Wellesley Institute

Wellesley Institute works in research and policy to improve health and health equity in the GTA through action on the social determinants of health.

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PSiB Saskatchewan: Engaging Business With Community

A dozen senior business leaders visited the Family Place, an innovative community initiative that supports young families and their children in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, as part of the national roll-out of the Prince’s Seeing is Believing (PSiB) initiative. PSiB was developed by HRH The Prince of Wales as a practical platform to engage senior business leaders in vital community issues and is being developed in Canada by Prince’s Charities Canada with the operational support of the Wellesley Institute.

Business leaders mix it up with the children and parents at the Family Place to learn first-hand of the issues and solutions facing young families. One-on-one activities are at the centre of the PSiB model.
Business leaders mix it up with the children and parents at the Family Place to learn first-hand of the issues and solutions facing young families. One-on-one activities are at the centre of the PSiB model.

While Saskatchewan has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, there are significant challenges for young families with children in maintaining their jobs and also caring for the special needs of their children. Family Place provides wrap-around support for children and families but faces ongoing challenges in maintaining and growing its support programs.

Research from the Wellesley Institute shows that a strong community sector is vital to population health. Our work with PSiB is aimed at laying the foundations for creating healthier and more equitable communities.

While corporate philanthropy and volunteerism are useful for community organizations, PSiB aims to move business leaders beyond charity to challenge them to identify practical ways that they, as business leaders, can provide pragmatic support for high-performing community organizations working on critical social issues. PSiB aims to break down the barriers that often exist between the corporate and community sectors and create meaningful business-community alliances that lead to systemic change.

Following the community visit, the CEOs work through a facilitated process to identify practical ways in which they can engage with community groups. Regina / Weyburn CEO leader Sean Frisky leads the group discussion.
Following the community visit, the CEOs work through a facilitated process to identify practical ways in which they can engage with community groups. Regina / Weyburn CEO leader Sean Frisky leads the group discussion.

To date, two PSiB community visit days have been held in Toronto. The Regina/Weyburn event is the first on the national stage. Another PSiB event will be held in London, Ontario, in June and a third Toronto visit day is scheduled for mid-September. Other PSiB activities for Halifax, Calgary and Vancouver are in the planning stages.

Photos and videos of PSiB activities are available on the website of Prince’s Charities Canada.

A short video report from Global News of the PSiB Saskatchewan event is posted here.

Acknowledgement of Traditional Land

We wish to acknowledge this land on which the Wellesley Institute operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

Revised by the Ceremonial Committee at the University of Toronto Office of Indigenous Initiatives in April 2021.