Economic Nutrition: Making Money Visible
Curious to learn more about Economic Nutrition?
Please join us on Thursday, March 26 at 2:30pm (NL) / 1:00pm (ET) / 10:00am (PT) as Shorefast Institute’s Financial Innovation Lead Gwen Patrick presents Economic Nutrition: Making Money Visible to demonstrate how the initiative can support the retention of capital in your community.
Gwen will be joined by Diane Hodgins, Senior Advisor to Shorefast Institute and co-creator of Economic Nutrition who will lead an engaging conversation with members from our inaugural certification program Brian Cant (President, 4TVI) and Jeffrey Young (President & CEO, Mi’kmaw Cultural Foundation).
Together, they will be sharing key insights from the Economic Nutrition Program and emerging pathways to bring the certification mark to a business, organization, or government near you.
Jeffrey T. Young
President & CEO | Mi’kmaw Cultural Foundation
Jeffrey T. Young, originally from New Brunswick, was raised on the Port au Port peninsula and currently resides in Stephenville. A Franco-Mi’kmaw individual, Jeffrey has been volunteering and working across communities in Newfoundland and Labrador since his formative years. He assumed roles of increasing responsibility within the Mi’kmaw Cultural Foundation, culminating in his appointment as its first Executive Director in 2021. While he has transitioned from this role, Jeffrey maintains enduring connections with the Mi'kmaw communities. Presently, he employs a two-eyed seeing approach, integrating Indigenous ways of living with Western ways of knowing. He assists businesses, non-profit organizations, and charities in optimizing their operations by tapping into strengths derived from both cultural frameworks. Jeffrey has pursued a robust educational background in business studies. His dedication to bridging the gap between cultural understanding and business acumen underscores his commitment to creating positive impact within Indigenous communities.
Brian Cant
President | 4TVI (Tourism Vancouver Island)
Brian Cant has worked in strategic leadership in the tourism industry for more than two decades. Inspired by his summer job guiding visitors through the underground mine at the Rossland Museum, Cant found his calling in the industry. He previously held the role of Director, Communications & Engagement for the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, a community-based not-for-profit. His career has also included roles with tartanbond and Destination British Columbia. Cant is a proud, three-time graduate of the University of Victoria, most recently gaining his MBA. He serves as a member of the executive of the university’s Board of Governors. He is a proud member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and one-half of a two-dad family. He grew up less than five minutes away from the ski lifts at Red Mountain Resort in Rossland, BC, where he was first put on skis by his dad at the age of 18 months. Cant has managed to share his lifelong passion for skiing with his daughter.
Diane Hodgins
Senior Advisor | Shorefast Institute for Place-Based Economies
Diane Hodgins is Senior Advisor with Shorefast Institute, bridging the worlds of business, finance, and community impact. Known as a “numeric linguist,” she translates complex financial concepts into clear, practical insights. She is the co-creator of Economic NutritionCM, which answers the question: “Where does the money go?” As Shorefast’s Chief Financial Officer for more than a decade, Diane played a key role in shaping the organization’s growth—from strategic visioning, finance and governance to hands-on operations. She now shares this experience to help others turn innovative, place-based ideas into sustainable realities.
Gwen Patrick
Financial Innovation Lead | Shorefast Institute for Place-Based Economies
Gwen is the Financial Innovation Lead at the Shorefast Institute on Fogo Island, overseeing program execution and financial and economic toolset development. She grew up on Salt Spring Island, BC, where she founded the Foundation of Youth, a youth advisory committee of the Salt Spring Island Foundation. While earning her Bachelor of Commerce at Queen’s University, she received the Kehoe Fellowship, enabling her to intern with Shorefast on Fogo Island. After graduation, she obtained her CPA designation and worked in public accounting at a Big Four firm before returning to Shorefast.
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