The Canadian CED Network recently wrote to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to express our support for three recommendations in the Standing Committee on Finance's report on their pre-budget consultations. The report, Jobs, Growth, Productivity and Demographic Change: Challenges and Opportunities for Canada, included recommendations that highlight the need to foster growth in co-operative and social enterprise sectors, and to support minorty language communities.
Youth Leading Change: Report from the WUSC International Forum
In November 2012, the World University Service of Canada held its 2nd annual International Forum. The theme was Youth Leading Change – Aspiration to Action, which prioritized the voices of youth in the discussion of global issues. Among the attendees was Sandra Babcock, co-chair of CCEDNet's Emerging Leaders Committee. In a recent blog post, Sandra wrote about her experience at the Forum, which she described as an inspiring event, and valuable opportunity to make connections with other young community leaders from around the world.
Alberta CED News
Olds College Brews Up a Social Enterprise
One of Alberta's newest social enterprises is now up and running - or up and roasting. Centennial Coffee, operated by Olds College, imports green coffee beans from the Ramirez Coffee Company located in Dominican Republic. After making the trip to Canada, the beans are roasted in Alberta and sold to ethically conscious consumers and coffee connoisseurs alike. Ninety per cent of the profits from the coffee sales go to a Dominican Republic Scholarship Fund, which encourages children to remain in school and supports technical farmer training to enhance both coffee quality and farm revenue.
Calgary Foundation Community Grants
The Calgary Foundation is currently accepting applications for its Community Grants program. This program promotes a healthy, vibrant community that embraces diversity and supports all of its members. Specifically, the Foundation is looking for initiatives that will 1) Create New Futures 2) Engage Citizens 3) Strengthen Charities; and/or 4) Explore and Celebrate Our History and Culture. The next deadline is February 25.
Kick-Start a Co-op
Kick off 2013 by kick-starting a new co-op! ACCA is offering a two-day, hands-on workshop to teach participants how to instigate, initiate, and incorporate a co-op in their community. This training session will cover the basics of the co-op model, and provide tips for each stage of the co-op development process, including strategies for long-term sustainability. Help entrepreneurs develop their co-operative, from the business idea stage, through to long-term sustainability planning. The session is being held on January 28-29 in Calgary.
Alberta Poverty Report Card
For many Alberta families, the 2009-10 recession is already a fading memory. However, for low income Alberta families, the picture is not as bright. So far, there has only been a slight decline in poverty rates for families with children. This study finds that while unemployment overall has gone down, it is still above pre-recession levels for vulnerable groups such as youth and Aboriginals. Income support caseloads are only falling slowly and are still well above pre-recession levels.
National CED News
CED Tool
The Digital Leaky Bucket (DLB) is an online version of a tool that Coady graduates have been using with communities for more than 15 years. The leaky bucket is a popular education tool that helps people at the grassroots better understand their local economy. It enables them to identify and quantify the main flows of money coming into and out of their community. In turn, this process may reveal economic opportunities, which can help community members improve their household and community well-being.
Oil, Global Food & New Community Systems
Michael Lewis, Director of the CCCR and long-time CCEDNet member, delivered a stirring keynote speech at Food Secure Canada's 2012 Assembly. In his address, Michael discusses the global food system's addiction to oil, and its extravagant use of energy. When we start to discuss the sustainability of our food system, Michael Lewis wants us to look at Teikei, Food with the Farmer's Face on It, Japan's pioneering (1965) efforts in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Follow the link below to watch Michael's speech in full.
Co-op Challenge Winners Announced
Twelve co-ops from across Canada will share in $220,000 in prize money as winners of The Co-operators National Co-op Challenge. The challenge was created by The Co-operators as part of its celebration of the International Year of Co-operatives. The winners were determined by a nation-wide online vote. Here are the winners from the West Region:
1st Prize: Good Food Junction Co-operative ($30,000)
2nd Prize: Cortes Natural Food Co-op ($15,000)
3rd Prize: Peg City Car Co-op ($10,000)
Top Tweets of the Month
Here is a sampling of CCEDNet's most popular social media offerings in the last thirty days:
Enough Is Enough: A primer for achieving genuine prosperity & a hopeful future for all http://ow.ly/gU0Ae #neweconomy
To grow #SocEnt must play by business rules. Social ventures earn their stripes the same way private businesses do http://ow.ly/gNGjz
There’s No GDP in “A Better Economy.” Shifting the focus away from GDP would lead to real economic progress http://ow.ly/gNBTg
On the Impact Investing Horizon: Six impact investing initiatives to watch for in 2013. By @AdamSpence http://ow.ly/gHPDZ
The Year Co-ops Became a Global Movement. IYC built a global #coop movement whose strength is still being understood http://ow.ly/gu6mH
The Canadian CED Network recently wrote to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to express our support for three recommendations in the Standing Committee on Finance's report on their pre-budget consultations. The report, Jobs, Growth, Productivity and Demographic Change: Challenges and Opportunities for Canada, included recommendations that highlight the need to foster growth in co-operative and social enterprise sectors, and to support minorty language communities.
In November 2012, the World University Service of Canada held its 2nd annual International Forum. The theme was Youth Leading Change – Aspiration to Action, which prioritized the voices of youth in the discussion of global issues. Among the attendees was Sandra Babcock, co-chair of CCEDNet's Emerging Leaders Committee. In a recent blog post, Sandra wrote about her experience at the Forum, which she described as an inspiring event, and valuable opportunity to make connections with other young community leaders from around the world.
One of Alberta's newest social enterprises is now up and running - or up and roasting. Centennial Coffee, operated by Olds College, imports green coffee beans from the Ramirez Coffee Company located in Dominican Republic. After making the trip to Canada, the beans are roasted in Alberta and sold to ethically conscious consumers and coffee connoisseurs alike. Ninety per cent of the profits from the coffee sales go to a Dominican Republic Scholarship Fund, which encourages children to remain in school and supports technical farmer training to enhance both coffee quality and farm revenue.
The Calgary Foundation is currently accepting applications for its Community Grants program. This program promotes a healthy, vibrant community that embraces diversity and supports all of its members. Specifically, the Foundation is looking for initiatives that will 1) Create New Futures 2) Engage Citizens 3) Strengthen Charities; and/or 4) Explore and Celebrate Our History and Culture. The next deadline is February 25.
Kick off 2013 by kick-starting a new co-op! ACCA is offering a two-day, hands-on workshop to teach participants how to instigate, initiate, and incorporate a co-op in their community. This training session will cover the basics of the co-op model, and provide tips for each stage of the co-op development process, including strategies for long-term sustainability. Help entrepreneurs develop their co-operative, from the business idea stage, through to long-term sustainability planning. The session is being held on January 28-29 in Calgary.
For many Alberta families, the 2009-10 recession is already a fading memory. However, for low income Alberta families, the picture is not as bright. So far, there has only been a slight decline in poverty rates for families with children. This study finds that while unemployment overall has gone down, it is still above pre-recession levels for vulnerable groups such as youth and Aboriginals. Income support caseloads are only falling slowly and are still well above pre-recession levels. 
The Digital Leaky Bucket (DLB) is an online version of a tool that Coady graduates have been using with communities for more than 15 years. The leaky bucket is a popular education tool that helps people at the grassroots better understand their local economy. It enables them to identify and quantify the main flows of money coming into and out of their community. In turn, this process may reveal economic opportunities, which can help community members improve their household and community well-being.
Michael Lewis, Director of the 
Twelve co-ops from across Canada will share in $220,000 in prize money as winners of The Co-operators National Co-op Challenge. The challenge was created by The Co-operators as part of its celebration of the International Year of Co-operatives. The winners were determined by a nation-wide online vote. Here are the winners from the West Region:
Here is a sampling of CCEDNet's most popular social media offerings in the last thirty days:
