Impact Lab Social Enterprise Speaker Series – Models of Social Change and Changemaking in Practice

Our second Impact Lab of this 4-part series will focus on Models of Social Change and Changemaking in Practice, led by Aminda Thomas, Operations / Business Development Manager at ʔaq̓am Community Enterprises and Becky Pelkonen, Sustainable Business Coordinator at College of the Rockies.

This event is FREE to attend but we do ask that you pre-register online by following this link.

Participants will explore:

• What a “model of social change” looks like in real-world practice and from a Ktunaxa business perspective
• How changemaking can be embedded into business units from the outset
• Balancing economic development with social, cultural, and community priorities
• Differentiation and collaboration without duplication in complex community ecosystems
• How Indigenous-led enterprises design for long-term impact and stewardship

This session is open to students, community members, nonprofit leaders, and social entrepreneurs across Canada who are curious about social innovation, Indigenous economic development, and systems-level change. Join us to learn, reflect, and connect with peers across the region and beyond.

About Aminda:

Aminda Thomas (Joseph) is ʔaq̓amnik’ Ktunaxa and currently serves as Operations / Business Development Manager with ʔaq̓am Community Enterprises, where she supports the development and operation of business units rooted in community benefit, changemaking, and economic resilience for future generations.

Born in ʔa·kisqakⱡiʔit (Cranbrook, BC), Aminda brings a strong background in administration, operations, and people-centered leadership, with experience spanning retail management, sales, essential services, and community-facing roles. Throughout her career, she has been deeply drawn to work that centers relationships, service, and creating welcoming spaces for people to thrive.

Aminda is passionate about supporting the growth of her community and the Ktunaxa Nation as a whole, economically, culturally, and socially, and sees changemaking as something that is lived daily through thoughtful leadership, strong relationships, and care for community. She is also a mother of four, a student of Reiki healing, and someone who approaches each day as an opportunity to bring light, connection, and purpose into the world.