Michael Shapcott

Background

About Michael Shapcott

I manage a busy retreat and conference centre in the South Shuswap region of British Columbia, welcoming more than overnight guests and day visitors annually to our 24-acre main campus and our 8-acre natural farm. We are a social purpose business and mission-driven organization, deeply engaged with our neighbours and extending generous hospitality, engaging education and abundant agriculture to those near and far. We program a range of events throughout the year, and host many arts, music and other activities. For more than three decades, I have been active in local, national and international work on housing and homelessness, poverty, urban health, youth employment, equality and equity, social exclusion and related areas. I work actively in the third sector, and have a strong human rights practice in my work. Through my innovation and enterprise work, I am working with others to create healthy and equitable communities by strengthening the non-profit sector through more effective collaboration with the business sector. The work includes engaging senior business leaders in developing and strengthening responsible business practices. Specialties: Statistical and economic analysis; social policy analysis; strategic planning; public policy impact; federal, provincial, municipal government relations; human rights and fundamental human values; liaison with governments at all levels, and at the international level; project management; systems thinking; cross-sectoral collaboration; with a strong focus on practical and pragmatic change; articulation of strong values in social and economy policy.