‘Thinking globally while acting locally’
SDG Idea Factory to support startups working toward UN development goals
A new entrepreneurship hub in downtown Kitchener exemplifies the spirit of collaboration that’s key to tackling global challenges, Ontario’s lieutenantgovernor said Tuesday.
“Its existence is a testament to your community spirit and your devotion to thinking globally while acting locally,” said Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell at the official opening of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Idea Factory.
“I know that your contributions will no doubt make a significant effort in a resilient province, in a world that actually works for everyone.”
Located at 2 King St. W. in the former BMO bank building, the city-operated facility looks to support the development of startups and small businesses whose work focuses on social and environmental innovation and advances the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by United Nations members in 2015.
Addressing challenges such as poverty, inequality and climate change, the goals are a blueprint to achieving a better future for all.
“They’re for the whole world,” said Karina Gould, the federal minister of families, children and social development.
“It’s not about the global North teaching the global South. It’s actually about all of us looking inward and being introspective and saying, ‘How can we achieve these objectives together?’ ”
Joining Dowdeswell and Gould at Tuesday’s event were a host of elected officials and community leaders.
The SDG Idea Factory itself reflects one of the goals: to establish partnerships and work together to affect change.
Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic announced the hub has been named United Cities and Local Governments’ first North American Local4Action Hub, joining 13 others around the world in helping local and regional governments “to share groundbreaking projects that can transform global policies.”
He also noted the SDG Idea Factory will serve as an outpost for Sustainable Waterloo Region, hosting talks, networking events and mentoring opportunities at the site.
The hub is already home to organizations including the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre, LiftOff (a Black entrepreneurship program presented by the Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo
Region), ForUsGirls Foundation (a Black feminist organization providing skills and leadership development programs), Waterloo Region Community Foundation, and Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest.
At the corner of King and Queen streets, the building was purchased by the city in 2020. The city plans to hold the site for up to 10 years to allow neighbour TheMuseum to raise funds for an addition it would build on the site.
Knowing it will take time for TheMuseum to complete its due diligence, “we knew we had an asset here that could be put to a good interim community use,” Vrbanovic said.
In keeping with the hub’s mandate, renovations were conducted carefully and sparingly in the 20,000-square foot space, with recycled carpet and repurposed furniture donated by Communitech.
“We want this to be about community, and building the ecosystem,” said Naudia Banton, entrepreneurship and technology adviser for the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre and SDG Idea Factory lead.
Banton described the hub’s desired outcome as “helping difference-makers in our community turn ideas into real impact.”