Google Canada focuses its CSR initiatives on providing technological education and skills training to Canadian youth. It donates $1.5 million to Actua to teach STEM programming to over 225,000 students. Google also partners with start-up incubators like Communitech to provide mentoring and resources to Canadian tech startups through initiatives like free office space and web tools. The goals are to develop the tech sector in Canada and support the growth of future companies.

1. Google Canada
Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives
Aleena Anna James
300811928
Professor Natalie Chinsam
Corporate Social Responsibility
INTL-710-002
October 19 2015

2. Table of Contents
Google Canada 2
Google Canada CSR
Initiatives
Critical Analysis
3
4
Suggestions 5
Conclusion 6
References 7

3. - 2 -
Google Canada
Google incorporation, now under the umbrella organization Alphabet, was founded on
September 4 1998 by Stanford graduates Larry Page and Sergey Brin. The company has reached
the level of technological giant. Google is famous for its amazing workplace environment
(O'Neill, 2015) and is always in the top 10 list of fortune 500 companies. Google is one of those
companies that has reached the transforming stage in the corporate ladder. The company has not
been associated with socially irresponsible actions. Google’s Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) initiatives follows the company. It is not just locally embedded in its home country.
Google advocates its socially responsible culture globally. Google is a technology based
company and they believe that technology can positively change the world. Google topped the
list of top 10 companies with the best CSR reputations in the world with a score of 72.71 (Smith,
2013).
Google’s CSR initiatives starts from within the company. They are known to provide the best
workplace for their employees and to establish the image of a caring organization. According to
Jacquelline Fuller, Google Giving director, Google believes in giving back to the society (Smith,
2013)and the company is associated with initiatives in China that is aimed at providing education
for under privileged children (Corporate Social Responsibility, 2015). Worldwide the company
has donated over US$353 billion as free advertisements, products and voluntary works of almost
150,000 hours by its employees (Smith, 2013).

4. - 3 -
Google Canada CSR Initiatives
Description
Google has the motto of not be evil as a company, as a culture and as an organization. The
concept of younger generations is greatly influenced by technology. The importance of
programming/coding has grown more than ever in this decade. According to “Duru Uluk” a
Canadian eighth grader, coding is an inevitable skill to be successful (Lewington, 2014). This
realization has forced technological companies to work with schools to improve the skills of
younger generation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) (Lewington, 2014).
Google Canada has donated CAD$1.5 billion to Actua which is a network of colleges in Canada
that educates STEM programming to almost 225,000 young people in Canada (Lewington,
2014). The program in coalition with Waterloo technological program is dedicated to provide
real time coding experiences and fundamental lessons to over 100,000 students in several
workshops (Lewington, 2014).
Google’s CSR initiatives in Canada is mainly rooted on providing technological skills to
Canadian youth and to support start-up companies in the country. Communitech is one of
Canada’s biggest supporter of technological start-up companies. In 2012, Google officially
became Communitech’s official partner in supporting companies that are Canadian based and are
into technological products/services (Platz, 2012). Google has dedicated specific space in their
Kitchener office to facilitate new start-ups to utilize Google’s Entrepreneurial and Developer
Networks (Platz, 2012). Google Canada’s Engineering Director, Mr. Steve Woods, explain
company’s aim to support and develop successful technology companies that are Canadian born
(Platz, 2012). Google employees are designated to act as mentors for such young entrepreneurs
and to give them fundamental knowledge in coding (Platz, 2012). This coalition has effectively
created a Silicon Valley model hub in Kitchener-Waterloo in Canada.
Google Canada also uses its dominance in internet to help Canadian start-ups by offering a
year’s free web tools to maintain a website (Jackson, 2011). Offering a free presence on internet
helps small start-ups to reach a wide consumer base.

5. - 4 -
Critical Analysis
Google Canada has a CSR initiative that is peculiar to the competency of the company. Canada
being a developed country, Google has turned onto something that Canada lacks to launch its
CSR activities. Canada lacks country based technological firms; however the young generation
in Canada has the potential to create companies like Google. Google has identified this need for
the Canadian student community and is actively helping younger talents to grow. Google has not
just donated money for such initiatives, but they are using their facility to support these
companies. Google’s involvement in Canadian start-ups shows Type III CSR initiatives from the
side of the organization.
Google also motivates its employees to participate in these activities. The mentors that Google
offers are its own employees. Googlers engage in voluntary activities which effectively
consumers almost 6,200 working days (Smith, 2013). Creating a ground for education that
provide skills in one of the most demanding careers of the future is how Google is tackling its
social responsibility in Canada.
Google has the history of being a local company in the countries they operate. Their CSR
measures though global are also designed to suit local needs. Google has identified the need in
Canada and how to sustainably grow Canadian economy. Engaging in Type I CSR initiatives is
not what Canada needs. The economic downside Canada faced throughout is due to the lack of
manufacturing companies and Canadian owned companies. Google is trying to solve that
problem. This also indicates the depth up to which the company goes into before creating a CSR
proposal. CSR does not always have to concentrate on poverty and environment unless that is the
major problem faced by the specific society. CSR has a wider scope and that is explained by the
CSR proposal of Google Canada.

6. - 5 -
Suggestions
Google Canada’s CSR proposal is successful in its operations and is catering to the needs of
Canadian youth. However, the service provided is not accessible to every youth in Canada. The
project is concentrated mainly on its Toronto and Kitchener offices. This will result in the
development of these areas but again leave out most of the Canadian talent. It will help to create
a technological hub similar to Silicon Valley, but it should include a wider scope geographically.
Investing in Actua eliminates this to a limit; however, to get the best use of the support the
accessibility of Google facilities is a necessary. Some of the recommendations to avoid this
geographical gap is:
 To create online portal so that students across Canada can access the facility.
 To setup registration systems that authenticate the usage of the facility for security
purposes.
 To setup camps and workshops in various provinces annually to strengthen the
functioning of start-ups.
If Google could take this initiative Canada wide along with its partners, the company is
facilitating the creation of numerous companies for Canada that could eventually drive Canadian
economy in the long term.

7. - 6 -
Conclusion
Google Canada is leaving a pathway for other technological giants in Canada on how to use their
competencies to create a CSR policy. Companies often engage in charity because it is easier for
them and it is easy advertisement. Google’s initiative is not for gathering public appeal, but it is a
strategic and sincere effort from the world’s technology giant to support companies that could
become another “Google” in the future.
Corporate Social Responsibility has a dimension that is not just about financial support. It is
about facilitating growth and sustainability so that communities can support themselves
financially. Google’s effort in Canada is an example for such a CSR initiative. Companies should
focus on creating jobs and growing economy rather than donating money for charity dinners.
CSR is aimed bringing a positive change and change is followed by action.

8. - 7 -
References
CorporateSocialResponsibility.(2015). Retrievedfromhttp://www.google.cn/:
http://www.google.cn/intl/en/about/company/responsibility/
Jackson,B. (2011, March 30). Google offersto buy Canadian smallfirmsa Web site. Retrievedfrom
http://www.itbusiness.ca/:http://www.itbusiness.ca/news/google-offers-to-buy-canadian-
small-firms-a-web-site/16076
Lewington,J.(2014, October28). Why tech giantsare investing in STEM programsforstudents.
Retrievedfromhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/why-tech-giants-are-investing-in-
stem-programs-for-students/article21329798/
O'Neill,C.(2015). A WorkplaceWhere Fun FollowsFunction. Retrievedfromhttp://www.hok.com/:
http://www.hok.com/design/region/canada/google-canada-headquarters/
Platz,K.(2012, Novemebr13). Google Canada and Communitech Collaborate to SupportCanadian Start-
Ups. Retrievedfromhttp://news.communitech.ca/:
http://news.communitech.ca/news/startups/google-canada-and-communitech-collaborate-to-
support-canadian-start-ups/
Smith,J.(2013, October2). The CompaniesWith the Best CSR Reputations. Retrievedfrom
http://www.forbes.com/:http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/10/02/the-
companies-with-the-best-csr-reputations-2/