ESG: Environment, Social, Governance
ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance dimensions in an organization. It’s a globally recognized framework that is used to develop responsible, accountable, and purpose driven business practice. Explore some of the foundational frameworks and approaches employed in ESG:
Societal Megatrends: A View Beyond the Horizon
10 societal megatrends impacting Canadian sectors, organizations, and communities, including shifting societal norms, climate change, decarbonization, future skills and work, and much more, from ESDC Canada
17 goals that act as an urgent call for action by all organizations, and a great starting point for ESG strategies
Principles for Responsible Investing
Guidance to understand the investment implications of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors
Identify archetypes of response in ESG work, and how to address them, including denial, superficial responses, and full engagement, from Sage Journals
Global best practice standards for impact reporting, and delivering transparency for organizational impacts on the economy, the environment, and people
A call to companies to align strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights
Learn more about what is material (or in other words relevant) in an ESG strategy
A thought provoking read that explores the true costs of externalities in business, from WE Forum
You asked, and we delivered an overview of ESG
Listen to our podcast episode with The Humphrey Group sharing how to integrate ESG in your leadership.
3000 Year Old Solutions To Modern Day Problems
A message of leadership and hope from Indigenous communities who challenge an ESG way of living and conducting work, by Lyla June Johnson
Responsible Business Practices
Explore the work of those disrupting business as usual—resources that inspire purpose-driven, human-centered, and planet-affirming business practices.
A Harvard Business Review article by Mark Kramer exploring groundbreaking redistributive approaches to doing business
The Triple Bottom LineA method to measure social and environmental impact in addition to financial performance, by Harvard Business Review
A vision of what it means for humanity to thrive in the 21st century, by Kate Raworth
Conscious CapitalismAn emerging approach considering how capitalism can drive social equity, sustainability, and community well-being, from Concious Capitalism Inc
A thought-provoking report on the five elements of responsible leadership needed to build a more sustainable and equitable world, by Accenture and Davos
Minimize waste by designing regenerative systems that reuse and recycle materials, reducing environmental impact, from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Member-owned businesses that distribute profits and decision-making power among workers, consumers, or stakeholders, from the Government of Canada
Migrant Worker Management Toolkit
A comprehensive global guide examining how to support Migrant Workers through safe and equitable workplaces, policy, and programs, from BSR
Indigenous Allyship, De-Colonizing Practice, and Cultural Safety
Allyship means actively challenging oppressive systems by educating others on the histories and lived realities of marginalized communities. Decolonization goes beyond awareness—it involves dismantling colonial ideologies that uphold Western superiority while strengthening the rights, sovereignty, and self-determined systems of Indigenous peoples. Practicing cultural safety requires creating environments where everyone feels spiritually, socially, psychologically, and physically secure, fostering genuine inclusion and respect. The resources below offer insights and tools to support these commitments in meaningful ways
Decolonization is For Everyone
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
94 actionable policy recommendations to acknowledge the full history of Canada’s residential school system
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: Calls for Justice
A set of recommendations from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls calling on governments, institutions, and society to address systemic violence, uphold Indigenous rights, and ensure justice, safety, and dignity for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
UNDRIP: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People
Now adopted throughout Canada, UNDRIP is a framework that supports the individual and collective rights of Indigenous people
The First Nations Principles of OCAPExplore OCAP®—the First Nations principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession—and understand how they shape data governance, ensuring Indigenous communities have authority over their information.
Territorial AcknowledgementsLearn more about traditional Indigenous gathering protocols that honour and recognize the Indigenous peoples who have deep historical and significant ties to the lands where the gathering is taking place, developed by Len Pierre Consulting
San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training
Certified Indigenous-led online training offered through the BC Provincial Health Authority
Free post-secondary online training offered through the University of Alberta
Indigenous Territorial and Language Finder
An interactive worldwide map identifying the Indigenous nations and languages present per territory by Native Land
Experience the Great Flood Story from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation)
A glossary of terms that build the foundation for racial equity in language and approach from UBC
Doctrine of Discovery/Terra Nullius
Understand the harmful frameworks used by Spain, Portugal, and England for the colonization of lands, including North America, from Indigenous Corporate Training
First Nations Digital Document SourceA collection of electronic documents used primarily for research in land claims and First Nations issues
Power Literacy and Stewardship
Power is our capacity to impact and influence our environment, and power literacy is our ability to identify it. Power expresses our purposefulness, wholeness, and agency. Without power, nothing can grow. There are two fundamental types of power we can choose to steward- domination, or control, people and things, and liberation — the ability to create what we want. Learn more below:
Exploration of different forms of leadership power, or the influence that leaders have over their team members and communities, from Indeed
The Power Manual: How to Master Complex Power Dynamics
Explore getting out from under dominant power relations and mastering power dynamics, by Cyndi Suarez
Ethical, authentic, and effective use of power is illuminated in this comprehensive book by Julie Diamond. Topics include developing external authority, navigating high-power roles and responsibilities, and finding personal power
Article: Why People in Power Do Stupid Things
A thought provoking article by Andrea Reimer on power that unpacks connection, harmonizing, and mirror neurons
Power Exercise: Playing with Status
An exercise that plays with status relationships through non-verbal behaviours, from Session Lab
Tools and processes for community visioning, campaign planning, power mapping and leadership development developed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander changemakers and facilitators
ESG Board Governance
The role of boards are evolving in today’s landscape, with higher demands on oversight, insight, and foresight. More than ever, boards must engage in an ever growing list of material topics in ESG, and plan for resilience in the short, medium, and long term future.
Review of ESG issues that can impact a company, the forces driving renewed focus on reporting and the complexities of current frameworks, the role of the board and questions directors should be asking themselves and their executive teams, from PwC
Long Term Boards in a Short Term World
Thought-provoking white paper on how a board sets the tone for long-term, ESG focused behaviours, from FCLT Global
Board Oversight: Key Focus Areas
A review of strategy and risk, corporate purpose and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters, human capital and workforce issues, shareholder engagement and activism, crisis management, board-management relationships and board culture, from Harvard Law School Forum
Trauma Informed Practice
Trauma is characterized when a group or an individual is confronted with a threat that overwhelms their coping resources, evoking responses of intense helplessness, distress, fear, and as discussed, isolation. Trauma informed practice is a strengths-based framework grounded in an understanding of and responsiveness to the impact of trauma. It emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional safety for everyone, and creates opportunities for Survivors of trauma to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment.
Trauma Informed Practice Framework
Developed by the Maxwell Consulting Group for the City of Surrey, this 2024 framework emphasizes creating safe, supportive environments by recognizing and addressing the impacts of trauma, fostering resilience, and ensuring inclusive, compassionate services across the community.
Using stories and strategies that are grounded in Indigenous worldviews and embedded with cultural knowledge, Renee Linklater offers purposeful and practical methods to help individuals and communities that have experienced trauma
Indicative Trauma Impact Manual
A non-diagnostic, trauma-informed guide to emotion, thought, and behaviour by Jessica Taylor and Jami Shrive
Workplace Strategies for Mental Health
A compendium of resources, strategies, and free events addressing mental wellness in the workplace from Workplace Strategies for Mental Health
Better Conversations About Ethical Storytelling
Strategies for fostering meaningful, effective storytelling in global development, emphasizing active listening, empathy, and collaboration to drive impact, by Devex
Transformative Ethical Storytelling Principles
Practical resources to develop ethical stories for both story holders and story caretakers, from Our Race in Australia
A powerful chapter by Morgan Cataldo from the book, Designed with Care, challenging us to develop better stories that lead to action and change
Lived Experience on Non-Profit Boards
Explores the value of including individuals with lived experience on nonprofit boards, emphasizing their unique insights and contributions to better governance and decision-making, by Bayes Business School
Explore trauma informed practice on an individual level by exploring self-compassion, processing difficult emotions, and much more, from Dr. Kristin Neff
A guide from authors around the world supporting designing content for people who have experienced trauma
A helpful resource of coping and grounding techniques that can be employed when experiencing trauma activation, by Lisa M. Najavits
Trauma Informed Workplace Assessment
A free online assessment of organizational awareness and trauma informed practice, by the Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute
Demonstrates the brain’s ability to rewire itself through learning and experience, highlighting how we can reshape behaviors, enhance cognitive functions, and improve well-being, as explained in this video by Sentis
Trauma Informed Journalism Guide
A reference guide for reporters, editors and producers
working on tight deadlines providing brief evidence-informed guidance on news
choices, language usage and ethics in reporting on the impact of trauma.
Lived Experience Leadership: Rebooting the DNA of Leadership
A report strengthening the legitimacy and accountability of lived experience led social purpose work, improving service effectiveness and social change efforts, enhancing community cohesion through collaboration, and fostering innovation, by Baljeet Sandhu
Disability Inclusion and Universal Design
Disability inclusion means that individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in every aspect of life to the fullest extent possible. It is important to note that one part of inclusion involves creating true accessibility through universal design, rather than simply providing accommodations. True accessibility means places, environments, and event are set up from the start to be accessible to all individuals.
The Accessible Canada ActA federal law aimed at identifying, removing, and preventing barriers to accessibility for people with disabilities across Canada, promoting inclusivity in areas such as transportation, employment, and information, from the Government of Canada
Future Skills Report: Quality of WorkInsights and recommendations on how to address skills gaps and prepare the Canadian workforce for future challenges in a rapidly changing economy.
Disability Inclusive Employer Assessment
Free, online assessment that unlocks customized recommendations and resources, by the President’s Group and The Open Door Group
For Employees-How to Disclose a Disability to an Employer (BC)
A legal guide for people with disabilities in British Columbia who are disclosing to their employer, from Disability Alliance BC
Universal Design: Learning Guidelines
A guide for educators, curriculum developers, researchers, parents, and anyone else who wants to implement a universal design framework in a learning environment, from UDL Guidelines
Top 12 Disability Inclusive Employer Practices
A practical starting point for organizations to integrate inclusive practices in day to day operations from Accessible Employers
Creating Accessible Powerpoints
Step by step instructions and best practices for making your Powerpoint presentations accessible and unlock content for everyone, including people with disabilities, from Microsoft
Creating Accessible Zoom Meetings
How to engage Zoom’s features, including captioning, visual descriptions, and other accommodations, from Disability:IN
An initiative for Canadian employers to track and report the number of employees in workplaces, by the Open Door Group
Continuous Education Opportunities
Four free online courses that develop inclusive and accessible workplaces, generating a certification upon completion, from the President’s Group
ESG Frameworks & Modalities
A model for holistic community development that examines seven interconnected forms of capital—natural, cultural, human, social, political, financial, and built—to foster sustainable and equitable growth, by Cornelia Butler Flora and Jan L. Flora
Eco FuturismEnvisions a world where ecological health and human progress are deeply intertwined, emphasizing the use of green technologies, renewable resources, and systems that restore the environment, from Avenir Developments
Institutional Betrayal, DARVO, and Institutional Courage
Concepts that explore how institutions harm individuals through denial, retaliation, and failure to support victims, while also outlining pathways for accountability and ethical responsibility, by Jennifer Freyd
FAIR Framework: Fairness, Access, Inclusion, and Representation
A human-centered framework for building fair, accessible, inclusive, and representative organizations, designed around four principles to hone focus, defuse backlash, and build buy-in, by Lily Zheng
Understanding Team Effectiveness
A critical ESG framework we employ that fosters inclusive, ethical, and sustainable workplaces by ensuring employees feel safe to speak up, innovate, and contribute without fear of retaliation, originally developed by Amy Edmondson
Radical & Compassionate Candor
Leadership approaches that emphasize giving direct, honest feedback while caring personally, fostering a culture of accountability, growth, and psychological safety, by Kim Scott
A framework to consider how overlapping social identities and systemic inequalities shape access to opportunities, requiring businesses to adopt inclusive, justice-driven approaches to sustainability and governance, by Kimberlé Crenshaw
Ethical Storytelling & Lived Experience Inclusion
Meaningful Engagement of Persons with Lived Experience
Practical guidance and strategies for organizations to authentically involve individuals with lived experience in decision-making and program design, by the National Survivor Network
Trauma Informed Practice Framework- Ethical Storytelling and Lived Experience Inclusion
Chapter 6, developed by the Maxwell Consulting Group for the City of Surrey, explores the importance of ethical storytelling, the inclusion of lived experience, and provides a Lived Experience Inclusion Model, along with tools like a checklist and strategies for meaningful engagement, feedback loops, and ethical practices in storytelling
Framing Issues for Social Justice Impact
A library of global resources for framing, narrative and messaging on a range of issues including climate, crime, equality, nature, poverty and health, from The Commons Social Change Library
The Lived Experience Governance Toolkit
A practical toolkit and assessment exploring lived experience governance in organizations, from the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum
A guide to empathic social change storytelling, from Kate Marple
Better Conversations About Ethical Storytelling
Strategies for fostering meaningful, effective storytelling in global development, emphasizing active listening, empathy, and collaboration to drive impact, by Devex
Transformative Ethical Storytelling Principles
Practical resources to develop ethical stories for both story holders and story caretakers, from Our Race in Australia
A powerful chapter by Morgan Cataldo from the book, Designed with Care, challenging us to develop better stories that lead to action and change
Lived Experience on Non-Profit Boards
Explores the value of including individuals with lived experience on nonprofit boards, emphasizing their unique insights and contributions to better governance and decision-making, by Bayes Business School
Lived Experience Leadership: Rebooting the DNA of Leadership
A report strengthening the legitimacy and accountability of lived experience led social purpose work, improving service effectiveness and social change efforts, enhancing community cohesion through collaboration, and fostering innovation, by Baljeet Sandhu
Navigating Climate Misinformation Guide
A comprehensive resource designed to support journalists and editors in navigating climate-related misinformation