These tools include the right to comment on proposed policies, laws and permits, the right to appeal certain decisions, rights to file investigations and reviews and rights to bring court actions. Drawing on experience with the EBR, the presenters will explain how the various tools work, describe examples of how Ontario residents and NGOs have used them and encourage participants to explore how they might creatively employ the EBR to achieve some of their goals.

The burden for documentation, combined with the additional scrutiny by regulators has required dramatic increases in both time and fees. Staff time on the audit has expanded as they’re forced to respond to more in-depth audit inquiries concerning internal controls and the presence of risk. Similar forces also are at work in the legal sphere. Learn how to correct problems in your systems to save money.

Celia Chandler will explain the new complaints process and present some advice on responding, bringing bring some practical tips for you to make sure you feel more prepared if a human rights complaint lands on your desk.

This session will provide hands-on advice and insights about how to do that as effectively and efficiently as possible.

This interactive workshop will examine the importance of internal control systems for producing financial reports and safeguarding the assets of your organization. Practical case studies will review the various aspects of good control systems and how they lead to timely, accurate and reliable reporting to assist the board of directors in making informed financial decisions.

Care, however, is required in implementing any social media marketing strategy in order to limit a non-profit’s legal exposure which can occur through social media use. This session will provide practical advice and best practices on how non-profits can build brand awareness and engagement for their initiatives while reducing the legal risks that accompany social media marketing through social media policies.

Whether you are a senior executive or a team player, knowing your personal brand allows you to engage people at all levels in an organization. Join Bobby Umar as he discusses the finer points of personal branding, employee engagement, and leadership that makes an impact.

In this session, you’ll hear what is required to move your fundraising efforts beyond grant writing to a more diversified program - and if it’s right or feasible for your organization. You’ll be given a “readiness checklist” to help identify your organization’s structural and cultural readiness to establish and maintain a sustainable fundraising program. You’ll be given a crash course on what it takes to raise funds in the private sector (I.e. from individuals, corporations, groups and foundations) and what the first steps are to get you there.

Some of the key changes contained in the new laws are provisions that will: enhance corporate governance; simplify the incorporation process for non-profits; give more rights to members of non-profits; better protect directors and officers from personal liability; and allow not-for-profits to engage in commercial activities where revenues are used by the corporation in support of their not-for-profit purposes. However, the huge volume of new rules poses significant compliance challenge. Learn what is covered under the new laws, and how they will affect your organization.

How do we navigate a fuzzy boundary that shifts in different circumstances (e.g. new ED, mature organization, small agency)? This session will focus on practical strategies for establishing the right conditions, addressing the inevitable tensions and making the board-ED relationship work.

Assurance standards have also changed when Canda transitioned to the International Assurance standards. The new Canadian Audit Standards (CAS) are having an impact on audits of not for profit organizations.
This workshop will review both standard changes, assess their impact and discuss strategies for not for profit organizations to mitigate the impact and plan for transition.
Learn what kinds of questions you can expect from your auditor as a result of the new standards and why.

1) how to manage poor performance and absenteeism; 2) how to correctly make changes to an employee's duties and responsibilities; 3) how to accommodate an individual's illness or disability; and 4) how to implement new employment policies (without running afoul of employee contracts).

Judy Lipp, Executive Director of TREC will also be on hand to discuss the day-to-day operations of making a social enterprise work. This session promises to be a lively opportunity for an exchange of new ideas as non-profits of various kinds explore the fee-for-service model and other non-traditional ways of financing organizations with a social or environmental mission.