Canadian CED
Network News
Next in CCEDNet's Webinar Series: UN Sustainability Goals and Social Return Intelligence Suite
On March 28th, speakers from the North-South Institute (NSI) and the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS) will explore the process for developing the United Nations' post-2015 Development Agenda and the prospects for securing a greater role for the social solidarity economy in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Then, on April 8th, we are partnering again with GlobalMeasures Initiative to present the Social Return Intelligence Suite, a powerful tool for measuring your social impact.
Manitoba Budget 2014 Responds to CCEDNet Members
Leading up to Finance Minister Jennifer Howard's budget speech on March 6th, CCEDNet's Manitoba Regional Director, Brendan Reimer, published a series of three blog posts
anticipating the budget. If we view budgets as statements of values and priorities then the Manitoba government's commitment to invest in CED and poverty reduction clearly demonstrates a desire to put people and communities first.
2014 AGM - Call for Nominations and Resolutions
In advance of the May 29th Annual General Meeting, the Canadian CED Network is seeking nominations for four positions on the Board of Directors. Members with energy and a vision for the CED movement in Canada are encouraged to submit their candidacy by
April 8, 2014. Members are also invited to submit resolutions to be presented at the AGM.
Renew Your Membership Today!
All members of the Canadian CED Network should now have received an email containing an invitation to renew their membership and a review our accomplishments in 2013. Please take a moment today to renew your membership online, if you have not already. If you were not a member in 2013 now is a great time to join a growing movement to create more inclusive and sustainable communities.
CED Wire Updates
5 Things to Know About the New Alberta Social Innovation Endowment: Carolyn Davis of Momentum highlights what the Social Innovation Endowment means for CED | Read more >>- Twenty Years of Changing Lives, One Dollar at a Time: Brendan Reimer reflects on LITE's contributions to poverty reduction following 20th anniversary | Read more >>
- Manitoba makes wise investment in child care: Darcy Penner lauds provincial government's response to CCEDNet members' Child Care policy resolution | Read more >>
National CED News
Impact Investing Made Possible with Community Finance Solutions
The new national initiative of MaRS Centre for Impact Investing is looking to help communities to set up a variety of impact investing funds and products. Community Finance Solutions was launched earlier this month by webinar. The online event shared the experiential knowledge of presenters Marguerite Mendell (Fiducie du Chantier de l'économie sociale in Québec) and Jane Bisbee (Social Enterprise Fund) to help inspire and guide those looking to apply for expert advisory support through the program.
CED Tool: Saving Money by Doing the Right Thing: Why 'Local by Default' Must Replace 'Diseconomies of Scale'
Public services work poorly. Every day the press carries stories of failure, waste and basic human needs unmet. Health, social care and children’s services are buckling, while local authorities cut discretionary spending on libraries, parks and other local amenities to the bone. This report shows why UK public sector organisations fail to meet people’s needs and why demand is rising. The two main causes, discovered empirically in the studies, are the belief in ‘economies of scale’ and the belief in the standardisation of services. Together, these beliefs prevent organisations from understanding and meeting people’s needs.
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.
- Is appetite for social procurement growing in Canada? Progressive purchasing policies are emerging across the country ow.ly/uur2L
- Small grants available to Canadian #youth to implement #CED ideas for @NewEconomics. Pitch your idea today! ow.ly/umSXP
- Manitoba to develop Social Enterprise Strategy to grow more jobs! One of many reasons to be excited for Budget 2014 ow.ly/umSGT
- Madawaska Maliseet FN & Edmundston had 2-day workshop on joint #CED initiative last week thru @CandoEDO & @FCM_online ow.ly/ucxFD
- Want to know what the @CanRevAgency considers a "related" business for CDN #charity? Register now for Mar 11 webinar ow.ly/u7JUJ
- Have you seen our new video yet? Check it out - a great introduction to the world of community economic development! ow.ly/u7EZ6
In the 2014 Alberta Budget the province announced that it will be creating what will be the largest Social Innovation Endowment Fund (SEIF) in Canada, with $1 billion earmarked for investment over two years. We got Carolyn Davis, Community Relations Director with Calgary-based CCEDNet member Momentum, to highlight 
Investing in the local economy has never been easier or more lucrative for Albertans, thanks to a partnership of organizations including the Alberta Community Co-op Association (CCEDNet member). Since spring of 2012, six Alberta communities have established co-operatives that pool and manage local capital for investment in local businesses. Another six are currently exploring the creation of Opportunity Development Co-ops. The timing for this growth spurt couldn't be better. According to research by ACCA, investments in co-ops are providing larger returns than the average RRSP.
The City of Edmonton is taking bold steps towards eliminating poverty within the decade. City councillors will soon decide whether to establish a mayor's task force, which will develop a strategy to eradicate poverty in Edmonton in ten years. In 2012, a planning committee recommended focusing efforts on improving early childhood supports, education, employment and a living wage, housing and transportation. Some councillors have already suggested that simply putting this issue on the agenda marks important progress on this immense challenge.
A restaurant in Calgary's Financial District is helping to change the way people think about the food industry and how to support local economies. In fact, Downtown Food is taking 'local food' to new heights by growing its own produce on the restaurant's roof. The rooftop ecosystem sustains a variety of produce including, figs, swiss chard, tomatoes, and honey comb. The goal of Downtown Food's owner, Darren Maclean, is to support the local economy while providing healthier food options to the community. 
Did you know that the average power drill is used only 15 minutes in its lifetime? A new tool library will soon put idol tools in the hands of DIYers in Calgary's Bridgeland-Riverside neighbourhood. Tool libraries have popped up in several communities across Canada, including Vancouver and Toronto. These community-based enterprises are demonstrating the power of the sharing economy to neighbours together, while contributing to a community's environmental, social and economic sustainability. To learn more about the upcoming Bridgeland-Riverside Tool Library, click the link below.
