Connections to Revitalize Communities: An Ontario CED Event brought together 130+ passionate and innovative individuals engaged in a diverse range of community economic development activities all across Ontario. The event highlighted how communities across the province are looking at new ways of coming together to create opportunities for social and economic growth, while also maintaining strong environemental priorities. 29% of the participants came from rural communities and many were from Northern Ontario Over 80 different organizations and initiatives were represented from different sectors (e.g. Health, Finance, Agriculture, Education, etc.) at this first ever Ontario CED Event. The energy and creativity of those present were in full force, clearly demonstrating a strong dedication to building fairer and stronger local economies. Together we can help develop inclusive and equitable strategies that are creating healthier and more sustainable communities.
For those of you that were unable to attend this one day event we will be posting here many of the resources shared during Connections to Revitalize Communities: An Ontario CED Event including:
The following organizations were gracious hosts during the afternoon-long CED Learning Journey on June 7, 2011. For descriptions and contact information for each organization please click here.
- FoodShare Toronto
- The Raging Spoon
- Inspirations Studio
- St. John’s Bakery
- Phoenix Print Shop
- The LOFT Youth Centre for Social Enterprise & Innovation
To view photos from the tour, visit: www.flickr.com/photos/46212863@N06/sets/72157626790675721/
Click Here To Download the Event Program
Paul Johnson
Paul is the Director of Neighbourhood Development Strategies with the City of Hamilton. In this new position he is responsible for developing strategies for aligning investments and activities to better support healthy neighbourhoods. Paul is a member of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction and served as its founding Director. Paul is also the Chair of Hamilton's Best Start Network and played an important role in developing a framework for service planning as the Chair of the City of Hamilton's Human Services Planning Initiative.
Kathy Chaumont 
PowerPoint
Kathy is a Development Officer for the Franco-Ontarian Network of Economic and Employability Development (RDÉE Ontario) in the Prescott and Russell region. RDÉE Ontario has existed since 1999 and works primarily in community economic development in the various Francophone communities in the province. RDÉE Ontario is a member of a national network that is present across the country.
Brian Walmark PowerPoint
BrianWalmark is the Director of Research with Keewaytinook Okimkanak, one of six tribal councils serving remote and isolated First Nations communities in Ontario's far north. KORI has a twin mandate from the Chiefs to promote the development of research capacity of First Nations communities and to seek out academic researchers willing to respect the research priorities of local communities. Brian has served as Education Advisor for Nishnawbe Aski Nation, is a Founding Director of the Metis Nation of Ontario Cultural Commission and has worked extensively with a number of First Nations and Aboriginal organizations in Northwestern Ontario.
Ethel Côté
Ethel Côté is a Social Enterprise Development Manager with the Canadian Centre for Community Renewal. She has received several awards for her almost thirty years of active promotion of CED, social enterprise and cooperative development. Ethel works with many interest groups including youth, women, culturally diverse groups, government organizations, artists, social enterprises, and community and cultural associations in rural and urban areas, with a particular passion for the recognition and inclusion of francophone communities.
This is not a complete list. We will be posting only those presentations, notes,
and relevant papers that we receive from workshop presenters.
Morning Workshops
Social Enterprise Capacity Building - Cross Regional Learning PowerPoint
Presenters
Cathy Lang (C. Lang Consulting)
Jessica Lax (Causeway Work Centre/Collaborative for Innovative Social Enterprise Development)
“Together We Can Do So Much”: Anti-Racist Activists Building Respectful Relations in the Social Economy of Sioux Lookout PowerPoint
Presenter:
Sean Meades (NORDIK Institute/York University)
Connecting for Health in Our Communities PowerPoint
Presenter:
Peggy Schultz (Health Nexus)
Lorna McCue (http://www.ohcc-ccso.ca/www.ohcc-ccso.ca/)
Afternoon Workshops
What Makes Social Enterprise Work? PowerPoint
Presenter:
Mark Arnold (Family Services - Ottawa)
Pleine participation des femmes à l’économie PowerPoint
Presenters:
Mylène Feytou-Eward (La Clé d'la Baie en Huronie)
Ethel Côté (Centre canadien pour le renouveau communautaire)
Denise Baker (Éco-Huronie)
Co-ops 101 PowerPoint
Presenters:
Peter Cameron (Ontario Co-operative Association)
Sally Miller (West End Food Co-op)
Reba Plummer (Urbane Cyclist)
Social Finance - Impact of a Microfinance Program PowerPoint
Presenter:
Susan Henry (Alterna Savings)
CED Policy in Manitoba - Lessons We Could Apply PowerPoint
Presenter:
Brendan Reimer
Evaluation - Beyond Logic Models:
Planning and Evaluation for Collaborative Projects and Networks PowerPoint
Presenter:
Brenda Doner
Why is working collaboratively in Ontario Important?
The afternoon World Café open space session was facilitated by Lin Grist of Chrysalis Consulting. Lin’s consulting experience in both Canada and the UK has allowed her to advise clients on best practice drawn from both cultures and gives her a cultural sensitivity and flexibility that leads her to approach issues and challenges from an international experience and knowledge base. Her clients have ranged from international investment banks to community organizations. Her work focuses primarily on building capacity in organizations and businesses,facilitation,(large group interventions – Open Space,and small group interventions),training and team building;needs assessment,strategic planning,organizational development and change processes and more recently on public private partnerships (PPP) in the Health and Education Sectors,including the national Sure Start Program for children 0-5 years in the UK.
Please check back to download the synthesized notes from the discussions that occured around the theme of "Why is working collaboratively in Ontario important."
- Out of this World Café
- Afghan Women's Catering Group
- Friends' Catering
- Delightfully Yours
- Field to Table Catering
The following organizations were featured at the Social Enterprise Marketplace that was hosted on site during the conference:
You can download the PowerPoint presentations for the following webinarson collaboration that were held prior to Connections to Revitalize Communities.
Connections to Revitalize Communities: An Ontario CED Event was made possible by the enormous contributions of staff, volunteers, and steering committee members.
In particular we would like to thank the Learning Enrichment Foundation's Event Planning social enteprise team. Without their help the event would not have been nearly as smooth, efficient, and organized as it was. If you need assistance with future events in the Toronto area we strongly recommend that you contact Adele Peden at events.manager at lefca.org or (416) 760-2570 ext. 2570.
We would also like to thank the Techinical Support team at the Learning Enrichment Foundation for helping to accomodate the use of technology throughout the course of the event.
We are also indebted to the amazing groundwork laid by Jennifer Muldoon during her placement with the Canadian CED Network through the CreateAction program.
Thank you, as well, to the event steering committee who helped to ensure the Ontario event was inclusive and representative of the diversity of CED work within the province.
Event Steering Committee
