The Canadian CED Network welcomes Adam Morello, the new Ontario Regional Program Assistant, to the CCEDNet team. Adam is a recent graduate of the University of Toronto where he specialized in political science and philosophy. Adam joins the CCEDNet team through On Co-op's Internship Experience Program (CIEP). Working closely with the Ontario Regional Coordinator, Matthew Thompson, and the National Program Director, Paul Chamberlain, Adam is already involved in a number of projects and initiatives. In addition to gaining valuable work experience, Adam is also excited to be contributing to the CED movement and applying that knowledge and experience to all future endeavourers, both personal and professional.

If you would like more information about the CIEP, please visit On Co-op's intern information webpage.

2. Project to Promote Social Enterprise as Model for Immigrant Integration

The Canadian Community Economic Development Network is moving forward on an initiative that promotes social enterprise development and support for social enterprises as an effective model for immigrant integration and settlement into Canadian society. The Immigrant Settlement and Integration through Social Enterprise (ISISE) initiative will discover and identify the practices that are central to meeting the objectives of social enterprises and their support organizations throughout Ontario and across the country.

The initial phase of this project involves surveying immigrant social enterprises and/or their support organizations. We encourage you to click here to access both surveys and to read more about the ISISE project.

The deadline for the survey phase of the project is August 17, 2009. If you have any questions or concerns regarding ISISE, or the surveys, please contact the Ontario Regional Program Assistant, Adam Morello, at (416)-760-2577, or amorello@ccednet-rcdec.ca.

3. On Co-op Launches New Advocacy Blog

The Ontario Co-operative Association has launched a blog to share information and news from co-ops in Ontario and around the world.

A gathering place for everyone to discuss, debate and celebrate all aspects of co-operatives and credit unions, On Co-op Advocacy is envisioned as a hub of co-operative activity. This new forum, like any co-operative venture, depends on your active engagement with it and with each other. Let's come together to discuss issues, share stories, and continue to build the world we want through co-operation!

Visit today and visit often: ontariocoops.wordpress.com

4. Ground Level Café Re-opens

(from left: Angela Shillolo, John Barber, Stephanie Quinlan, Ron Jewell, Mike Wood Daly, Rachel Young)

The Ground Level Café is once again serving up great coffee with a social purpose in mind. On June 24th, the café celebrated its grand re-opening at its new location with refreshments and a silent auction. Now located at 1496 Queen Street West, in Toronto's Parkdale community, The Ground Level Café is operated by Ground Level Youth Ventures. The non-profit, charitable organization addresses the employment needs of Toronto's street-involved youth by providing paid work, transferable skill training and life supports, which empower the youth with the necessary experience to gain long term and meaningful employment.

But social goals of The Ground Level Café don't stop there. Being committed to the well-being of the youth they serve as well as the entire planet, the Ground Level Café serves only Fair-Trade coffees, ensuring each cup of joe is as ethical as it is delicious.  

5. Inner City Renovations Featured on CBC News

On June 30th, the CBC News ran a feature on former Noranda vice-president, Marty Donkervoort and his Winnipeg-based social enterprise, Inner City Renovations. The feature focuses on how Marty's company is changing the lives of those living in Winnipeg's marginalized communities through on the job training, and how he is transforming inner city housing, from run-down dwellings to modern, affordable homes for low income families.

Click here to watch the news clip, and to see the difference that Marty is making in his community.

6. York University's Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies is Looking for Partners in Experiential Education

York University is seeking several host organizations as part of 'learning made live' inititaive. Knowledgeable upper year students looking to gain insights into adding fresh perspectives to business situations will provide innovative and practical insight on a wide variety of topics, including project management, team leadership, accounting challenges, marketing issues, consensus building, to name just a few. Students apply proven methods and key concepts to the project, focusing on issues that the host organization defines as important. This experience enhances the students' ownership of the learning process while ensuring that the host organization is provided with practical advice from a novel perspective. This is not a placement nor a practicum type endeavor. Rather, it is more akin to a 'junior consultation model.'

If you are interested for a possible late September partnership, please get in touch ASAP Geoff Webb, Senior Manager of Experiential Education, at 416-736-2100 ext. 33453, or gwebb@yorku.ca. You can also visit the Experiential Education website.

7. Emerging Leaders in the Social Economy Scholarship Program

Are you a student or practitioner under 30 years of age working in the Social Economy? If so, the Canadian Social Economy Hub (CSEHub) is inviting you to submit a proposal for a research scholarship of up to $3,000 per recipient. The scholarship program aims to promote original research by emerging leaders in the Social Economy. The research will advance knowledge for the sector, as well as enhance the capacity of successful candidates to further strengthen the Social Economy in academic and practitioner sectors in Canada.

To be considered for the scholarship, your research topic must be beneficial to Canadians as well as being relevant to the national policy research priorities of CSEHub. Winners must also agree to submit a paper for publication by CSEHub no later than 4 months prior to August 2010.

The deadline to submit your proposal is September 15, 2009. For more information please email secoord@uvic.ca, or visit www.socialeconomyhub.ca.

8. Third Conference on Social Enterprise

The Social Enterprise Council of Canada invites you to join hundreds of existing and prospective social enterprise operators from across Canada at the Third Canadian Conference on Social Enterprise, Living our Values: Social Enterprise in Action.

Participants of the conference will be engaged in intensive training sessions aimed at developing and growing your social enterprise. Additionally, there will be two days of working sessions with fellow practitioners, funders, government officials, network organizations, and supporters designed to create a national policy agenda and action plan for social enterprises in Canada.

The three day conference takes place in Toronto, from November 18 - 20, 2009. Please click here for more information or to register.

9. Seeking Employment in Community Economic Development?

Are you currently looking to enter the exciting field of CED?  Please visit our National Job Listings webpage to view up-to-date job ads for interesting positions around the country.

We would love to hear from you if you have any information you wish to circulate throughout our CED community!

Thank you,
Adam Morello
Ontario CED Program Assistant