(CPCGV) is generating buzz around an investment fund it is developing through an independently incorporated co-operative, inspired by the
in Alberta. The fund is designed to address a lack of long-term, low-cost financing that was identified as a significant barrier to affordable housing in a
, program director for Simon Fraser University's Certificate Program for CED. CPCGV will look to encourage Victorians to put some of their RRSP savings in the investment fund with the promise of both a financial and a social return on their investment.
is a Vancouver-based co-operative and CCEDNet member, made up of organizational and individual members who operate sewing programs or provide support in other ways. The co-op specializes in re-purposing fabric from street banners into stylish bags of various uses and sizes. Their very first contract was with the City of Vancouver to reuse the fabric from the pre-Olympic banners. More recently they've been working with the Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club to develop drawstring bags for sale in a retail setting.
(BCCA) has started to accept applications for a new mentorship program this spring. The Principle 6 Mentorship Program is a BCCA-facilitated program to connect upcoming co-ops with people who can help them grow. Contact BCCA today if you are interested in being a mentor or participant in the program.
Coast Opportunity Funds Set Community Economies as #1 Goal in New Strategic Plan
The
Coast Economic Development Society and
Coast Conservation Endowment Foundation Fund have developed a new strategic plan for 2014-2016. Priorities within the new plan are "to foster resilient Participating First Nation community economies throughout the region" and "to increase the capacity in First Nations’ communities to realize sustainable economic development opportunities and lead conservation management, project development and workforce development."
Celebrated Community Economist to Talk in Whistler and Lillooet
Michael Shuman, director of research for Cutting Edge Capital and director of research and economic development at the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), is engaged to speak in Whistler and Lillooet on February 26th and 27th, respectively. His recent book, "Local Dollars, Local Sense," looks towards strategies for developing localized and self-reliant economies. Shuman is hosted in Whistler by the
Whistler Centre for Sustainability, as part of their initiative
Fostering a Vibrant Regional Sea to Sky Economy, and by the
Northern Economic Development and Initiatives (NEDI) Committee in Lillooet, kicking of their
2014 Community Economic Development (CED) activities.
CED Tool: The Illustrated Guide to Community Energy
The Illustrated Guide to Community Energy, developed by the
Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning and the
Elements Lab at UBC, aims to inform citizens about potentially unfamiliar renewable energy technologies, and to stimulate discussion about the energy choices available to them.
Canadian CED
Network News
What is CED? A YouTube response
CCEDNet’s new video on community economic development uses some of the marvellous photos submitted in last fall’s
'What is CED' photo contest to illustrate our diverse and dynamic movement in just over two minutes.
Watch it today! >> Next in CCEDNet's Webinar Series
On February 11th,
Community Supports for Immigrant Entrepreneurship drew on lessons from the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers and the Montréal Community Loan Association in considering how to improve immigrant settlement and integration in Canada. Thought you missed it? Well, you can access the recording of this session and others, as well as find out about upcoming webinars, on our website.
Improve Your Impact Measurement with CanadaMeasures and CCEDNet
Back through popular demand, we will be holding another learning webinar on the
CanadaMeasures Initiative (CMI) and their platform for measuring your Social Return on Investment. Register today to earn about this accessible system and how it combines educational tools and impact measurement software designed for grassroots organizations.
CED Wire Updates
Community Development Manitoba-style: CCPA-Manitoba Director, Molly McCracken writes about how Manitoba became the source for inspiration and cutting edge policy | Read more >>- Investing in the Environment: Assiniboine Credit Union Wins Environmental Award: Katie Schewe shares the environmental achievements that lead to ACU's Anne Lindsey Award | Read more >>
- CCEDNet International Activities in 2013: An Important Year: Yvon Poirier highlights the international commitments of CCEDNet | Read more >>
- Become a CED Investor: A Manitoba Guide to Community Investment Opportunities: Ryan O'Connor explores tools for investing in people & communities | Read more >>
National CED News
Have Your Say on the Social Solidarity Recommendations
The Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS) is inviting your organization to contribute to the participatory construction of the
Recommendations by Social Solidarity Economy to the Millennium Development Goals post-2015. The Consultation is public and open until March 28. After the current public consultation, RIPESS will release the final document that will incorporate feedback received. It will then be possible for organizations and networks to endorse it, and have their names added to the recommendations. These will then be formally presented to the United Nations.Canadian Federal Budget CED Highlights
The Road to Balance: Creating Jobs and Opportunities, the Federal government's 2014 budget, was released earlier this month. This year, CCEDNet submitted two recommendations to the Federal government's pre-budget consultations related to social procurement, and support for Canadian social enterprises and co-ops. Neither of these submissions is addressed in
The Road to Balance, but several budget items will have impacts on CED organizations across the country. Follow the link below to read these highlights.
Alternative Federal Budget 2014
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives released their annual Alternative Federal Budget (AFB) earlier this month. The budget includes many recommendations for CED investments, including: a neighbourhood revitalization program; affordable housing; and the reduction of income inequality. This year’s AFB delivers a plan that would significantly reduce poverty, strengthen the economy, lower unemployment to 5.4% and still balance the budget by 2016-17. It also raises the bar on transparency by providing an analysis of the distributional and poverty impacts of its tax measures—a first for any budget.
CED Tool: Next Generation Evaluation
As the community development sector continues to innovate, it will be ever more important for evaluation to evolve and grow in ways that respond to the increasingly complex, inter-connected, and rapidly changing world in which these initiatives live. This Learning Brief draws from literature and research, as well as more than a dozen interviews with foundation leaders, evaluation practitioners, and social sector thought leaders, with the intention of starting the conversation in the field around Next Generation Evaluation characteristics and approaches.
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 hereto follow us on Twitter.
The 
Common Thread is a Vancouver-based co-operative and CCEDNet member, made up of organizational and individual members who operate sewing programs or provide support in other ways. The co-op specializes in re-purposing fabric from street banners into stylish bags of various uses and sizes. Their very first contract was with the City of Vancouver to reuse the fabric from the pre-Olympic banners. More recently they've been working with the Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club to develop drawstring bags for sale in a retail setting.
The BC Cooperative Association(BCCA) has started to accept applications for a new mentorship program this spring. The Principle 6 Mentorship Program is a BCCA-facilitated program to connect upcoming co-ops with people who can help them grow. Contact BCCA today if you are interested in being a mentor or participant in the program.
