Meet Marcia Nozick, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Social Change — Regional Impact Finalist

In 2001, Marcia Nozick founded EMBERS (Eastside Movement for Business and Economic Renewal Society) to create economic and employment opportunities for low-income residents in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. For over 23 years, her leadership has helped thousands overcome barriers to employment through self-employment education, job placements, training, and support.

Seven years later, Marcia launched EMBERS Staffing Solutions (ESS), a self-sustaining social enterprise that reinvests profits into the community. ESS provides flexible, short-term work placements and has made a significant social impact, paying $9.4 million in wages and employing more than 1,700 people in 2023.

Marcia’s innovative leadership has earned her national recognition, including the Governor General’s Innovation Award in 2020, the BC CEO Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2021, and the YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Community Champion in 2016. Before founding EMBERS, she coordinated Healthy Communities in Winnipeg, published City Magazine, and taught at Simon Fraser University. Marcia holds a master’s degree in city planning and authored the book No Place Like Home: Building Sustainable Communities in 1992, which David Suzuki praised as “a must-read.”

The moment I knew I wanted to catalyze social change was… in 1997, when I moved from Winnipeg to Vancouver. I was struck by the stark contrast between Gastown’s multi-million dollar condos and the homelessness and drug crisis just steps away in the Downtown Eastside. This disparity was a vivid reminder of the deep inequalities in our society — a dystopia hidden in plain sight — and I felt compelled to take action and help bridge that divide.

My mission aims to create a positive impact by… changing lives through the power of work — one person, one job, one day at a time. For the people we help, employment is more than just a job. It’s a chance to rebuild a life, develop self-esteem, build self identity, and feel hopeful about their future.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a change leader is… don’t give up on people — look past their barriers and see their potential. Over the years, I’ve seen thousands of people who were written off by society become successful, upstanding citizens. With the right kind of support, people can rise above their challenges and achieve what nobody thought was possible.

My proudest accomplishment is… turning an idea into a multi-million dollar social enterprise that has helped thousands of people! I started EMBERS Staffing after a Downtown Eastside resident mentioned that a non-profit temp agency would provide better pay and more support than the for-profit temp agencies. It struck me as a brilliant idea and an elegant solution to a complex social problem. 

The biggest risk I took that paid off was… starting my social enterprise, EMBERS Staffing Solutions. I knew that it was a great idea, but I didn’t know the industry, or how to start a business. Moving from a grant-funded business model to a self-funded one was a big risk.  Since then, we’ve given thousands of people work, training, paychecks, pride and dignity, and I’d say it paid off!

My biggest setback has been… setting up another social enterprise, EMBERS Green Renovations, in 2011. It didn’t work out as planned. Bidding on contracts put us in direct competition with some of our construction company customers, and I learned that not every business idea works out.

I overcame it by… shutting it down! We decided to focus on growing our staffing company for its broad social impact, and we’ve stuck to that. 

One of the most important lessons I’ve gained from my experience within the sector is… operating a social enterprise is a balancing act. We have a double bottom line, both social and business — I like to say we’re 45 per cent social and 55 per cent business. Without a thriving business, you won’t have the profits to invest back into the people you want to help. Our social impact is a direct result of our business success. 

I surprise people when I tell them… that I started out as a concert pianist, taught piano at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music & Arts, and have a degree in piano performance.

If I had an extra hour in the day, I would use it to… sleep!

If you googled me, you still wouldn’t know… that I have been a student of Buddhism since 1995. It’s about the here and now, making every moment come alive, not overly planning for the future dwelling on regrets. It’s about making things happen.

The future excites me because… I see new generation businesses embracing social equity and environmental responsibility by integrating these values into their operations. This shift, combined with the resilience I witness at EMBERS, gives me hope. If we all take small, purposeful actions each day, I believe we can change the world together.

Connect with Marcia on LinkedIn and learn more about EMBERS on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).