Rising Above
the challenge:
Impact Report, May 2020 - April 2021
A Message
from
our Chair
David R. Smith
A Message
from
our Chair
David R. Smith
When we started our fiscal year in May 2020, I don’t think anyone expected that we’d spend the next 12 months (and beyond!) still in the grip of a global pandemic. It has been a challenging time, but I could not be prouder of how our clients, staff, partners, and volunteers have found ways to thrive through the adversity.
When the pandemic hit, Rise acted, transitioning our work to virtual platforms, enabling us to not only continue delivering high-impact programs, but also to reach new audiences nationwide. The change stretched our innovative capacity and has opened Rise up to exciting new avenues for growth.
So, thank you and a hearty congratulations to you, the Rise community. From our staff to every donor, volunteer and client who lives at the heart of our work, you are the strength of this organization and I look forward to growing our impact in a post-pandemic world together.
Sincerely,
David R. SmithChair, Rise Board of Directors
Rising to the Challenge of Recovery
A message from our CEO, Lori Smith
“Mental health and employment are two of the issues that have most affected Canadians throughout the pandemic and Rise offers a solution for both—entrepreneurship.”
Client Insight:
79%of Rise clients take pride in establishing and/or enhancing their business.
Client Insight:
71%of Rise clients agree that establishing their own business has helped to reduce stigma associated with mental illness.
Rising to the Opportunity for Growth
We received 26% more applications to the Small Business Lending Program from September 2020 to February 2021 (vs. September 2019 to February 2020).
We exceeded our graduation targets by 28% across all of our youth-centric training programs (May 2020 to April 2021).
We received four times (4x) the number of applications to spaces available across all of our training programs (May 2020 to April 2021).
OUR STRATEGIC PLAN: RISE ABOVE
OUR STRATEGIC PLAN: RISE ABOVE
When Canada went into its first COVID-19 lockdown, we held our collective breath, uncertain of what might happen next. Accordingly, Rise saw an immediate drop in applications to our programs. But we persisted, adapting to online programming, and within six-months, our climbing application rates made it clear that, like us, many Canadians see self-employment and entrepreneurship as promising avenues for recovery.
But it’s not only the effects of the pandemic that are inspiring new small businesses—more and more, we’re seeing young Canadians in particular, pursue business ideas that live at the intersection of recovery and social issues, such as Black Lives Matter, Me Too, LGBTQIA+ and Indigenous rights and reconciliation. The opportunity for entrepreneurs to lead change on matters that affect our society has given new urgency to our work, which is why we’re proud to have released our first multi-year strategic plan in early 2021: Rise Above (2021-2023).
Built on a commitment to impact, community, and sustainability, Rise Above is a roadmap to reach more Canadians, to harness the power of our national community, and to lay the infrastructure not for where we are, but where we’re going.
Our Strategic Goals
Empower More Clients
Empower More Clients
We want more Canadians with mental health and addiction challenges to be empowered through entrepreneurship. That’s why we’ve set a goal to double our annual program participation from 500 clients to 1,000 over three years!
Work Across Canada
Work Across Canada
We aim to be operational in each of Canada’s five major geographical regions by 2023—Atlantic, Central, Prairie, West and North. The good news is, we’re nearly there!
More Measurable Success
More Measurable Success
We don’t just want more Canadians from more regions accessing our programs, we want to help effect greater impact in our clients’ lives. By 2023, we aim to improve our clients’ measurable social and financial inclusion.
Darcy Alemany
Pin-Ace | Toronto, ON
Peer Supported Startup Program
The first line of Darcy Alemany’s “About” page reads, “Pin-Ace may be the best thing to come out of one of the hardest times of my life.”
Darcy was experiencing severe depression when the pandemic hit. With mental health resources limited by lockdowns, his health professionals recommended finding an activity to help him re-learn productivity. Darcy decided to pursue his long-time passion for making enamel pins. Then, in spring 2021, he participated in Rise's Peer Supported Startup Program, where he says he learned how to write a proper business plan and built the skills to implement it.
The result is Pin-Ace—a giftware brand producing accessories that support LGBTQ+, Social Justice, and Body Positive communities. In June, Darcy had a #1 Bestseller on Amazon Canada, and after a busy Pride season, he says he can’t wait to grow his business.
Entrepreneurs
Taking Charge
Meet Laura Brothers, Marshall Lee, and Lainey Rae Thompson, three Canadians who, with support from Rise, have launched small businesses and found promising new ways forward as entrepreneurs.
Visit Laura, Marshall and Lainey online:
Client Insight:
50%of Rise clients report an increase in personal and business income.
Client Insight:
71%of Rise clients express confidence in themselves as entrepreneurs and feel that they are playing a useful part in society.
What We Do
Rise offers a variety of programs that combine low-interest lending, start-up grants, training, skill-building, and mentorship to empower entrepreneurs towards self-employment and/or small business ownership.
Small Business
Lending Program
The Small Business Lending Program provides entrepreneurs who can’t access traditional financing with access to low-interest business loans and mentorship to help them launch and/or grow their small business.
Our goal is to set our clients up for success. As a character-based lender, we consider the whole person when evaluating for a loan, not just their credit score. We can lend up to $10,000 (our average loan is $4,000), and we offer flexible, personalized repayment support. We also match each client with a mentor who provides one-on-one guidance and support to help them implement their business plan.
Peer Supported
Startup Program
The Peer Supported Startup Program provides entrepreneurs aged 30+ with access to skills training, business guidance, and the support of a peer network. In addition to virtual classroom sessions, participants work in smaller groups with volunteer coaches to develop their individual business plans. Graduates of this 8-week program also receive a $300 start-up grant.
Youth Small
Business Program
Open to residents of Ontario ages 16 to 29, the Youth Small Business Program offers live virtual classes and group business coaching to help aspiring entrepreneurs build confidence and develop individual business plans, while exploring business fundamentals and wellness topics such as mindfulness. Graduates of this 10-week program also receive a $500 start-up grant.
EnterpRISEing Youth
EnterpRISEing Youth is a go-at-your-own-pace online learning program for youth 16 to 29 years old that leads participants through 15 modules to learn essential business skills, build confidence and develop a business plan. EnterpRISEing Youth participants also receive access to consultation with a Rise Business Advisor.
EnterpRISEing
Youth Plus
EnterpRISEing Youth Plus is an 8-week course that combines the flexibility of the EnterpRISEing Youth online learning program with the added support of virtual in-classroom workshops and access to a business coach. Graduates of EnterpRISEing Youth Plus also receive a $300 start-up grant.
Mary Kalanuk
Honest to Dog | Calgary, AB
Small Business Lending Program
Mary Kalanuk believed in her business idea, but she wasn’t sure that anyone else would.
At a time when she was experiencing depression and feeling disconnected from her community, she found affirmation and encouragement in the Rise Small Business Lending Program. With the support of a mentor and low-interest loans, Mary launched Honest to Dog, an online boutique for custom collars, leashes, and training equipment.
“When no one else would take a chance on me, Rise did,” Mary says. “[The program] increased my confidence and my ability to run a business. I always thought I could do it. Rise helped me prove it.”
With pet ownership and online shopping booming due to the pandemic, Mary has grown her business and says she’s ready to start serving customers globally.
We Are Rise: Our Community
Rise collaborates with partners from across Canada to engage entrepreneurs in our lending and training programs.
Training Program Partnerships
1. victoria, BC
2. Toronto, ON
Lending Program Partnerships
3. VANCOUVER, BC
4. EDMONTON, AB
5. WINNIPEG, MB
6. SUDBURY, ON
7. TORONTO-
MISSISSAUGA, ON
8. KINGSTON, ON
9. OTTAWA, ON
10. HALIFAX, NS
A Year of Impact
Here’s a look at the numbers that add up to the impact of our 2021 fiscal year (May 2020 - April 2021).
$264,450.00 is the total value of the loans we disbursed.
$264,450.00 is the total value of the loans we disbursed.
71 Rise loans were disbursed to entrepreneurs across Canada.
71 Rise loans were disbursed to entrepreneurs across Canada.
239 entrepreneurs participated in our training programs.
239 entrepreneurs participated in our training programs.
186 volunteers generously gave of their time and talent.
186 volunteers generously gave of their time and talent.
We have locations in 5 provinces.
We have locations in 5 provinces. In 2021, we opened Rise Winnipeg in Manitoba.
Virtual program delivery enabled us to reach entrepreneurs in 8 provinces & 1 territory.
Virtual program delivery enabled us to reach entrepreneurs in 8 provinces & 1 territory.
We served a diverse client base that was 60% women, 57% persons with low-income, and 32% Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC).
We served a diverse client base that was 60% women, 57% persons with low-income, and 32% Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC).
Miles Leslie
Move in Silence INC. | Pickering, ON
Youth Small Business Program
Miles Leslie was just five when he launched his first business venture, selling gum to friends at school. An avid student of entrepreneurship, at 18 he enrolled in the Rise Youth Small Business Program.
“One of the most impactful lessons I took away from Rise is the importance of building a business that aligns with your lifestyle and mental health,” Miles says. So, this highly motivated and motivational young man founded Move in Silence INC., an online business dedicated to educating and inspiring others to reach their maximum potential.
Miles says that COVID-19 is helping him reach his potential too. The pandemic has provided him time to leverage social media, scale his business, and with the influx of people looking for motivation during such a difficult time, reach new audiences
Rise Volunteers Move Business from
Practical to Personal
Despite pandemic pressures, 186 volunteers continued to give of their time and talent in our 2021 fiscal year (May 2020 - April 2021), donating their knowledge and experience to help entrepreneurs navigate an ever-changing business climate.
Meet long-time mentor and coach
Viraj DesaiManaging Director, CIM Professional Services Inc.
Meet long-time mentor and coach
Viraj DesaiManaging Director, CIM Professional Services Inc.
Viraj Desai has worn many hats since she started volunteering with Rise in 2012. First, she provided one-on-one mentorship to clients of our Small Business Lending Program, then began sharing her 25 years of leadership, management and consulting expertise as a coach to participants in our entrepreneurship training programs. And when the global pandemic forced all of our work online, Viraj’s invaluable support remained steadfast, impacting small businesses and affecting lives.
“I’m always very pleased to receive the feedback that my advice is helpful and practical enough to actually be useful,” she says. “It’s gratifying to not only see the clients’ businesses work, but to also see how their confidence and self-esteem grow.”
Meet one committed committee member
Jean BarrettAccount Manager, Community Micro Finance, Alterna Savings
Meet one committed committee member
Jean BarrettAccount Manager, Community Micro Finance, Alterna Savings
For Jean Barrett, the benefits of volunteering on the Rise Loan Review Committee (LRC) aren’t limited to giving back.
“I’m proud to contribute my expertise to the LRC and to have a meaningful impact in entrepreneurs’ lives,” she says. “Volunteering gives me the opportunity to help others and support a worthy cause, but I’ve also learned so much from my peers that has allowed me to grow personally and professionally.”
A member of the LRC since 2017, Jean plays a critical role in adjudicating Rise loan applications for approval—the spark that can help a good business idea catch fire.
“I’m motivated to continue volunteering with Rise to be a witness to the empowerment and successes of entrepreneurs across Canada.”
Building our Board of Directors
Building our Board of Directors
In 2021, our Board of Directors grew from six to nine members. We’re proud to welcome Raksha Bhayana, Boafoa Kwamena and Philippe Savoy to the team!
Thank you to everyone on our Board for your ongoing contributions
and dedication to our mission.
See our full Board of Directors +
Join our community and
become a Rise volunteer
LEARN MORE
Working Together, Closer than Ever
Despite the pandemic creating great physical distances, we’ve watched our community not only grow closer, but grow larger too. Here are some of the year’s most notable partnerships.
Bell Let’s Talk
One of our longest standing and most impactful partnerships has
been renewed through 2025! Our largest ever corporate gift, Bell
Let’s Talk has committed $1 million to Rise over five years, which
is not only helping us to engage more Canadians in our programs
and launch 300+ new small businesses, it has also facilitated our
expansion into a new province—Manitoba!
Learn more +
Canadian Mental Health Association, Manitoba and Winnipeg
Made possible by Bell Let’s Talk, in spring 2021, we proudly
launched Rise Winnipeg in partnership with the Canadian Mental
Health Association, Manitoba and Winnipeg (CMHA). This expansion
means Rise now has a physical presence in five provinces and that
our lending program, training resources and other personalized
supports - including mentorship - are readily available to
entrepreneurs in Manitoba.
Learn more +
LIFT Impact Partners
After helping us develop our National Scaling Strategy in 2017, we
are honoured to be working with LIFT Impact Partners (LIFT)
again. We’re part of a cohort of eight organizations participating
in the capacity-building program, Inclusion with Impact, through
which LIFT will support us with our next phase of strategic
growth, including bolstering partnerships, resources and our
profile to build greater capacity, reach and impact.
Learn more +
Ready, Willing and Able
Ready, Willing and Able (RWA) is a pan-Canadian approach to
include people with an intellectual disability or Autism Spectrum
Disorder in the competitive labour market. Through this
partnership, RWA provides matching grant funding to eligible Rise
clients. In our 2021 fiscal year, four of our clients qualified
for matching grants of $10,000.
Learn more +
Celebrating 10 Years of Excellence:
ROTMAN FAMILY ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARDS
To mark the occasion of our 10th anniversary and to commemorate the
indelible impact of our Founding Family, in 2020 we re-dedicated our
annual awards event as the
Rotman Family Entrepreneurship Awards. The
Rotman Family remain closely tied to the organization, particularly
through Sandy and Janis Rotman’s involvement. We are
grateful to Sandy and Janis and The Rotman Family Foundation for
their loyalty and enduring support, which we are thrilled to be able
to recognize via our signature event.
We had a lot to celebrate at the 2020 awards, and they also marked our first foray into adapting a large-scale in-person gathering for virtual delivery as a result of COVID-19. Expertly hosted by CTV Your Morning’s Anne-Marie Mediwake, the one-hour Zoom event was a resounding success!
Thank you to the Rotman Family for creating an organization so worthy of celebration; to our community of supporters for embracing the virtual model and attending with such care and enthusiasm; and most especially to our awards recipients, whose remarkable resilience, dedication, and passion serve as inspiration to us all.
Rotman Family Entrepreneur of the Year
Zuberi Attard, FundQi
Rotman Family Entrepreneur of the Year
Zuberi Attard, FundQi
“I really needed help and I didn’t have anywhere else to go …
when Rise gave [FundQi] that extra push, which was exactly what
we needed. Rise has given me hope, it has made
me feel dignified and proud, because you know what? I’m not a
lost cause.”
Dr. Paul Garfinkel Resilience Award
Elizabeth Tremblay, Mentor/Mentee CanadaDr. Paul Garfinkel Resilience Award
Elizabeth Tremblay, Mentor/Mentee Canada
“I knew I wanted to develop my skills when I signed up with
Rise, but I didn’t realize the motivation and
empowerment journey I was in for. I’m continually managing my
mental health, but I’ve overcome stigma, oppression, failure and
regret, and most importantly regained my family.”
Bell Let’s Talk Start-up Award
Tammy Maki, Raven Rising
Bell Let’s Talk Start-up Award
Tammy Maki, Raven Rising
“[Without Rise], I still would’ve opened a business, but
I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what I have. I faced a
lot of challenges, so just to get into a program and have
somebody give me a hand, really helped me feel like I was doing
the right thing.”
Rise Volunteer of the Year Award
Ian WayneRise Volunteer of the Year Award
Ian Wayne
“Something that I’ve been learning as I go through this
[mentoring] process is to have an open mind. It’s not my
definition of success, it’s [my mentee’s] definition of success
that we’re working with, so recognizing my assumptions and being
open is a really valuable part of my own development.”
To Our Dedicated Supporters: Thank you!
We rely on the generous support of a community of like-minded funders, partners and donors who share our vision of strengthening communities by unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit of all Canadians with mental health and addiction challenges.
See Our Donor ListHow We Do it: The Dollars and Sense
We continue to explore new partnerships and grow our donor base to facilitate more trainings, disburse more loans, encourage more small businesses, and empower more entrepreneurs across Canada.
See our F2021 Financials