CDR and social enterprise for an enlightened economy

Tashi Farmilo

A growing number of people across Quebec are exploring new ways to build businesses that do more than just make money. These are called social enterprises, and they’re changing how we think about the economy, especially here in the Outaouais.

To help residents learn more, the Outaouais-Laurentides Regional Development Cooperative (CDR) hosted a free online session on February 2, called ABC de l’économie sociale. The event introduced the core ideas behind social enterprises and gave attendees a chance to ask questions, share ideas, and learn how to get involved in this growing movement.

A social enterprise is a business built around a social mission. It could be a cooperative daycare, a community-run grocery store, a housing initiative, or a non-profit cultural centre. What these enterprises have in common is that they sell goods or services like any business, but they reinvest their profits into their mission instead of paying private shareholders. They are governed democratically, managed transparently, and designed to respond to real needs in their communities.

Quebec has a unique relationship with this model. It officially recognized the social economy as a distinct sector in 2013 through the Loi sur l’économie sociale, which acknowledges the importance of solidarity, participation, and sustainability in economic life. The province also has a long history of cooperatives, mutual aid groups, and community-led initiatives that have helped shape this approach.

Jean-Sébastien Caron de Montigny, a Development Advisor at CDR, led the session from the Outaouais. He explained how social enterprises in Quebec are structured, what legal forms they can take, such as non-profits (OBNLs) and cooperatives (COOPs), and how their governance models ensure accountability to their members and communities. He emphasized that these are independent organizations that generate income and operate efficiently, but always with a social purpose at the centre.

Participants at the session included a wide mix of residents: some looking to launch co-op cafés or education centres, others exploring arts-based or cultural initiatives, and several new board members wanting to better understand their roles. The discussion focused on how to get started, how to manage responsibilities, and how to align values with practice. The session reinforced that building a social enterprise is not only possible, it’s already happening across the region.

According to the Quebec government’s 2022 statistical report on the social economy, there are more than 11,200 social economy organizations across the province employing over 220,000 people. These enterprises represent more than five per cent of all jobs in Quebec. In the Outaouais region, 460 such businesses support over 6,700 jobs and generate approximately $422 million in annual revenue.

But the impact of social enterprises goes far beyond numbers. As outlined in a legal white paper by Langlois Lawyers, social enterprises represent a distinct legal model, one that merges entrepreneurial drive with a clearly defined social mission. Unlike traditional businesses, which are accountable primarily to shareholders, social enterprises are designed to prioritize collective interests, public benefit, and participatory governance.

This model supports a long-term vision of sustainability over short-term profit. The white paper emphasizes that social enterprises contribute to legal and economic pluralism by filling gaps left by public and private sectors. Their hybrid structure gives them flexibility to innovate, while their legal frameworks protect against mission drift. In doing so, they help redefine what responsible economic activity looks like.

The CDR continues to support residents across the Outaouais with services that include incorporation assistance, governance training, business planning, and community outreach. Upcoming sessions this spring will cover everything from the legal duties of board members to early-stage ideation and funding strategies like L’Ampli 101. To take part in building a fairer, more sustainable economy, social enterprises offer both a model and a movement. More information and event registration is available at www.cdrol.coop.