Follow CCEDNet:
In this issue:
Canadian CED Network News
Saskatchewan CED News
- Tech innovator to speak at Co-operative to Build a Better West
- Nowhere to go: Homeless in Saskatoon
- 2011 a record year for Saskatchewan Credit Unions
CED Tool: Financial Management for CED Organizations
National CED News
- 5 Public policy “tweaks” to support social enterprise
- New research on social enterprises in rural communities
- Disability and Work: Global Strategy for Equity Conference
- i4 Journal discusses real solutions to affordable housing
- North American Basic Income Guarantee Congress
- Our best tweets of the month
Job Postings
Canadian CED Network News
Sustainable Tourism Webinar
Learn how sustainable tourism can improve local economies and environmental outcomes with an upcoming webinar hosted by CCEDNet. Guest speakers Michael Campbell and Clinton Belcher will learn how Indigenous communities in Canada help empower local communities by utilizing an Indigenous approach to tourism.
The free session will begin at 12:00pm ET on May 1st.
>> Register here
Meet our Members
PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise seeks to empower women within their communities, strengthen small business and promote community economic development (CED) through integrated and women-centered program delivery. From training and business coaching, to networking events and peer lending circles, their innovative programs and services are designed to increase the self-sufficiency and success of women, families and communities in the North.
>> Visit their website
Tamarack is a dynamic organization that develops and supports collaborative strategies that engage citizens and institutions to solve major community challenges, and to learn from and share these experiences. The Institute sponsors projects and provides learning resources, training, coaching and strategic consulting that enable people to collaborate and learn with and from each other.
>> Visit their website
Saskatchewan CED News
Tech innovator to speak at Co-operative Conference
Event organizers have announced that technology innovator Mark Surman will be one of the keynote speakers at the Co-operating to Build a Better West conference. Mark’s presentation — What Lessons Can Co-operative Movement Entrepreneurs Take from Mozilla’s Successful Approach? — will take place at the Conference in Saskatoon, November 1-3, 2012. Mark currently serves as the executive director of the Mozilla Foundation, one of the largest social enterprises.
The conference will focus on the best co-operative practices and policies, and on new co-op models and successful start-ups.
>> Read more
(Source: Co-operative Spotlight, March)
Nowhere to go: Homeless in Saskatoon
The Stories of Homelessness Project provides honest and open portraits of homelessness in Saskatoon, as captured in short interviews that are available on Youtube. The project was initiated by a Saskatoon group Passion for Action Against Homelessness. The reason for the project was to hear the real stories of those living on the streets, to give voice and to empower those without, to create some awareness about the issue and to provide recommendations to the government.
>> Read more
2011 a record year for Saskatchewan Credit Unions
In 2011, Saskatchewan's credit unions generated a record-high net income of almost $92 million, the large majority of which is staying in the local economy. The credit unions returned $18 million to their members through dividend and patronage programs, and contributed millions more to local community-building charities and sponsorships. There are 60 credit unions in Saskatchewan serving 270 communities through 303 service outlets.
Commenting on the record year, Ken Anderson, CEO of SaskCentral, says, "If you are part of the community, you want to give back and make that community thrive. It is that co-operative spirit."
>> Read more
(Source: Leader-Post)
CED Tool: Financial Management for CED Organizations
Unlike a private business, a nonprofit usually incurs expenses after it secures revenue. Without that revenue, even the best ideas can’t go forward. What’s more, most revenue must be used as the terms of a contract prescribe. So what’s the biggest financial challenge that we nonprofits face? To generate undesignated revenue that we can allocate strategically, without first having to convince a funder.
This helpful tool, designed by Momentum for CCCR's i4 Journal, takes CED organizations along a 4-step process to attaining greater performance, independence and financial soundness.
>> Read more
National CED News
5 Public policy “tweaks” to support social enterprise
In a recent article for SEE Change Magazine, David LePage outlined minor policy changes that will have large impacts to move the social enterprise sector forward in Canada. Among his suggestions, David proposes that the government acknowledge non-profit incorporations as a legitimate business model and make existing tax credits available to social enterprises.
David LePage is the program manager of enterprising non-profits and a member of CCEDNet’s policy council.
>> Read more
New research on social enterprises in rural communities
A new report by the Foundation for Rural Living highlights the pent-up demand for social enterprise skills training and capacity-building in rural Canadian communities. The research, which focuses in Ontario, found that there is a lack of capacity-building and knowledge of SE tools, resources, policies and sector supports available to rural nonprofits.
>> Read more
Disability and Work: Global Strategy for Equity Conference
Registration is now open for this unique conference, which will bring together government, business and community leaders from around the globe to discuss innovative strategies to employment outcomes for workers with disabilities. Participants will explore ways to design policies and programs that are effective and can be used across the world.
The Conference is being held in Montreal, starting on May 5.
>> Read more
i4 Journal Discusses Real Solutions to Affordable Housing
Last month, the i4 journal published a special edition focusing on affordable housing issues and solutions in Canada. Mike Lewis writes on the importance of implementing housing strategies that seek to improve affordability by controlling market forces. In another article, Mike explains the opportunities presented by two promising strategies, community land trust and mutual home ownership societies.
Both articles are excerpts from The Resilience Imperative: Co-operative Transitions to a Steady-State Economy, by Michael Lewis and Pat Conaty (forthcoming June 2012).
>> Read more
North American Basic Income Guarantee Congress
While Canada, the United States, and many other OECD countries have grown increasingly unequal in recent years, equality has not been on the political agenda. Yet evidence shows that income inequality is accompanied by a range of significant negative consequences. North American Basic Income Guarantee Congress will examine this growing trend of inequality and consider the option of a basic income to reduce economic disparity. The theme of the conference is: Putting Equality Back on the Agenda: Basic Income and Other Approaches to Economic Security for All.
The Congress is taking place May 3-5 at the University of Toronto.
>> Read more
CED news in 140 characters: Our best tweets of the month
Think of this as our social media highlight reel. Here's where we list our favourite posts from our Facebook, Youtube and Twitter accounts in the past month.
- #Cooperative businesses provide a new-old model for job growth: "A fast-growing way to do business better" >> Click here
- Learn about Wpg’s innovative Social Enterprise Centre. We're proud to be a founding tenant via @themanitoban >> Click here
- 5 big ideas for a #neweconomy - local investment, DIY job creation, and more. Do you have any others? via @FastCoExist >> Click here
- Co-op members outnumber shareholders 3-1. New report shows #coop sector is resilient & growing. via @CooperativesUK >> Click here
Job Postings
For the latest CED postings visit the National and Regional job pages on CCEDNet's website
National | AB | SK | MB |
Positions to post? Send them to breimer@ccednet-rcdec.ca