Learn the benefits of starting a local or regional Community Foundation or Trust to create a pool of funds that can be utilized to support community projects and maintain the quality of life in your region. Community Foundations are local or regional entities with charitable status and typically carry the capacity to receive donations or bequests in the form of cash, real estate and securities.  

Verona Thibault: Executive Director, SEDA     

 

SEDA Members: Free

Non-Members: $50 GST inc.  

 

Based on the successful model utilized in Nova Scotia and currently being implemented in Alberta. Opportunity Development Co-ops direct local capital back into communities and simplifies and reduces the cost of investing. Examples of potential projects include: purchase of a business that is being closed due to retirement of the owner; conversion of a vacant building into a business incubator or commercial hub; building a seniors facility or a new water tower.

 

A well-traveled father of three, Paul holds a Bachelor of East Asian Studies at the University of Alberta Business(delete) and is working on a Masters in Leadership focusing on cooperative decision making. He has worked and lived in Asia and South America (including a stint as an owner of a pan-Asian restaurant). Paul has assisted dozens of startup cooperatives and community owned businesses get off the ground, and is currently working on developing vehicles that will make it easier for Albertans to invest in locally owned businesses. Paul was awarded the Canadian National Award of Merit for Cooperative Development in 2011.

Verona Thibault: Executive Director, SEDA

Paul Cabaj: Director of Development, Alberta Community and Cooperative Association

 

 

Start off the new year with our three part webinar series on raising capital to facilitate economic development and community projects. SEDA and Grow Our Region present this live and interactive webinar series as part of our 2013 Online Learning Series. Each of the three models profiled will approach investment from a unique investor engagement perspective.

 

Webinars will be hosted by SEDA Executive Director Verona Thibault and feature a special guest speaker on each of the subject areas.

Local development corporations are arms length corporations often created by, or for the benefit of, local governments for economic development or other public purposes. Local development corporations as well as certain other types of private entities (e.g., limited liability companies), are being utilized with increasing frequency by cities, towns and villages to finance local government operations and projects.

Doug was born and raised in Cape Breton Nova Scotia. In the early 1980’s Doug became involved in helping to establish future employment for young people and his career in Economic Development was started. Over the next 31 years, Doug worked mostly in smaller communities helping them establish their economic future. In 2007, he was honoured as Economic Development Officer of the year by his peers at SEDA. He recently retired as CEO of the Buffalo Narrows Economic Development Corporation in 2012, however he continues to help and foster Economic Development wherever possible. His comment, “there is no retirement from this profession, just more free time to do the things you love doing” is well founded. Doug is married to Yvonne and they enjoy their additional career as hoteliers.               

 

Start off the new year with our three part webinar series on raising capital to facilitate economic development and community projects. SEDA and Grow Our Region present this live and interactive webinar series as part of our 2013 Online Learning Series. Each of the three models profiled will approach investment from a unique investor engagement perspective.

 

Webinars will be hosted by SEDA Executive Director Verona Thibault and feature a special guest speaker on each of the subject areas.