Hub
- Scott MacAfee, Chairperson, National Advisory Council on Poverty
- Hugues Vaillancourt, Acting Director General, Social Policy Directorate, Employment and Social Development Canada
- Jessica Rygas, Poverty Reduction Policy Advisor, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
- Hannah Barrie, Project Researcher, Family Service Toronto
- Konrad Glogowski, Director, Research and Evaluation, Pathways to Education
Leaving no one behind
February 24, 2022, from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm (EST)
The 2030 Agenda is universal in nature, and it calls on both developing and developed countries to implement the 17 SDGs in order to reduce poverty and leave no one behind. At this event, the participants had the chance to learn more about the initiatives that aim in advancing diversity and inclusion, and how this crosscutting objective contribute to the principle of leaving no one behind.
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Speakers
- Judi Varga-Toth, Judi Varga-Toth, Manager, ImpAct Partnership Services, Colleges and Institutes Canada
- Peter Flegel, Executive Director, Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat, Canadian Heritage
- Susan McDonald, Principal Researcher, Research and Statistics Division, Justice Canada
- Nel Ewane, Planning and Expertise Manager, Social Development Division, City of Laval
- Stefan Jungcurt, Lead, SDG Indicators and Data, Tracking Progress, International Institute for Sustainable Development
- Sarah McCoubrey, Strategic Advisor, Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters, and Founder of Calibrate Solutions
- Olivier Bullion, Director, Sustainable Development Goals Unit, Employment and Social Development Canada
Understanding gender equality through the SDGs
March 31, 2022, from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm (EST)
Released on February 17, 2021, one of the aims of Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy is to achieve gender equality and empowering all women and girls in realizing on the 17 SDGs. This event offered the participants to hear from the representatives from the Government of Canada, academia, municipalities, for-profit organizations, and non-profit organizations in sharing their efforts towards achieving gender equality.
Related SDGs





Speakers
- Alia Butt, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Women and Gender Equality Canada
- Olivier Bullion, Director, Sustainable Development Goals Unit, Employment and Social Development Canada
- Ann Mainville-Neeson, Vice-President, Policy and Government Relations, Universities Canada
- Lisa Smylie, Director General, Research, Results and Delivery, Women and Gender Equality Canada
- Elena Pierce, Governance, Policy and Networks Advisor, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
- Chantale Walker, Director, Gender Equality Division, Global Affairs Canada
- Ayman Chowdhury, Head of Secretariat, Global Compact Network Canada
- Yusra Qadir, Director, Innovations and Advocacy, Mothers Matter Centre
- Kori Midgley, Women’s Coordinator and Employment Coordinator, Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society
Achieving the SDGs through Innovation – Lessons Learned from Home and Abroad
April 28, 2022, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm (EST)
Interested to learn about how new and innovative approaches can help to tackle social, environmental, and economic issues? Six panelists from Government of Canada, academia, and non-profit organizations spoke of their initiatives that foster innovative approaches in building more resilient and sustainable future.
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Speakers
- Elissa Golberg, Ambassador of Canada to Italy, Ambassador designate of Canada to Albania and San Marino, High Commissioner designate to Malta, and Permanent Representative of Canada to the UN (United Nations) Agencies in Rome (IFAD, FAO, WFP)
- Olivier Bullion, Director, Sustainable Development Goals Unit, Employment and Social Development Canada
- Lindsay Walker, Director of Sustainability, Humber College
- Rachel Geddy, Director, Policy and Research, Innovation, Science and Economic Development
- Meghan Watkinson, Director, International Assistance Policy Coordination, Global Affairs Canada
- Dana Decent, Director, Partnerships and co-lead on Alliance 2030, Community Foundations of Canada
- Randy Terada, Senior Program Manager, Adopting Common Measures, Centre for Social Innovation
- Christopher Coghlan, Program Manager, Innovation Guelph
Business Contributions towards Building Back Better
June 16, 2022, from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm (EST)
As outlined in Moving forward together: Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy, Canadian businesses are recognizing their role as important providers of sustainable solutions. At this webinar, speakers from the Employment and Social Development Canada, Microsoft, IKEA Canada, M&C Consulting, and STEM MINDS Corp shared and discussed of their initiatives to build back better through the 17 sustainable development goals.
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Speakers
- Elisha Ram, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Service Policy Branch, Employment and Social Development Canada
- Melissa Barbosa, Country Sustainability Manager, IKEA Canada
- Pauline Martin, Industry Manager, Government and Healthcare - Canadian Public Sector, Microsoft Canada
- Giovanna Mingarelli, CEO and Co-Founder, M&C Consulting
- Anu Bidani, Founder and CEO, STEM MINDS Corp
- Olivier Bullion, Director, Sustainable Development Goals Unit, Employment and Social Development Canada
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