Social Enterprise: The Human Face
You’ve probably heard the term social enterprise popping up more often these days. It’s a business model that blends profit with purpose—companies sell goods or services like any other business, but instead of keeping all the profits, they reinvest them back into their communities. In other words, when the business does well, so does society.
At the Saskatchewan Abilities Council, we’ve been living that philosophy for more than 60 years. Our programs have supported over 35,000 people with disabilities across the province, offering everything from recreation to rehabilitation to employment opportunities.
One of our newest ventures is expanding our Vetlinens business to include professional scrub uniforms. Every dollar we make goes right back into supporting our programs—and we’ve also been able to create meaningful jobs for people facing barriers to employment.
Take Doug Frankl, for example. After working 36 years at a tire factory, Doug was laid off. At his age, finding work again wasn’t easy. He picked up shifts cleaning at a local mall, but it was only weekends. That’s when a coworker suggested he connect with Partners in Employment in Regina.
Through them, Doug got vocational training and eventually landed a role with us. Today, he splits his time between our Wood Products Division and our Regina office in shipping and receiving. Doug beams with pride when he talks about learning new computer skills and taking on shipping tasks. “I’m up to tackling anything,” he told us.
He’s especially proud of another milestone—after working steadily since he was 18 and always saving carefully, Doug paid off his mortgage last spring. Now he owns his home outright.
Stories like Doug’s remind us why social enterprise matters. It’s not just about business; it’s about people, dignity, and building stronger communities together.