Back to school, stress and all that jazz...

So we're in the back to school season and I can't help but feel stressed out about it even though I'm no longer (thankfully) in the school system.  I've managed to keep my love of learning healthy and alive despite my experience.  Gone are the days of thinking about  OSAP, application, and enrollment deadlines, along with all the arcane convoluted procedures to get the courses you want, or simply just to get help.

Anyhow.  I wrote a little something for someone to clarify what Simplicity does and why is it a socially responsible company.  I thought it was so nifty that it deserved to be posted here.  You can tell I wrote it from the heart and it encapsulates what we've been doing to make a difference. 

"Simplicity is our turn key event planning division that specializes in taking the stress out of our clients events, at the same time we are a triple bottom line company that is environmentally and socially responsible.  We uphold these three tenets of responsibility through our staff, actions and involvement in the community.

Currently over 95% of what goes into creating our events is re-used, recycled, composted or donated to charity.  We have a close working relationship with Second Harvest and their affiliates so no food goes to waste.  We are also involved in the helping out staff where they need to get by providing them with assistance in, references, career planning, networking contacts, helping them get ready, apply themselves and meet the right people to achieve their personal goals. 
 
Some examples include, one of our staff whom [we] helped apply for and prepare her University portfolio.  We have also been able to turn events into volunteer experiences for several former Alpha II students who have been hired on as volunteers to acquire experiences.  Several of our staff are artists and entrepreneurs, we introduce them with other artists and vendors we work with to help build their network, or help them with what they need.   We also express our social responsibility through our choice of vendors and suppliers we work with.  We make every effort to work with and build close relationships with local vendors as well as other small businesses that express their own ethical/social responsibility.

In addition to this, Simplicity is deeply involved in the Alpha II community providing volunteer learning opportunities for the students for nearly three years in the school kitchen as well as volunteering time as a "parent" volunteer at events and as a caterer for several major events.   We have also branched out to voluntary cater for Harmony B Co-op's - Its Chez Nous Fest 2 Art Festival and are currently involved in helping with the admin/logistics/organization of the BICYCLE - Cabbagetown Youth Centre - Biking Mechanic program.


Our [personal] mission is to affect change through helping others, no matter how large or small, through our events or by committing our time and effort simplifying their lives and make a difference in the community. "

For those of you who don't know, we do all of this behind the scenes while providing our clients with turn-key event service, great staff and great catering all bundled into one happy convenient package.

Executive Summary (v0.5)

Draft (0.3 - collaborative)

Our Vision

To make Simplicity a leader in the Toronto event planning & catering industry by setting a new and different standard for excellence, then utilize our success to thrive and then diversify our company to an international scale.

To grow Simplicity to a highly adaptable self-sustaining corporate entity that does not betray its founding principles, upholds its core values without forgoing profitability.

Our Mission

To simplify our clients events through the development of a socially responsible company that creates stunning and truly memorable events through investing and nurturing its most important asset, its people.

Our Values

At Simplicity, we believe it is possible to be an ethical/social/and environmentally responsible organization that can be still be highly profitable and successful on an international scale.

• We believe that our greatest asset are the people who make up and drive Simplicity towards its successes.
• We believe that every event does not have to be over-budget and/or lavish to be truly memorable or successful.
• We believe in honesty, trust and transparency in dealing with all our clients and staff, to not only protect their confidence and trust as well ensure the success of our ventures with our clients.
• We believe that by surrounding ourselves with great people we will do great deeds and that our actions speak louder than our words.
• We believe that our company is a community is to be nurtured and created to effect change great and/or small in our world.
• We believe that egos have no place in our team or the work that we do.
• We believe in nurturing the entrepreneur spirit, supporting other small businesses and supporting Canadian business.

Our Objectives

• To offer a attractive socially/environmentally responsible and cost-effective alternative to our clients, and be a premiere Catering & Event Planning company in the next five years.
  
• To set a new standard in the treatment, development, well-being and cultivation of our people and help them be the best they can be and want to be.
  
• To constantly innovate provide a fertile place for creativity, learning and well-being, and never be set in our ways or inflexible, and/or be a one-trick pony
  
• To offer a nurturing, equitable and socially conscious and positive work environment for our people
• To affect effect change in our world, great or small, personal or community or global level
• To simplify the well-being, living and joy for all who interact with Simplicity.

Who are we? (In a nutshell)

Welcome to our blog!

(This is the part where I come up with something snappy to say)



This is the first official web blog for Simplicity Event Planning and Catering. Our purpose is multi-fold. To our clients, our mission is to "Simplify your event"! Whether your event is an intimate private celebration, or a corporate celebration, big or small; our focus is to make your event a truly successful and above all a memorable one!



We are here to ensure it is as painless, easy, seamless and worry free as possible, without breaking our clients budgets.

For our part, Simplicity is also a close-knit socially responsible community of people working together to effect change great and small. All the while building a fantastic company, one event at a time.

That being said, this blog has many purposes. But for now, its main purpose is to keep our supporters, clients and stakeholders connected and informed in what we do, how we're evolving, adapting, and above all thriving!

Whether you're an entrepreneur seeking inspiration, aspiring event planner, client, supporter or just plain curious. You're completely welcome to watch as Simplicity and all its ventures unfold.

Hardhats please!

This is a test blog. Had this been an actual emergency blog, a tone would sound indicating you should check back regularly. (Cue tone)

Excuse our dust. We're currently renovating! :)