Cape Breton Creative Community Business Conference July 10-12
The Community Economic Development Institute of the Shannon School of Business is holding a conference to bring together practitioners, researchers, and community organizations, from home and afar, to discuss current practices, challenges, and emerging trends in community business. A pre-conference networking and planning session will be held on July 10, from 1-4:30pm. The afternoon will include presentations by Executive Director Mike Toye and Regional Director Brendan Reimer, examining CCEDNet-Manitoba’s success and possible strategies to advance CED in Atlantic Canada. For more info, email Philippe Ménard-Côté at p.menard-cote@ccednet-rcdec.ca
CCEDNet Annual Members Meeting Held in Winnipeg
On a bright and warm day in Winnipeg, the Canadian CED Network gathered for our annual general meeting. Held at the St. Matthew's Community Center, over thirty-five people attended, along with representatives from Newfoundland, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Calgary, Victoriaville, Montreal, and Quebec City, who were able to join virtually. CCEDNet President Caroline Lachance led the
meeting, and governance expert Yvon Poirier was on hand to present new by-laws. With formal business taken care of, substantive discussions on priorities and directions for the Network will be held at the Social Enterprise World Forum in Calgary from October 2-4. Time will be set aside for our members to get together to network, learn, and discuss ways to continue to build a strong national CED movement. We look forward to the opportunity to gather with a diverse group of members from all over Canada at this landmark event. Click below to read our annual report for 2012.
CCEDNet Webinar: Preview Groundbreaking Social Enterprise Research
Social Enterprise in Ontario: Research on the Size, Scope and Socioeconomic Impact of Nonprofit Social Enterprise will preview the key findings from the 2012 Social Enterprise Survey for Ontario. As the first research of its kind in the province, this webinar will offer significant insights into the burgeoning trend of social enterprise within Ontario’s nonprofit and charitable sector. The report will not be fully released until September, but we are offering this sneak peak to share some of the most relevant results. We invite practitioners, policymakers, and enthusiasts from across civic, public, and private sectors to take part in the webinar. The session begins June 26 at 12:00pm EST.
Meet the Atlantic CreateAction Interns!
Zak Greenberg: Hi. I'm Zak Greenberg, heralding from Brookside, Nova Scotia, which is a forgettable neighbourhood off the main road to unforgettable Peggy's Cove. I'm a political science graduate out of Ottawa. At this turning point in my young life, I'm excited to undertake initiatives that satisfy my acumen and quench my conscience. This CED program hits that spot. Of late, activism has crept increasingly into my life, and I've begun to involve myself in community engagement projects, cooperatives and social enterprises, and just generally meeting people with like concerns. It's been a fulfilling process that's only just begun.
Chelsea Legge: My name is Chelsea Legge; I am from Halifax, Nova Scotia. I am working with the Community Carrot food Co-operative this summer. I was elected in 2007 to the National Aboriginal Youth Council with the National AboriginalFriendship Centres (NAFC) for 2 consecutive 2-year terms as Treasurer. I became involved with the National Association through the Mic Mac Native Friendship Centre (MNFC) I have been involved with MNFC since 2001 in various different capacities from volunteer to working in the youth centre. Over the past few years I have worked at the Farmers Market in a local butcher shop. From working at the Farmers Market I have developed a deep passion for local sustainable food and community. Working with the Carrot combines my passion for community and my passion for food and keeping it local.
Atlantic CED News
Saint John Catering Social Enterprise Supports Non-Profit’s Mission
The Saint John Learning Exchange is a literacy education organization that connects with well over 500 adults learners each year. Several years ago the group began to explore cooking as a tool to learn and apply skills such as teamwork and responding to feedback, as well as creating a budget and following through on planning. The Learning Exchange was passionate about holistic and healthy food, and as they discovered the link between learning, CED, and food, community dinners began to be held. Stone Soup Catering has since developed into a burgeoning social enterprise: it currently employs one learner about 20-25 hours a week. Profits are returned to the Learning Exchange to support its mission of providing healthy food, and to programming for learners.
Nova Scotians Define What Home Means to Them
The authors of Nova Scotia’s new housing strategy recently launched a conversation on the most pressing, housing challenges facing the province. By the team the report was written, 500 individuals and organizations engaged in the process, and helped craft Nova Scotia’s first housing strategy. The strategy seeks to ensure that Nova Scotians have access to affordable and secure housing, while belonging to a strong community. As part of the process, the authors took to the streets to ask local residents, what does home mean to you? Safety, comfort, love, support. These are among the many words that Nova Scotians used to describe their homes. Their answers can be seen in a short video here.
Saint John's Group Looking to Strengthen Social Enterprise Ecosystem
In light of the recent findings on the likelihood of youth leaving the region, a group is working towards an innovative way to stem the outflow. Saint John Community Fund (SJCF) is hoping to work with municipal and provincial partners in government to develop a five-year plan with social enterprise at its center. SJCF aims to use social enterprise as the vehicle that would assist individuals who face barriers to employment find work. The plan would help further develop existing organizations, as well as create and support new forms of social enterprise in Saint John.
National CED News
Canada on the Global Stage: Social Enterprise World Forum
CCEDNet is pleased to be a supporting partner in this year’s Social Enterprise World Forum. Registration is now open, and early-bird registration rates run until July 25. This world class event is not to be missed. The impressive roster of speakers include the leading thinkers and actors in the social enterprise sector from across the globe. Among the presenters are several CCEDNet members, including our own regional coordinator Brendan Reimer.
CCEDNet members are invited to a special gathering just prior to the Forum, on October 2, 1-4 :30pm. This session will look at CCEDNet’s strategic directions, inspired by new local economy initiatives internationally. So plan to come a bit early when you book your travel to the SEWF! For more information on this session, email Philippe at p.menard-cote@ccednet-rcdec.ca
Get Co-op Savvy with CoopZone Training Courses
The CoopZone Developers' Network is pleased to again be offering its co-op development training courses in 2013-14, starting in September. CoopZone is offering various levels of training: the Advanced Program (Years 1 and 2), the Foundation Program and the Basic Introduction to Co-op Development course. Each program is designed to accommodate people with different levels of experience and knowledge of co-operatives - from introductions to basic terms, to people seeking to provide full development services to co-ops. There will be free information webinar about the courses held on June 19th, 12 noon Eastern Time for 60-90 minutes. RSVP to Hazel Corcoran for more information about this webinar.
CED Book Club - Supply Shock: Economic Growth at the Crossroads
Supply Shock leaves no doubt that the biggest idea of the twentieth century—economic growth—has become the biggest problem of the twenty-first. Required reading for anyone concerned about the world our children and grandchildren will inherit, this landmark work lays a solid foundation for a new economic model, perhaps in time for preventing global catastrophes; certainly in time for lessening the damages. The book is the culmination of 13 years’ work by Brian Czech, the founding president of the Centre for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy.
British and Canadian Leaders in Social Enterprise Meet in Toronto
The British Council recently hosted a day of seminars on social-enterprise, bringing together some of the leading thinkers and practitioners in the field. The UK is often seen as being at the forefront of thinking on social enterprise. Enterprising Non-Profit's David LePage spoke at the event, emphasizing that the strength of social enterprise is its social engagement, how it uses "business to create shared social value." The aim of the event was to explore how the British Council could support Canadian initiatives by drawing on its global network of ideas, resources, and connections. The fundamental belief that drove the event was that social enterprises are growing, slowly beginning to offer solutions within, and alternatives to the faltering free-market capitalist system.
A Little Bird Told Us: Top Tweets of the Month
Here is a brief sampling of some of our most popular tweets from the past 30 days. Click here to follow us on Twitter.
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