CAREER OVERVIEW

Brenda Herchmer is a dedicated community builder with extensive experience in grassroots initiatives across Canada. Her work has demonstrated that social, environmental, and economic well-being is enhanced when collective capacity for whole-community approaches is fostered.
Herchmer’s career includes serving as:

• Founder and Principal Collaborator of the Campus for Communities of the Future, a social enterprise
• Co-Chair of the Canada Chapter of CatalystNow (formerly Catalyst 2030)
• A former professor and director at Niagara College
• Experience in local government and social purpose organizations
• Author of three books
• Extensive… More Posted on 06-13-24
  

  Will They Wrap Their Arms Around New Knowledge?

  

  Will They Wrap Their Arms Around New Knowledge?

  That question came my way in an email just after a major national conference. It was asked because the event (the Victoria Forum) had surfaced so many fresh insights and bright ideas for making the world a better place, particularly through tackling complex challenges such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

  In my reply, I said I was hopeful. Conferences typically offer rich learning opportunities, not just for learning in the moment, but for sparking ongoing exchanges after the event. There was so much untapped… More Posted on 09-26-25
  

  Infinite Growth, Finite Planet—It Doesn’t Add Up

  
  Here’s what we know. Suppose current growth rates continue without major policy or systemic change. In that case, most scientific projections suggest that within 30 years, humanity will consume as much energy and material as all of previous human history combined.

  It would be comforting to dismiss this as exaggeration, but as the deep-thinking podcaster Nate Hagens reminded audiences at the recent Victoria Forum, “Infinite growth on a finite planet is impossible”.

  Our “buy now, pay later” culture persists, investing heavily in the traditional economy—especially oil and gas—while overlooking the risks. Instead, more capital… More Posted on 09-11-25
  

  From Complexity to Clarity

  

  Civilization faces a pressing dilemma: can we keep chasing infinite growth on a finite planet?

  It’s a question that was front and centre for many attendees—including myself—at this year’s Victoria Forum, August 24-25th.

  Hosted by the Canadian Senate and the University of Victoria, the event brought together over 600 participants from around the world. We shared ideas, expertise, reflections and bold solutions for the urgent challenges represented by the UN 17 SDGs.

                   

  Working through my copious notes will take… More Posted on 09-01-25
  

  My Not-So-Economist Book Club: Mark Carney Edition

  

  I don’t own a crystal ball. If I did, you’d find me sunning on my private yacht courtesy of perfectly timed lottery picks. But, in 2021, I did buy Mark Carney’s book Values: Building a Better World for All. Full disclosure: I may have approached some of the denser chapters with the same enthusiasm I reserve for assembling IKEA furniture — skim for what’s crucial and generally avoid anything that gives me a headache. In my defence, the target audience for the book is likely those who wear more suits in a month than I’ve… More Posted on 07-22-25
  

  Redefining Success: Balancing Prosperity, Well-Being, and Purpose

  
  

  A recent conversation with a charismatic, intelligent young man reinforced the challenges of a global economy that too often prioritizes, measures, and rewards generating profit at the expense of social and environmental well-being.

  He was a hardworking and driven guy who wore his confidence and competitive nature proudly. And, to his credit, he has had significant financial success.

  But our talk also highlighted for me something else: many hardworking, driven people aren’t seeing the same financial rewards because they are balancing profit with social and environmental well-being.

  … More Posted on 07-02-25
  

  Where’s the Moonshot???

  

  Yes, but where’s the moonshot? That was a great question, one I was asked while working with members of Catalyst Now to prepare a session description for a global conference.

  Not being an avid follower of space travel, I learned that a ‘moonshot’ describes an ambitious, bold goal that seems nearly impossible at first—one that requires new thinking, major collaboration, and extraordinary effort to achieve.

  The term originated with US President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 challenge to land a human on the moon and return them safely to Earth within a decade. It was… More Posted on 06-11-25
  

  Staying Ahead of the Curve

  

  Ever meet people who are so ahead in their thinking and action that it feels like they’re surfing the curve while you’re still figuring out how to swim?
  

  
  That’s how I felt a number of years ago when I was invited to attend a gathering of futurists in Washington, D.C. It was there I met a futurist who suggested I pay attention to the importance of what he called ‘early’, ‘edge’ or ‘weak’ signals. He explained that these are subtle hints or initial signs of change… More Posted on 06-03-25
  

  From Bystanders to Builders: How to Shift the Power In Community Planning

  

  Many municipal elected officials and staff are doing their best to engage residents in local planning and decision-making. The problem is that often only a limited number of residents typically respond, so elected officials and senior staff throw up their hands. They’re pretty sure it’s not their fault, but they remain at a loss as to why people aren’t jumping to provide feedback when given the opportunity.

  A recent post by a city resident perhaps explains it best: “Why bother? They’ve already decided what they’re going to do.” While that sentiment is sometimes justified, the… More Posted on 05-14-25
  

  ECOSYSTEMS OF CHANGE: Unleashing Community Power for Systems Innovation

                 

  While the light at the end of the tunnel might seem to be a flickering flashlight with low batteries, at least there is now a form of GPS to guide us.

  In a world facing climate change, political polarization, violence, and persistent inequality, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed—even paralyzed—by the scale of the challenges before us.

  Many people, including thoughtful and hardworking individuals, find themselves grappling with crisis fatigue, distrust in institutions, or simply a sense that the problems are just too big to tackle. If you’ve… More Posted on 04-28-25
  

  Being Safe Means You Can’t Stand Still

  

  The look of indifference on her face and her constant yawning made it apparent she was not with us by choice.

  Unlike the others in the webinar, she didn’t appear interested or engaged in learning anything about future-ready community leadership.

  Later, I learned she was in the session only because her Director had made it clear it wasn’t optional. Perhaps not a good choice for her or the organization. My own ego and confidence as the facilitator also took a bit of a hit.

  Regardless, authentic learning is unlikely to occur until any… More Posted on 03-23-25
  

  Catalyzing Change: Canadian Social Innovators

  

  Today, our most important work appears to be addressing the broken systems that are hindering our ability to advance social, environmental, and economic well-being. How can we empower the social innovators and entrepreneurs among us to effectively address systemic issues and drive positive change in our communities and beyond?

  Catalyst Now (formerly Catalyst 2030) is an impressive global network of 5500+ members representing 146 countries. Canada is one of those countries actively supporting social innovation and entrepreneurs who share a deep sense of urgency and a passion… More Posted on 02-13-25
  

  This is the Time of Monsters

  

  I’m worried about Canada. Heck, I’m worried about a lot – not only in Canada but also at the global level and in our own communities.

  It is becoming increasingly clear that we need to act and do it with urgency because the monsters are coming.

  Recently I was struck by a quote I stumbled across attributed to Antonio Gramsci, an Italian philosopher who lived between 1891 and 1937. He said:

  “The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born. Now is the time of monsters.”

  This gap between… More Posted on 01-31-25
  

  Communities as Fractals?

  

  What the Heck is a Fractal?

  Years ago, I was hired to deliver training at a community leadership summit in Las Vegas. Somewhat to my surprise, that was where I also first met the actor, Maxwell Gail Jr . While I remembered how hilarious he was in the Barney Miller sitcom, I soon learned he was also intellectually gifted. Turns out, Max was there with another brilliant guy, his friend Casey.

  Together they introduced me to the concept of fractals. Trying hard to harness my overloaded, distracted brain, I did learn that a fractal… More Posted on 01-23-25
  

  5 Strategies for Being More Future-Ready

  

  We know Canadians are concerned about the cost of living and housing affordability. There are also significant worries related to mental health, food security, healthcare access, climate change, and immigration.

  So, while we might be talking about what matters, it doesn’t appear to have generated the kind of action one would expect. In large part, it is because our silo-based systems aren’t conducive to responding to the interconnectedness and complexity of these issues. As a result, a different kind of leadership and action is required.
  
  Despite… More Posted on 12-29-24
  
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