A Decade of Teaching CSR in Canada: Mimi Marrocco Shares Insights (Part 2 of 2)

The CSR Certificate Program at the University of St. Michael's College is a decade old. Attending a ten-year celebratory conference I was reminded of the learning, networking and experiences attributed to my time as a certificate candidate. I spoke with Director of CSR Programs M.J. (Mimi) Marrocco about the CSR program and asked for her observations of corporate sustainability in Canada. In this second in a two-part series, Mimi Marrocco talks about CSR leadership in Canada and what's next for the program.

Economy vs. CSR in the Financial Downturn 

While Canada has not negatively experienced the global financial downturn to the degree experienced in Europe or the US, it is affecting business. I was interested to learn whether the subject has been discussed among this year's CSR Certificate cohort. Marrocco replies, "We do talk about budget cuts to CSR initiatives in difficult financial times. But the organizations that "get it" realize that to be sustainable in the long term is to invest in sustainable and socially responsible initiatives for the long term." She adds, "Thinking long term is essential to the way we view CSR. It really is an antidote to short-termism."

The financial downturn has not affected program attendance. Although Marrocco notes that some companies have experienced layoffs and community program cuts, the essential components to viable CSR programs tend to remain, even in tough times. Companies that are committed to CSR understand that sustainability includes economic viability.

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Meirav Even-Har is a Justmeans staff blogger. She reports on Canadian CSR issues. Meirav is an independent sustainability consultant and writer working in Toronto, Canada.