Leading by Example: CCEDNet Awarded for Excellence in Sustainability
 Earlier this month, CCEDNet-Manitoba was honoured by the Province of Manitoba with a Excellence in Sustainability Award. Each year, the Province celebrates individuals and organizations that turn the province's guidelines for sustainability into concrete achievements through the Awards. CCEDNet-Manitoba received the Education for Sustainability Award. This distinction recognizes our efforts to inform policymakers and citizens about the benefits and impacts of using a holistic approach towards sustainable development, which seeks to build strong, equitable and more environmentally-friendly communities. Two CCEDNet members, Assiniboine Credit Union and the Green Action Centre, were also recognized for their sustainable development work.  (Photo Credit: Tracy Goncalves, Province of MB)
Creating Sustainable Co-ops in Aboriginal Communities
 A new project hopes to train Aboriginal business leaders in Alberta to help them introduce co-operative economic development into their communities. The project - being carried out by the Alberta Community Co-operative Association - involves a series of train-the-trainer workshops designed to help business owners embrace the co-op model and integrate into their existing businesses. The idea is that once people take ownership of co-operative principles and use them to run their businesses they will be able to train others using the same model. Possibilities for co-ops include gas stations and food stores.
Pathways to Sustainability - Community Showcase
 Calling all local sustainability leaders! Thrive is hosting a community showcase on leadership in integrated sustainability. Thrive wants to know: what does environmental, social, and economic sustainability look like in action? Who is demonstrating leadership and innovation in this area? The community showcase will give attendees an up close and personal look at our local sustainability leaders – including community economic development organizations and initiatives. A shortlist of 10 showcases will present on May 30th at Telus Spark in Calgary. The Community Showcase is a part of the Pathways 2 Sustainability Conference.
A Plan for Alberta: Progress Report on Ending Homelessness
 In 2009, Alberta became the first province in Canada to commit to ending homelessness. For the next four years, the Alberta Secretariat for Action on Homelessness developed and monitored the implementation of A Plan for Alberta: Ending Homelessness in 10 Years. The 3 Year Secretariat Report shows that Alberta is on the right track to ending homelessness. Highlights from the report include: - Over 6,600 Albertans experiencing homelessness have been provided housing and supports
- Over 1,600 have completed Housing First programs, achieving a higher level of self-sufficiency
- Of the individuals receiving housing and support, approximately 80 per cent remain housed
Follow the link below to read the full report.
National CED News
Budget 2013: Good News for Housing, Disappointment for Credit Unions
 Canada's community development sector responded to the federal government's 2013 Budget last month with relief and concern on two important issues, in particular. Canadian credit unions were disappointed to learn that income taxes will soon be rising for credit unions due to the elimination of a long-standing tax measure. However, the Budget brought good news for housing advocates across the country. The Budget included five-year renewals of both the Affordable Housing Initiative ($1.25 billion) and the Homelessness Partnering Strategy ($600 million) with a new focus on 'housing first.' The budget also includes $100 million over two years for housing in Nunavut.
Groundbreaking Social Economy Act Introduced in Québec
 On March 19, the Québec Government introduced the Social Economy Act. The objective of this landmark bill is to recognize the contribution of the social economy to the socioeconomic development of Québec and to determine the role of the Government in that area. It works to promote the social economy and support its development through the creation and adaptation of policy tools, and to foster access to the Administration’s measures and programs for social economy enterprises. It is hoped that the Act will be passed by summer.
Canadian Co-ops Among the World's Most Sustainable
 Canada is home to two of the world's most sustainable co-operatives, according to a new global ranking by Corporate Knights magazine. The Most Sustainable Co-operatives in the World list awarded The Co-operators the top global spot, and the Desjardins Group placed third. The list is based on several variables related to social and environmental business leadership, including energy productivity, resource usage, sustainability mandate and board diversity. The top 10 list also includes co-operatives and mutuals from France. Germany, Japan and the United States. Along with the ranking, Corporate Knights included a profile of The Co-operators and its sustainability initiatives.
(Source: CCA News Brief)
CED Tool: Collaboration Coach
 The Collaboration Coach platform is designed to help your not-for-profit organization avoid common pitfalls, use successful strategies and make informed decisions about your collaborative initiatives and opportunities. More than a tool kit, Collaboration Coach aims to be a virtual coach. We invite you to spend some time exploring the various points of entry which guide you to reflective questions, tools and stories. This interactive online tool takes users through six key themes: 1) Understanding Collaboration 2) Investing in Collaboration 3) Building Effective Relationships 4) Creating Shared Governance 5) Setting and Monitoring Direction, and 6) Getting the Work Done.
CED Book Club: The Insiders Guide to Community Renewal
 The Insiders' Guides (IGs) are a series of 4-page cartoons that make mainstream some concepts and tools critical to community renewal. Developed with the assistance of a number of community economic development practitioners across the country, Insiders Guides use illustration and a straightforward text to be both informative and fun. The Guides were developed by the Canadian Centre for Community Renewal.
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.
- The fundamental principle of #coops is reciprocity, "a simple but powerful idea" - John Restakis #neweconomy
- Income tax set to rise for #creditunions - Sector laments elimination of tax credit in #Budget2013 https://ccua.com/
- Survey Finds Independent Businesses Benefit from “Buy Local First” Campaigns, But Challenges Loom https://ilsr.org/articles/2013-independent-business-survey/
- Tackling poverty with social enterprise. How #socent in Africa are addressing food poverty & food security http://ow.ly/jfVG0
- Building a social enterprise requires a holistic approach: Why it's vital to keep an eye on the big picture
- A good place to do social business: Québec introduces the Social Economy Act to support the development of #socent /en/new-in-ced/2013/03/20/social-economy-act-introduced-quebec
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In their latest newsletter, Momentum offered an interesting profile of their Financial Futures program. This innovative and collaborative program creates financial opportunities for Calgarians living on low incomes by leveraging the resources of several community organizations. For example, Financial Futures helps increase access to financial services, and enhances the capacity of frontline staff to provide financial literacy support. The program provides a valuable example of how diverse organizations can "achieve more by working together." And stay tuned - the Financial Futures Collaborative will be hosting a National Conference on Financial Literacy and Asset Building in November 2013. The Conference will bring together policymakers, community practitioners and financial institutions to discuss financial literacy in Canada.
