Investing in Canada’s Future: Turning Everyday Investors Into Climate Changemakers
Voices: An Interview with Emily Mercy, Goparity Canada
Over here at Climate North, we’ve been having conversations with some of the most forward-thinking leaders in the climate space —conversations that are too important and too inspiring to keep within closed circles. So we’re opening the doors and bringing you along. Welcome to Voices. This isn’t just about storytelling; it’s a call to action, a community of ideas, and a reminder that the future we dream of is one we build together.
In this edition of Voices, we spoke with Emily Mercy who is the co-founder and Managing Director of Goparity Canada, an impact finance and investment platform that allows people and companies to use their money for good. She is an advocate for social finance and climate justice and is committed to empowering individuals to create positive change with their investments.
Her journey towards reshaping Canada's financial landscape reflects a deep-seated belief that we can harness the power of money to protect the earth while building a just and sustainable world for all.
⭐️Goparity is offering $50 to new investors from the Climate North community to invest on the platform in any impact project you choose. You are not obligated to invest any of your own money in order to redeem the voucher, and there are no fees to invest with Goparity.
The voucher may be redeemed in one of the following ways:
Sign up for Goparity using the following link: https://app.goparity.ca/signup/voucher/CLIMATENORTH
Sign up separately and redeem the voucher on your home dashboard using the code CLIMATENORTH
Please contact support-ca@goparity.com if you have any questions.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background and how everything with Goparity got started?
Since childhood, I’ve always had a deep connection with Mother Earth. Growing up in Toronto, Canada’s largest city, I was fortunate to have opportunities to escape the urban hustle and immerse myself in nature. As I grew older, having a connection with nature became even more important to me, I sought out more challenging adventures through which I developed a deeper respect for the environment and a growing awareness of its fragility.
I went to public school in Toronto, before studying business in London, Ontario. I enjoyed learning about economics and modern-day capitalism. Specifically, I loved learning about money. My mom once told me that money can give you freedom, but it can also trap you. While she was referring to personal finances, I realized this principle could be applied on a much larger scale—to corporations, governments, and entire economies. It became clear to me that our collective financial habits were irresponsible, and yet it was people and the planet that were paying the price.
When I reached the age where I began investing personally, I sought out funds that aligned with my values and awareness of environmental impacts. I quickly learned, this was easier said than done. One of my early investments—a clean energy ETF (exchange-traded fund)—revealed that ~30% of its portfolio was tied to fossil fuels.
While the stock market appears to be an exciting place filled with opportunities for tremendous financial gains (and losses), I saw the truth behind the so-called “clean”, “green”, and “sustainable” funds. Frustrated with the traditional investing options, I was seeking a more transparent and meaningful option for where to invest my money. This led me to discover impact investing: a space that was made up of largely private-market investments where the impact of your investment dollars are measured.
Unfortunately, impact investing seemed out of reach for someone like me—it was reserved for high-net-worth individuals or large institutions. A shift happened when I started asking, “Why?” Why can’t I make an impact investment? Why am I excluded from this space?
This is where the story of Goparity Canada truly began. As I recognized the need for accessible impact investing options in Canada, I teamed up with my peers, Elliot Warner and Blake Bunting, to tackle this issue.
What is the mission that Goparity is on? What problem are you looking to solve?
We’re on a mission to transform how people think about investing. It’s time to go beyond ESG—a term that has become a buzzword for corporate responsibility, but often falls short of creating real, tangible change. Goparity is here to normalize something bigger, bolder, and more impactful: community-driven investments that put people and the planet first.
At Goparity, investing isn’t about ticking boxes or chasing profits, it’s about building something meaningful, where your dollars directly support small businesses, local initiatives, and projects that align with global sustainable development targets. This is the future we’re working toward—a circular economy where financial resources flow back into our communities, creating jobs, fostering innovation, and tackling the challenges of climate change and inequality head-on.
Why do you believe it’s important for people to be aware of this problem and have access to a business like yours?
Every day, we vote with our dollars. Whether it’s choosing to shop local, supporting ethical brands, or reducing waste, our spending habits reflect our values and shape the world around us. But when it comes to investing—arguably one of the most impactful ways to use our money—most of us don’t have the same power to make choices that align with what we believe in. That’s a problem, and it’s one we’re determined to solve.
The finance space has become a maze of bureaucracy, taxonomy, and greenwashing. It’s a system dominated by big banks and institutions making empty promises about sustainability while continuing to funnel money into industries that harm our planet and communities. At a time when people are demanding transparency and accountability, the financial world feels increasingly disconnected from the everyday person.
At a time when uncertainty is everywhere—when Canadians are looking for ways to support their communities, protect their environment, and demand better from the institutions around them—we’re here to offer a solution.
Can you tell us about some recent success stories that are a testament to the work you are doing?
Back in the spring of 2024, Trevor and Michelle Munroe, the founders of Sober Island Oysters, came to us with a vision. They wanted to expand their oyster farm and needed $100,000 to purchase 500,000 oyster seeds.
The Munroes embody the spirit of first-generation oyster farmers. In 2005, they left their corporate jobs to pursue a dream of sustainable aquaculture on Sober Island. As first-generation farmers, the Munroes faced a steep learning curve, navigating the challenges of starting an oyster farm without inherited knowledge or established infrastructure. Their journey represents the determination and passion required to enter a traditional industry as newcomers.
We put the call out to our Goparity community to raise the $100,000 project, and the response was incredible. In just a few months, 56 everyday Canadians came together to fully fund the project. These weren't big-shot investors or corporations – these were regular people who believed in what Sober Island was doing and wanted to be part of it.
Fast forward to August 2024, and we received an update that still makes me smile. The Sober Island team spent 10 hours seeding those 500,000 oysters, and it wasn't just work – it was a celebration. Picture this: over 1,000 oyster bags being deployed with music playing in the background and a team full of enthusiasm. This is what community-driven investment looks like in action!
What I find most exciting about this project is that those oysters aren't just seafood. Each bivalve can filter up to 190 litres of water daily. That means the investment our community made is cleaning millions of liters of coastal waters every single day. It's stabilizing shorelines, sequestering carbon, and creating habitats for other marine life.
Beyond sustainability benefits, Goparity investors learned about the economic viability of oysters. The 500,000 oyster seeds were purchased for an original price of $0.20, and after a 12-24 month period, the oysters are grown to a sellable size, with each oyster potentially generating $1-$3 in revenue. Investors received a 7.5% annual return on their investment.
What are common challenges that you encounter in your industry and while growing your business?
Navigating the impact investing and social finance landscape comes with its unique set of challenges, and building Goparity Canada has certainly highlighted a few key hurdles we’re working to overcome.
First and foremost, there’s a significant knowledge gap with these concepts – it’s that the industry itself is riddled with complex terminology and jargon. Even experts can get lost in the sea of taxonomies and frameworks, so for the average person looking to make a difference with their money, it can feel like trying to learn a new language.
The second major challenge is building trust. As a startup in the financial sector, we need the trust of our customers—and that begins with building a community. We’re up against well-established financial institutions that Canadians have relied on for generations.
The way we’ve approached these issues, is with full disclosure. Everything we do at Goparity Canada is rooted in openness and transparency. We’re not hiding behind corporate speak or flashy marketing. We’re showing people exactly where their money is going and the impact it’s making. We want folks to know that there are real humans behind this platform – humans who are just as passionate about creating positive change as they are.
What motivates you to keep pushing forward?
In the spirit of keeping it real, I am incredibly motivated by the potential I see in Goparity Canada. Even now, as an impact investing platform, we’re making some serious waves in the Canadian social finance scene. It’s always a “wow” moment when I chat with people who’ve been in this space for decades, and they’re blown away that we’re making impact investments accessible to anyone with just $10.
I get particularly excited when talking to investors, and hearing their interest about investing in projects that align with their values. I’m constantly inspired by the businesses we work with on a daily basis who are tackling global issues on a local level. Everyday these companies are bringing purpose to their work, and I feel empowered to be able to invest in these organizations and help others do the same.
What projects and/or products are you excited about expanding on in 2025?
We’ll be diving into a new array of projects with new kinds of impact. We’re looking to increase the number of businesses we support through the platform and find unique innovative impact opportunities for investors.
This year, we’re launching a fresh initiative focused on education in rural Canada. We’re teaming up with community groups in Vancouver Island, Alberta, and Newfoundland to deliver workshops that will help people get involved in impact investing.
At long last, something our community has been waiting for... we’re launching our mobile app! With the launch of the app, investors will be able to access Goparity from anywhere and easily check on their impact portfolio at any time.
What type of impact do you hope that Goparity Canada will have on communities, ecosystems, or the planet at large?
If it wasn’t already obvious, we’re very passionate about financial education! We want to empower more Canadians to invest in businesses that are working to support their communities and the environment. By spreading knowledge about impact investing, we’re not just helping individuals make informed financial decisions, but we’re fostering a community of conscious investors who understand the power of their dollars.
In today’s increasingly globalized world, we believe reconnecting with local communities is more important than ever. Goparity serves as a bridge, bringing people together to support local initiatives and rediscover the true value of community. We want distance to feel smaller but the impact to feel larger.
Climate North is all about bringing people together to encourage real time action. How can individuals, communities and/or other organizations support your efforts?
The best way to get involved with Goparity and our mission is to join our community. Creating a Goparity account is simple and doesn't require an initial investment, but it automatically signs you up for our newsletter, ensuring you're always in the loop about our latest projects and upcoming impact investing opportunities.
We also encourage community leaders interested in exploring social finance education opportunities, to reach out and collaborate with us!
Reach us at: support-ca@goparity.com
Visit our website at https://goparity.ca
While you’re on the site, I encourage you to check our some of our past funded projects 🙂
If you wanted people to walk away remembering one thing about the work you’re doing, what would you want it to be?
I hope that people are left feeling more confident and powerful within their financial situation. Oftentimes, we can feel that our money (savings and investments) don’t have much influence in the grand scheme of things, but the opposite is true. We’re showing you that each dollar counts, you can support the change you want to see in the world - you can invest in your values and make money by doing it.
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Don't you see that ESG and related focus on NetZero is in decline and that the new focus will be recovering our prosperity with traditional energy projects?.