Building Resilient Communities – Ecology, Equality, and Workplace Democracy

This is the theme for the CWCF 2019 Conference, which will take place in Tatamagouche, NS from October 24th – 26th, in conjunction with CoopZone.

Register for the CWCF Conference 2019

As with all businesses, the climate crisis presents a challenge for worker co-ops. Unlike with many other businesses, however, it is one that worker co-ops are well-positioned to respond to because of their roots in their communities, voluntary and open membership, and democratic structure. The impacts of climate change pose disproportionate risks for historically marginalized groups. But developing a green economy by growing and strengthening the worker co-op movement also helps to empower people with the prospect of new employment opportunities, more livable communities, and more control over their labour. Through following sustainable practices and/or working directly in the green economy to help address the climate crisis as well as building equality and democracy in the workplace, worker co-ops can help transform our world to a better economy, society, and environment for everyone.

In addition to covering this important theme at the Conference, there will be a Worker Co-op Intensive session, workshops on topics of practical interest, and great networking opportunities.

Dowload Program

North Atlantic Forum & Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation Conference

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Memorial University and the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF) and its North Atlantic partners are planning for the 2019 North Atlantic Forum and CRRF Conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada in October 2019.

Save the date and plan your participation in the Sustainable Communities Forum.  Join rural practitioners, researchers, government, business and non-profit representatives for inspiring presentations, breakout sessions, and interactive discussions on the stresses and solutions of sustainable communities.

Conference registration is now open. Early bird prices are in effect until June 30, 2019.  

Regsiter for the 2019 Sustainable Communities Conference

PROGRAM

The organizers are excited to present a program filled with a strong mix of community experience, relevant research knowledge, lively discussion and memorable local social activity.

October 1, 2019 – Registration, Opening Reception, Keynote Address.

October 2, 2019 – Labour market and Labour Mobility, The Future of Rural Work – Keynote Address and Parallel Sessions, with Knowledge Mobilization Sessions – Podcasting, Webinars, e-Newsletters, and different presentation formats

October 3, 2019 – Food Security (agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture) and Drinking Water in Rural and Remote Communities – Keynote Address, Panel Sessions and New Researchers World Cafe

October 4, 2019 – Cultural and Heritage Industries and Rural Identity, Tourism, Social Enterprise  – Keynote Address, Presentations, Rural Policy Maker’s Round Table and Banquet

October 5, 2019 – Rural Engagement Tour

Additional programs details will be posted as they are finalized.

2:00pm to 3:00pm Eastern Time

Canadian regional development today involves multiple actors operating within nested scales from local to national and even international levels. Recent approaches to making sense of this complexity have drawn on concepts such as multi-level governance, relational assets, integration, innovation, and learning regions. These new regionalist concepts have become increasingly global in their formation and application, yet there has been little critical analysis of Canadian regional development policies and programs or the theories and concepts upon which many contemporary regional development strategies are implicitly based. This webinar highlights the results of five years of cutting-edge empirical and theoretical analysis of changes in Canadian regional development and the potential of new approaches for improving the well-being of Canadian communities and regions, with an emphasis on rural regions. Specific key learnings and policy recommendations will be highlighted

Register for The Theory, Practice and Potential of Regional Development

PANELISTS

David J.A. Douglas is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Guelph, Canada, and has extensive experience in rural development across most Canadian regions, the EU, and other contexts (e.g., Indonesia, Iran, Ukraine, Pakistan).

Ryan Gibson is the Libro Professor of Regional Economic Development at the University of Guelph. His research interests include rural development, governance, and philanthropy.

Sean Markey is a Professor, and registered professional planner, with the School of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University, Canada.

Sarah Minnes is a Research Associate and registered planner, with the School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.

Bill Reimer is a Professor Emeritus at Concordia University in Montréal, Canada. From 1997 to 2008, he directed a Canadian research project on the New Rural Economy which included 13 universities, 35 partners, and 32 rural communities from all parts of Canada.

Kelly Vodden is Associate Vice-President (Grenfell) Research and Graduate Studies and Professor (Research) with the Environmental Policy Institute at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University, Corner Brook, Canada.

12:00 noon Eastern Time

This two-part, interactive series is designed for people who are working in a worker co-op.  They are most appropriate for those who have recently become members or who are thinking of applying to join their co-op, but anyone involved in a worker co-op is welcome to participate.  Part I will cover basic definitions, statistics on the movement,  and the co-op principles as applied to worker co-ops. Part II will cover governance and management principles in a worker co-op, and provide information about CWCF.

The webinars will be presented by Peter Hough. Peter has over 30 years of experience as a member, manager, and/or director of worker and consumer co-operatives. He has assisted with many co-operative start-ups, developing bylaws, conducting training programs, completing feasibility studies and business plans as well as providing post-start-up mentoring. He is a director of the Canadian Co-operative Investment Fund which will invest in co-operative in all regions of Canada and a director of Sustainability Solutions Group Worker Co-op and CoopZone Developers’ Network. He was the lead developer and founding Course Director of the CoopZone Co-op Development online training programs, the Financial Officer of the Canadian Worker Co-op Federation, and the Fund Manager of “Tenacity Works” the CWCF’s revolving loan fund. 

Leading Effective Meetings Rick Proven: Part 1: June 5, 12:00 noon ET; Part 2: June 11, 12 noon ET.

Have you ever wondered why meetings can some times wander off in all directions?

Why discussions on important issues can just keep going in circles and never seem to get resolved?

This webinar will give you some insights into how we think and process information, then present some models that can be used to keep discussions on track and arrive at decisions that can be supported by the whole group.

In the first one hour session we will:

Have a discussion on human cognitive processes and how they affect our conversations and decision making,

Introduce a tool for planning focused questions to plan the conversations and have an opportunity to practice the model between sessions.

In the second session we will:

Discuss the use of the focus question planning tool which was practiced between sessions,

Introduce and practice the second tool called ORID, Objective, Reflective, Interpretive and Decisional. This tool allows us to take a deep dive into how to plan the conversation, which allows all participants the chance to be part of the discussion and decisions.

The webinar will be presented by Rick Proven. Rick is an adult educator and worker cooperative member. After 32 years in the federal public service Rick retired from Parks Canada in 2010. He held various positions such as human resource advisor, program manager, project coordinator, informal conflict management advisor and national trainer. Through continuous learning and application, Rick has become an effective facilitator and trainer.

Rick now works as a private consultant focusing on facilitation design and training. He also spends his time as a member of a worker cooperative, building energy efficient and net zero buildings.

Democracy at Work Institute Webinars

The Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI) was created by the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC) to ensure that worker cooperative development in economically and socially marginalized communities is adequately supported, effective, and strategically directed. The School of Democratic Management, a program of DAWI’s, provides tools workplaces can use right away to build the culture they need.

A recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between DAWI and CWCF allows CWCF members to receive a 50 percent discount on School of Democratic Management webinars. Email Kaye Grant, Communications and Member Services Manager, at communications@canadianworker.coop to receive the discount code if you wish to attend an upcoming webinar. Here are some of the ones scheduled for the coming months.