The Social Purchasing Portal has been an effective tool for many purchasers and suppliers. Since its launch in 2004, the Vancouver portal has generated over one million dollars in new business and helped to create 70 new jobs - 90% of them full-time - in the downtown east side. Toronto can achieve the same success.

Here are some of Vancouver’s success stories.

Cook Studio Catering: Creating jobs and happy customers!
"In a very short space of time Cook Studio Foodservices and its catering and foodservices division has made quite a name for itself in Vancouver. Since the catering division opened in May 2002, the company has grown greatly - mainly by word of mouth. Richard Rheaume, the Director of Catering and Foodservices, is an affable fellow and highly energetic. He gets a real charge when talking about the program he runs and how it helps others. There are two components to the program: one is for adults who are on income assistance and the other component is for youth-at-risk.

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LogoTex, An Employment Success Story
LogoTex is an integral member of the Vancouver Social Purchasing Portal. LogoTex creates promotional products that help companies establish their corporate identities and branding; for example, they create logos on pens, cups, shirts, and other many items. LogoTex is a key business supplier. They have been in business for twenty years. The Social Purchasing Portal helped connect the company with Marion, a woman who had been out of the labour force for more than 10 years and who is now providing a valuable contribution to LogoTex as a new employee.

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