CCEDNet mourns the passing of David LePage.
David got involved in CCEDNet not long after his arrival in Canada from the US. He helped organize CCEDNet’s first major event, the National Policy Forum in Vancouver in 2001. His subsequent roles at enterprising nonprofits, the Social Enterprise Council of Canada, the Social Enterprise World Forum and Buy Social Canada placed him at the forefront of actions to strengthen social enterprises and social procurement. He drew together his many insights into a book – Marketplace Revolution.
David was a longtime member of CCEDNet’s Policy Council, including as Chair and representative on the Board of Directors. He also was key in sustaining the People-Centred Economy Group after the National Summit on a People-Centred Economy in 2010, and was a partner in the Social Enterprise Ecosystem Project that CCEDNet administered.
He was appointed to the federal co-creation steering group that produced the Inclusive Innovation report, which became a blueprint for the government of Canada’s Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy.
In Manitoba, CCEDNet became the local enterprising nonprofits affiliate, launching our dedicated social enterprise programming with David facilitating the first events and workshops. His kind mentorship and advice often supported our local advocacy for a social enterprise strategy and for social procurement, eventually achieving a policy and action plan at the City of Winnipeg. Together, CCEDNet and the Social Enterprise Council of Canada (with David at the helm), hosted memorable Canadian Conferences on Social Enterprise in 2017 and 2019.
David travelled a lot (the Air Canada lounge was a second home), and joined many early remote meetings from the Pacific time zone. We will remember fondly his unique mixture of seriousness and laughter, his constructive criticism, and quick phone calls while he walked to his office in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
We offer his family and friends our deep condolences. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Social Enterprise Policy Fund which David established are encouraged.
More about David
- Full obituary
- Buy Social Canada’s memoriam
- Interview with Ma’at Re at SETSI
- Remembering David Lepage, a force for good
