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.
Social Impact Bonds: Beyond the Hype - Feb. 25 Webinar
Community agencies are facing funding reductions. Governments are looking to cut spending. Can social impact bonds help? If you’ve heard of social impact bonds and want to know what they are and their potential application to fund innovative community services, this webinar is for you. This upcoming CCEDNet webinar will begin with presentations by Christian and Margie, followed by an interactive question and answer period facilitated by CCEDNet Executive Director Mike Toye. Registration is open now.
Northern CED News
Framing Sustainable Options for Housing
What kind of houses should we be building in the North? Based on case study research, a new report suggests policy-based solutions to the housing shortage in Northern communities. Framing Sustainable Options for Housing in Canada’s North suggests that effective Northern housing strategies require sensitive partnerships, programs, and policies that support and involve Northerners, are respectful of local cultures, and are consistent with the long-term goals of sustainable development.
Inuit Co-ops Recognized as 'Historic'
The federal government has honoured Canada's Inuit co-operative movement by officially designating Inuit co-ops as "historic". Parks Canada announced on November 27 that the Inuit co-operative movement was receiving the designation, which honours "sites, persons and events that define significant moments in Canada's history." Parks Canada's press release stated, "The Inuit Co-operative Movement's democratic and egalitarian principles gave Inuit communities and individuals the power to participate effectively in the management of their local economy."
(Source: CCA News Brief)
The Status of Inuit Children & Youth in Nunavut
In November, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated published their Annual Report on the State of Inuit Culture and Society. The Status of Inuit Children and Youth in Nunavut focuses on the education status of children and youth (Part 1) and child, youth, family services, housing, suicide, and food security (Part 2). As the report points out, many of these issues are central to the Nunavut Roundtable for Poverty Reduction's Manimaniq Plan: A Shared Approach to Poverty Reduction.
(Source: Nunavut Roundtable for Poverty Reduction News)
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.
Community agencies are facing funding reductions. Governments are looking to cut spending. Can social impact bonds help? If you’ve heard of social impact bonds and want to know what they are and their potential application to fund innovative community services, this webinar is for you. This upcoming CCEDNet webinar will begin with presentations by Christian and Margie, followed by an interactive question and answer period facilitated by CCEDNet Executive Director Mike Toye. Registration is open now.
What kind of houses should we be building in the North? Based on case study research, a new report suggests policy-based solutions to the housing shortage in Northern communities. Framing Sustainable Options for Housing in Canada’s North suggests that effective Northern housing strategies require sensitive partnerships, programs, and policies that support and involve Northerners, are respectful of local cultures, and are consistent with the long-term goals of sustainable development.
The federal government has honoured Canada's Inuit co-operative movement by officially designating Inuit co-ops as "historic". Parks Canada announced on November 27 that the Inuit co-operative movement was receiving the designation, which honours "sites, persons and events that define significant moments in Canada's history." Parks Canada's press release stated, "The Inuit Co-operative Movement's democratic and egalitarian principles gave Inuit communities and individuals the power to participate effectively in the management of their local economy."
In November, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated published their Annual Report on the State of Inuit Culture and Society. The Status of Inuit Children and Youth in Nunavut focuses on the education status of children and youth (Part 1) and child, youth, family services, housing, suicide, and food security (Part 2). As the report points out, many of these issues are central to the Nunavut Roundtable for Poverty Reduction's 
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:
