Economic Development today is space-based: designed without places in mind. The people who live in these places and feel the impacts of economic development are ignored. In this webinar Sean Markey will draw upon research that examines the history and impacts of space-based economic development in Western Canada.
Do you want to learn how to accelerate the transition to local living economies?
If you are considering enrolling in the SFU Certificate Program for Community Economic Development, this webinar series is a unique opportunity to meet four of our instructors. If you participate in all 4 webinars of this series, we'll mail you a copy of Michael Shuman's most recent book The Local Economy Solution (will be published in June 2015).
Register for the Place and Placelessness in Rural Canada webinar
The Community Futures Network of Canada (CFNC) requires the services of a qualified Coordinator/Project Manager to manage the ongoing activities of the CFNC. This is a part-time, contract position.
BC Healthy Communities Society (BCHC) is a dynamic not-for-profit society that provides Healthy Communities services, tools, resources and supports to community organizations, local governments and health authorities across BC to build healthier, resilient and sustainable communities.
Do you want a socially inclusive, redistributive, prosperous economy?
The Canadian CED Network has been following with interest developments that have been going on across the Atlantic. Perhaps most exciting for us has been the work of Localise West Midlands. Although focused primarily on the West Midlands region of the UK, their work also seeks "to catalyse ideas across the UK and to make links with and support organisations all over the world working on a similar agenda."
In recent years they have engaged in a thorough analysis of the evidence base for economic localisation and community economic development (CED), assessing the prospects for truly 'mainstreaming CED.'
With "Localising Prosperity," a new resource from Localise West Midlands, they are clearly and simply outlining the CED approach, sources of inspiration, and guidance for implementation for diverse audiences: public institutions, communities, businesses - anyone interested in making places better and sharing prosperity.
This webinar with Karen Leach explores the work that Localise West Midlands has done to change people's views of 'community economic development,' how to effectively evaluate CED activities and demonstrate impact, and to understand what strategies are working in the UK to increase the uptake of the CED approach and address prevalent social and economic challenges.
Karen Leach has been Coordinator of Localise West Midlands (LWM) since its inception in 2002, responsible for the organisation’s strategy and delivery in conjunction with its board. Her professional interests are in economic efficiency in terms of sustainability outcomes and in economic awareness and empowerment amongst the general public. She is also on the Management Committee of Birmingham Friends of the Earth which runs environmental community centre The Warehouse, and was formerly campaigns support officer at Birmingham Friends of the Earth. LWM is a small non-profit think-tank, campaign group and consultancy with one member of staff and involving around 15 people as members and associates. It is located in Digbeth and has a West Midlands region-wide remit. LWM’s aim is to promote a more localised approach to supply chains, money flow and decision-making in order to form a more just and sustainable economy.
Honorary lifetime member of CCEDNet, Stewart is one of the pioneers of CED in the US and Canada, as both a policy adviser and a designer and manager of CED institutions. As head of the (U.S.) Center for Community Economic Development, he helped create the first finance institution for CED, the Massachusetts Community Development Finance Authority. He helped start Canada's first community development corporation, New Dawn Enterprises, and headed the Community Economic Development Center in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. A consultant, researcher, and author, Stewart currently specializes in community and development finance as an associate with the Canadian Centre for Community Renewal.
The Haida Gwaii Higher Education Society invites thoughtful leaders to an outstanding professional development experience based on the connections between complex systems change and the history and culture of Haida Gwaii.
Haida Gwaii is a compelling example of the complex work of social innovation; a story of unprecedented collaboration, deep resilience and committed stewardship. These are some of the marks of successful leadership for complex change, particularly leadership that anticipates the needs of future generations.
Innovation Leadership is a unique, five-day executive education program designed for professionals interested in learning strategic approaches to address the complex problems that they face. It connects cutting-edge social innovation research and education with the experience and teaching of the people and place that is Haida Gwaii. Guest speakers will include voices from local organizations such as: the Council of the Haida Nation, Haida Heritage Centre & Haida Gwaii Museum, Archipelago Management Board, and more.
This program will appeal to mid career professionals who want to enhance their individual and organizational efforts to work effectively in complex environments, of particular interest to those working in diverse cultural contexts as well as to those whose work is deeply rooted in social and environmental realms. Ideal participants will possess a willingness to learn from experience, a passion for change, a tolerance for risk, an appreciation for diversity, and a genuine desire for strategic action.
Space is limited - Register online today!
Program Highlights
Accredited by University of Waterloo, Centre for Extended Learning and its content is based on the highly successful and widely recognized Graduate Diploma in Social Innovation
Exploring problem domains, seeing and describing current systems
Shared insights into the pressing issues that currently challenge individuals, organizations, and society as a whole
Mapping complex contexts to identify the real opportunities for change
New theories on innovation, systems thinking and complexity
Introduction to design thinking and implications for strategy and actions that break through barriers
Moving from theory to practical application in life and work; new way to explain how change happens
Begin to develop innovation strategies with the potential for durable, broad impact
Exploring the key leadership qualities of an institutional or system entrepreneur; learning to play this role effectively
Invited guests will include leaders from the Council of the Haida Nation, Provincial and Federal governments, industry, and the non-profit sector
Arrive Thursday, September 24th - Dinner and welcome reception
Five full days of programming
Depart Wednesday, September 30th - Brunch and program close
Location
Innovation Leadership will be held at the award winning Haida House at Tllaal, a Haida owned and operated lodge at the mouth of the Tlell River on central Graham Island, Haida Gwaii.
Registration
Registration is open until May 31st, 2015 and admission is limited to a small but diverse group of action-oriented individuals. Download the registration form here and return by email to this address.
Program Cost
Cost for the program is $4890 which includes everything (accommodation and meals, ground transportation, special events, etc.) except your travel to Haida Gwaii. Please inquire for local rates.
Delivery Team
This program will be instructed by a collaborative team, more information coming soon.
WEST VANCOUVER MEMORIAL LIBRARY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Director Jenny Benedict will outline how the Library became the first in Canada to be awarded LEED Silver Certification for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (EB: O&M). She will be joined by Green Team member Julie Backer who will speak to the grassroots staff-led effort that conceived of ways to save energy, reduce waste, conserve water and restrict hazardous chemical use. The Library’s work was featured in the award-winning 2013 book, Greening Libraries.
DENVER ZOO, COLORADO, USA
Jennifer Hale, Director of Safety and Sustainability, will outline the Zoo’s work at the forefront of environmentalism - specifically: converting the zoo’s animal waste and human trash into usable energy and heat; cutting material inputs; and reusing water. In 2009 the Zoo was the first U.S. zoo to receive ISO 14001 international certification for its environmental management efforts and, in 2011, the first recipient of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Green Award.
About The New Barn-Raising
The New Barn-Raising is an initiative to encourage the exchange of international best practice around sustaining community and civic assets such as parks, recreation centers, libraries, neighborhood stores, senior centers, museums and theaters. These are places and spaces characterized by a high degree of accessibility, popularity and sense of belonging to 'the people'.
The term New Barn-Raising refers to how different groups (business, citizens, foundations, non-profits groups, politicians, social entrepreneurs, social investors, taxpayers and unions) can all pull together to support assets.
Karen Leach, 
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17:00 to 18:00 GMT (London Time)