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)
British Columbia CED News
Community Contribution Companies in B.C.
 British Columbia will soon become home to a new corporate structure designed to bridge the gap between for-profit businesses and non-profit enterprises. The B.C. government approved regulations in early March 2013 to allow the creation of community contribution companies (CCCs), a hybrid business model designed to spur private investment in the province's social enterprise sector. These regulatory changes recognize the important economic impacts of social enterprises, and will help the sector sustain their important community-based missions.
This announcement was welcome news for Canada's social enterprise sector, and marks a clear commitment from B.C. to remain at the cutting edge of social investment policy. The new regulations are slated to take effect on July 29, 2013.
CED Summer Opportunities for Young Community Builders
 The Community Social Planning Council is offering three exciting opportunities for young CED practitioners and social entrepreneurs: - Learning Opportunity: As part of their Youth Enterprise, CSPC is hosting a webinar titled Animating Youth Social Enterprise: The Role of Funders & Partners. This learning event, which takes place on April 30, will examine some best practice examples of what funders and community partners, including post-secondary, business and service organizations, can and are doing to support strengthen opportunities for youth social enterprise, locally and nationally.
- Employment Opportunity: The CSPC and the Canadian Centre for Community Renewal (CCCR) have each been awarded a CreateAction internship position by CCEDNet. The CSPC is looking for a CED Assistant, and CCCR is seeking a Community Land Trust Researcher and Developer.
- Volunteer Opportunity: CSPC is also issuing a call for energetic and enthusiastic volunteers to assist with outreach and networking at various public events throughout the spring and summer.
Celebrating Social Enterprising Heroes
 On March 27th, enp hosted the Social Enterprise Heroes and Day of Learning at the Roundhouse Community Arts Centre in Vancouver. The day was filled with valuable learning opportunities through workshops hosted by local experts such as Dr. Peter Hall, and representatives from the BC Partners for Social Impact. It was also a historic day, as Gordon Jogg, MLA joined David LePage for a formal presentation of the Proclamation declaring March 27th Social Enterprise Day in BC. As a grand finale to this action-packed event, enp hosted the Social Enterprise Heroes competition. The competition featured three inspirational pitches from the three social enterprise finalists vying for financial and technical support to grow their operations. (Photo Credit: Bill Beatty)
Putting Co-ops on the Election Agenda
 The B.C. Co-operative Association is putting co-ops on the agenda and in the minds of voters during this provincial election season. In advance of the May 14 vote, BCCA is encouraging its members and co-operators to raise co-op issues with their candidates throughout the campaign. Specifically, BCCA has identified three actions that the provincial government should take: 1) establishing a strategic policy on co-ops, 2) government financing for co-ops and social enterprises, and 3) designating a Minister to be responsible for co-ops and the social economy. BCCA has developed a position paper and a sample letter to be sent to candidates, as well as a co-op fact sheet and speaking points which co-operators can use when talking to the candidates.
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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