April 16, 2025
At B Local, our focus is amplification, collaboration, and supporting fellow B Corps with a mandate to do good as we do well.
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is the next in our Spotlight series with a goal to promote B Local member businesses, as well as bolster greater community through shared learning and experiences.
Talk to us about your WHY. Why a purpose driven business and why the pursuit of B Corp?
BDC is dedicated to entrepreneurs, working across our offices and across Canada to support those that are public-minded and B Corp made sense. We're especially proud of this and for becoming the first Canadian financial institution to certify as a B Corp in 2013. We did so because we wanted to showcase the values we represent and to reiterate that we are here to support businesses on the same path.
What does being a B Corp mean to you? To your team? To your customers?
We believe that by partnering with entrepreneurs and supporting their dreams of a better Canada, we can help move the dial when it comes to economic development that is inclusive and sustainable. By contributing to the global B Corp movement, we are supporting and growing a community of Canadian businesses that are sustainability leaders.
Can you share a specific example of how your company values have shaped your business practices or decision-making process?
BDC is dedicated to empowering Canadian entrepreneurs to establish robust and resilient businesses, thereby fostering a more prosperous, competitive, and inclusive Canada. One of our core values is being united for entrepreneurs. In 2024, we introduced our Community Banking initiative, which aims to enhance the lending and advisory capabilities of up to 80 community-based lending organizations. This initiative exemplifies our commitment to collaboration, strengthening businesses in Ontario and across Canada, and promoting sustainable, efficient, and high-performing SMEs.
