The Canadian Social Economy Hub (CSEHub) has recently published the May 2009 edition of their E-Bulletin. This E-Bulletin provides updates on events and projects within the CSEHub and its six regional research centres (nodes) across Canada.
The Canadian CED Network is a partner in the CSEHub, which was initiated in 2005 as part of the National Research Program on the Social Economy. The CSEHub is funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council. For additional information, please visit: www.socialeconomyhub.ca
Below we've excerpted some of the highlights from the e-bulletin and you can download the entire e-bulletin, and view previous editions by clicking here>>
Contents
News
What we've been up to
- Government Dialogue and Research Showcase
- Social Economy Stories
- World Social Forum 2009
- Telelearning Sessions
- Researcher of the Month
- The Social Economy Student Network
- Emerging Leaders in the Social Economy: Research Scholarship Program
Upcoming Events
Information and Updates on CSEHub's Regional Nodes
News
We've Moved: The Canadian Social Economy Hub has changed locations on campus at the University of Victoria. We have moved into a new building called the Technology Enterprise Facilities, and it is located near the community garden and closer to the bus loop than our previous location - come and visit: Technology Enterprise Facilities, University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Avenue, Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 5C2 Room 214.
New Staff at the Hub: We said goodbye to Lindsay Kearns, the Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator for the Hub in April; she went off to new adventures in Australia. Ashley Hamilton-MacQuarrie has joined the hub to replace Lindsay. Ashley is a geography graduate from the University of Victoria and has experience ranging from photojournalism to environmental education. Over at CCEDNet, Matthew Thompson has moved on from being the Knowledge Mobilization Specialist to become CCEDNet's Regional Coordinator for Ontario. Joel Legassie has taken his place, and has a background in history and journalism, and will be starting his PhD at UVic this fall.
Mid Point Review: This year was the mid point of SSHRC's five-year funding for the Canadian Social Economy Research Partnerships. Each node and the Hub completed a mid-term review for SSHRC, and participated in an interview with the adjudicating committee. The following is an excerpt from the March 31, 2009 SSHRC letter to the six nodes and the Hub:
"Overall, the committee was highly satisfied with the quality of the work conducted by the Canadian Social Economy Hub and the six regional nodes, recognizing the high level of collaboration between the National Hub and the nodes. Furthermore, the committee praised the National Hub and the regional nodes for their exchanges and partnerships with universities, non-profit and non-governmental organizations, social economy organizations, as well as the public and private sectors. The committee judged that the centres are increasing the employability of students and practitioners in the area of social economy by providing excellent training opportunities. It considered that the National Hub and the regional nodes have produced results and developed innovative knowledge mobilization activities that can inform decision-making and improve the performance of organizations and enterprises in areas that are important to the social economy in Canada. The committee encouraged the regional nodes to work closely with the National Hub and to continue producing outputs that enlighten the development of social economy policies at the national level. The committee was particularly pleased to note that the researchers had undertaken work with Aboriginal communities and that some others were working on women's issues and it underlined the importance of these two approaches."
The nodes and hub have posted their mid term review on their individual websites (see below), or they can be found on at: www.socialeconomyhub.ca under reports.
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What we've been up to:
Government Dialogue and Research Showcase: On November 25th, over 70 government representatives and Social Economy researchers convened in Ottawa to hear presentations and engage in dialogue regarding the relevance of Social Economy research and current government initiatives and policies. Presentations were led by representatives from each regional node of the Canadian Social Economy Research Partnerships, and explored findings from specific projects in which they have been involved. This one-day event provided an excellent opportunity for participants to develop connections between policy and practice in Canada's Social Economy. Visit the CSEHub's website for podcasts and slideshow presentations from this gathering. For the program, click here. Social Economy Stories: CCEDNet, as a CSEHub partner, has completed the pilot phase to the Social Economy ‘stories' and has published the initial six stories online. This project seeks to develop the personal face of Canada's Social Economy through interviews with actors within the sector. CCEDNet will be developing this project to represent more voices and greater diversity in the Social Economy. This will not only serve to promote Social Economy development but will also create linkages between the work of various Social Economy actors and expand understanding of how the sector is transforming Canadian society.
Social Economy Stories: CCEDNet, as a CSEHub partner, has completed the pilot phase to the Social Economy ‘stories' and has published the initial six stories online. This project seeks to develop the personal face of Canada's Social Economy through interviews with actors within the sector. CCEDNet will be developing this project to represent more voices and greater diversity in the Social Economy. This will not only serve to promote Social Economy development but will also create linkages between the work of various Social Economy actors and expand understanding of how the sector is transforming Canadian society.
World Social Forum 2009: converging of networks to face the global crisis
The World Social Forum took place in Belem, Brazil from January 27th to February 1st, 2009. One hundred and thirty-thousand representatives from civil society organizations, research groups, and non-governmental agencies attended. A major focus of the Forum was people-centered responses to the world economic crisis, led by organizations involved in the social and solidarity economy. The World Social Forum organizers created a dynamic space for dialogue, networking and collaboration in Belem, including major themes around Indigenous People's leadership and solidarity, ecological sustainability, and responses to the global economic crisis. Rupert Downing, Co-Director of the Canadian CED Network had the opportunity to attend the forum. His presentation, ‘Community-Led Research to Strengthen the Social Economy' illustrated the Canadian perspective of community economic development, community resources, building community economics, and building a social economy. For more information about the forum, visit the forum website. For a copy of Rupert's presentation, please visit this page on the CSEHub's website.
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Telelearning Sessions: Telelearning Sessions are organized to bring Canadian experts working or researching topics within the Social Economy together to share their ideas and answer questions from other interested participants. These are exciting networking opportunities, and chances for people to learn about current ideas and strategies. Here are a few examples of successful sessions that have taken place this past year. Please visit the CSEHub website for a complete listing of past sessions, including: podcasts and background reading materials.
Researcher of the Month: In an effort to provide accessible insight into current Social Economy research, CSEHub regularly asks a Social Economy researcher a few key questions about their work, and records their responses. These mini-interviews are then posted on the CSEHub website, along with a short biography of the researcher and any relevant links to the projects or institutions with which they are associated. If you have suggestions for a social economy researcher that you would like us to interview, please email sekm@uvic.ca. To view previous researchers of the month, click here>>
The Social Economy Student Network (SESN): The SESN serves as a forum for student academic dialogue, knowledge sharing and education on the Social Economy. The Network exists to bring together students interested in such topics as: social justice, the marginalized, social enterprise, and environmental issues. Through intellectual and diverse peer networks within and beyond academia, we aspire to create a solid foundation for a healthy and just society. The SESN is undertaking two major initiatives in 2009:
- Launching a new Social Economy Student Network website, which will identify and feature various social enterprise, student research and personal initiatives that serve to strengthen the social economy.
- The Student Conference on the Social Economy May 26th at Carleton University. This interdisciplinary student conference, ‘Innovation & Sustainability in a Changing World - Exploring the Social Economy Alternatives' aims to network students, academics and practitioners, and offer participants a better understanding of issues and research about the social economy. For more information contact Neil Nunn - Social Economy Student Network Coordinator at neilnunn@uvic.ca or visit the SESN website>>
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Upcoming Events
Carleton Social Sciences and Humanities Federation Congress: This year's Congress will be in Ottawa at Carleton University from May 23-31. The Canadian Social Economy Research Partnerships is involved in two of the associations - The Canadian Association of for Studies of Co-operation (CASC) and the Association for Nonprofit and Social Economy Research (ANSER). There are a number of public events planned by these two associations, including a progressive dinner bus tour on May 27. This tour will travel to local businesses for different courses of the meal, and to hear about different social economy enterprises in Ottawa. Cost: $50.00 per person. Register at www.cvsrd.org/eng/se_registration.html. For more information visit their website>>
National Summit 2010: The Canadian Social Economy Research Partnerships is participating on a steering committee designed to aggregate a collection of practitioners, researchers, and innovators to meet in May, 2010. They hope to develop a strategy to significantly strengthen the foundations for a broadly based movement within the Canadian Social Economy. They also hope to deepen relationships, and weave together the community of people who are committed to building an economy that is ecologically, socially and economically vibrant and responsible. While the priority at this juncture is to mobilize the actors in the civil society; they fully recognize the tremendous leadership of the vibrant, committed core of actors in the private and public sectors. Organizations that are participating in the Steering Committee include: the Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet), Canadian Cooperative Association (CCA), Conseil canadien de la coopération et de la mutualité, Chantier de l'economie sociale, Causeway, Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité, Social Enterprise Council of Canada, Enterprising Non Profits, Canadian Centre for Community Renewal, BC-Alberta Research Alliance on the Social Economy, and the Women's Economic Council. Mike Toye from CCEDNet, Nancy Neamtan from le Chantier and John Anderson from CCA are providing the leadership for this initiative. The National Summit will be held at Carleton University in Ottawa from May 31 to June 2, 2010.
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For Information and Updates on CSEHub's Six Nodes:
Atlantic
Social Economy and Sustainability Research Network
www.msvu.ca/socialeconomyatlantic
Quebec
L'Alliance de recherche universités-communautés (ARUC) Réseau québécois de recherche partenariale (RQRP)
www.aruc-es.uqam.ca
Southern Ontario
Social Economy Centre, University of Toronto
sec.oise.utoronto.ca
Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northern Ontario
Linking, Learning, Leveraging: Social Enterprises Knowledgeable Economies and Sustainable Communities
usaskstudies.coop/socialeconomy
Northern
Social Economy Research Network of Northern Canada
dl1.yukoncollege.yk.ca/sernnoca
British Columbia and Alberta
BC-Alberta Research Alliance on the Social Economy
http://www.socialeconomy-bcalberta.ca
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Please contact Ashley at 250.472.4976 or sekm@uvic.ca with any questions regarding the CSEHub e-bulletin.
