Co-organized Social Enterprise Bus Tour a Success
A diverse group of interested people met in Winnipeg on June 25th and boarded a bus for a tour of two First Nation reserves and an exciting new social enterprise.  Over thirty people toured a variety of Aki Energy work-sites on Peguis First Nation and Fisher River Cree Nation. Aki Energy is an aboriginal social enterprise that trains community members who face barriers to employment to install geothermal retrofits to local housing. Members of the tour represented a variety of groups, such as community groups and Manitoba Hydro, as well as trainees from BUILD and members of the Manitoba media. CCEDNet-Manitoba was a co-organizer of the event along with Shaun Loney. Special thanks to the reserve communities for their hospitality and grace. 
CCEDNet Members Meet in Cape Breton
On July 10, Atlantic members of the Canadian CED Network met in Cape Breton, part of the Creative Community Business Conference held at Cape Breton University. The event was called CED in Atlantic Canada: Strategies for Development and featured CCEDNet's Executive Director Mike Toye and Manitoba regional coordinator Brendan Reimer. Brendan spoke about the exceptional strength of the Manitoba CED community, which has resulted in a strong membership for CCEDNet. He emphasized the importance of procuring policy, building relationships, and patience, as growth takes time and hard work. Mike covered the history and evolution of CCEDNet, as well as the historical and current challenges that have and continue to influence this evolution. Looking forward, Mike stressed the important role of the Network in fostering a thriving CED community across Canada. A big thanks to all hosts and organizers at the event!
Alberta CED News
Calgary's Plan to End Homelessness Has So Far Helped 4,500 People
 By January 29, 2018, the Calgary Homelessness Foundation hopes that homelessness will be eradicated in the city. At just over the halfway point in the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness, the latest annual report estimates that around 4,500 women, children, and men have received housing and support. "Housing First works," the report states. "In a sample of 270 people who were successfully housed with support, 92% retained their housing after one year." The report is also sure to cover the remaining challenges, such as the persistent need for low-cost rental housing in Calgary.
Be Local & Support Community Economies
 Did you know, that $57 of every $100 you spend goes to corporate offices around the world, instead of circulating within your community? If you'd like to do something about that, check out Be Local. Last month, the Calgary Herald published this newspaper insert, which includes articles on the benefits of supporting local business, and offers consumer guides to help you navigate the marketplace. The in-paper magazine also includes indepth profiles on innovative community organizations, co-operatives, social enterprises, and local businesses that are helping boost employment opportunities and grow local economies.
Co-operative Spirit Shines Through Alberta Flood 
There have been an amazing amount of stories to surface in the aftermath of the flood that beset Calgary, High River, and other surrounding areas in late June. Our thoughts have been with the people in these areas as they attempt to heal and rebuild. One example to highlight here is that of the Calgary Co-operative Association (Calgary Co-op), their store in High River, and the subsequent donation of $25,000 to the Red Cross, which was matched by their wholesaler Federated Co-operative Ltd (story linked below). The belief in strong and mutually supportive communities held by the co-operative community in Alberta has undoubtedly made for a swift and effective response to the flood. We encourage you to send us stories you have come across that demonstrate this power of the co-operative spirit.
(via Alberta Community & Co-operative Association)
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 but early-bird registration rates only run until July 25 so be sure to register soon. 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 Manitoba regional coordinator Brendan Reimer.
CCEDNet members are invited to a special gathering. 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
2014 Co-operative Summit to Tackle Major Global Challenges
 The co-operative community is set to tackle important global challenges like food security, access to health care, and the global job crisis at the International Summit of Co-ops next year. Last month, Summit organizers announced those three topics as the central themes that will be discussed at the event, which takes place in Quebec City, October 6-9, 2014. In addition to focusing on cooperative development and strengthening, Summit participants will discuss innovative ways cooperatives can make a difference and address these enormous global challenges.
The State of Homelessness in Canada
 At least 30,000 Canadians will experience homelessness tonight. By the end of this year, an estimated 200,000 Canadians will have experienced homelessness. These and other startling facts are highlighted in the recently released report, The State of Homelessness in Canada: 2013. The document examines what is known about homelessness, the historical, social and economic context in which it has emerged, demographic features of the problem, and potential solutions. Take Action Against Homelessness:
Following up on their efforts to support Bill C-400 and a national housing strategy, the Dignity for All campaign is sending a letter to the Premiers in advance of the Council of the Federation meeting July 24-26. The letter urges Canadian Premiers to put housing at the top of their agenda for this meeting. Click below if you or your organization supports housing as a human right, download the postcard below and send it to Premier Katherine Wynne (who is hosting the meeting on July 24-26) or send her an email by clicking here.
CED Book Club - Gather: the Art & Science of Effective Convening
The feature event of the Canadian CED Network's year is the Gathering, held every October in Winnipeg, which brings together over 600 people. Gather, a recent publication of the Rockefeller Foundation, attests to the importance of coming together to learn, improve, celebrate, and heal. The book is a manual of sorts for social planners seeking to convene the right group, and it offers some clarification on the distinction -- and thus more appropriate use of -- between conference, workshop, meetings, etc. The book is available for free download by following the link below. Enjoy!
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.
- . calls on The Apprentice to include social enterprises: via
- Happy International Co-operative Day! Thank a or cooperator for their community impact today!
- "Social enterprise is not a political football, no party owns social enterprise" - British MP, Chris White http://ow.ly/mAz6M
- Canada to host Social Enterprise World Forum at a "pivotal time." October 2-4 in Calgary
- If you support as a human right, help put it on provincial agendas by signing this letter
Check out a short video that sums up the CCEDNet-RCDEC Twitter feed here: https://www.vizify.com/ccednet-rcdec/twitter-video
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