In this Issue:
Holiday Greetings - from Natasha Jackson, President of the Canadian CED Network
2009 National CED Conference - Interested in presenting at CCEDNet's National Conference? Fill out an Expression of Interest form!
The 2009 budget and communities - Urge our government to create an economic stimulus package that supports community-driven solutions and protects communities!
Renew your membership - It's that time of year again! Visit us online for easy renewal.
CCEDNet Member Profile - The Storytellers' Foundation works in Hazelton, Northwest BC on the territories of the Gitxsan First Nation doing community development learning.
CEDTAS joining CCEDNet!
Do you need free, professional help to develop your CED initiative?FEATURE Article: What if they threw a recession and nobody showed up?
Update: CCEDNet & The Canadian Social Economy Hub (CSEHub)
Community Agenda Brochure - Read our updated Communities Agenda Brochure!
CCEDNet member wins coveted awards - CCEDNet member, Inner City Renovations in Winnipeg, Manitoba, receives recognition for their support of the Manitoba Apprenticeship program, and the sustainability of their business practices.
Report from Chiclayo, Peru One of 3 interns CCEDNet placed with our partner COPEME - Consortium or Private Organizations for the Promotion and Development of Micro and Small Enterprise - Amy is working on supporting microenterprise development in Chiclayo, Peru.
CCEDNet's Emerging Leaders Committee: Members of the Emerging Leaders Committee of CCEDNet conducted a workshop on youth and social enterprise in Canada at the 4th World Youth Congress, "Regeneration 2008," which took place at Laval University in Quebec City.
Sixth Annual CED Gathering in Winnipeg Over 400 people attended CCEDNet's Community Economic Development Gathering at St. Johns High school in Winnipeg, November, 2008.
Holiday Greetings!
I am delighted to bring you greetings during this festive time of year. The holiday season offers each of us a special opportunity to come together and be thankful for the blessings in our lives. It is also a time when we reflect on the passing year, look forward to the days ahead and chart new goals.
I would like to take this opportunity to offer thanks to the members and staff of CCEDNet for their commitment to our work of improving Canadian communities. As members of CCEDNet, we share in the desire to act locally to create economic opportunities and better social conditions, particularly for those most disadvantaged. The work of our members has impacted thousands of communities across Canada. I am proud to say that our Network has been successful in bringing these organizations together to increase capacity, share knowledge and build a national focus on CED.
The coming year will be challenging as communities struggle to cope with the impacts of the economic downturn. But, it is at times like these that our members, CED and social economy practitioners in every corner of the country, respond with ever greater innovation and commitment to protect the social and economic well-being of all our community members. As your Network, we too will redouble our efforts to communicate the value of that work nationally and provide you the learning opportunities and practical tools that can support your activities.
Next year also marks a major milestone for CCEDNet as we celebrate our 10th anniversary! We hope you will plan to celebrate ten years of supporting the CED movement with us at the National Conference in Winnipeg, June 3-5.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, and staff of CCEDNet I would like to extend best wishes to you, your families and colleagues throughout the holiday season and look forward to a New Year full of collective, deliberate and integrated actions which will help to continue to position our Network as Canada’s premier CED resource.
Seasons Greetings,
Natasha Jackson,
President, Canadian CED Network
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2009 National CED Conference
Full Circle: Sharing a Vision for the 7th Generation
Request for Presentations / Expressions of Interest
- Great Law of the Iroquois
The 2009 National CED Conference Committee is accepting 'Expressions of Interest' for presenters and presentations. Concurrent workshops are scheduled for June 4 & 5. These workshops should represent a range of CED streams and lenses that reflect our member priorities and provide topics of interest to all participants. Please view our workshop sheet by clicking here. This year, a key theme will be Indigenous Models of CED.
You are invited to respond by filling out the Expression of Interest Form (PDF | WORD) for consideration as we develop the workshops and program for this conference. Please identify where your proposed presentation would fit on the workshop worksheet. Deadline for submissions is January 08, 2009. Please contact Lydia Giles (lgiles@ccednet-rcdec.ca), National Conference Coordinator, if you have questions about the process for submission.
The 2009 National CED Conference will be held June 3-6 at the University of Winnipeg in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba. Plan to join more than 400 community economic development workers, volunteers, professionals and supporters from across Canada to explore ideas and share insights on community economic development activities and policies.
Come also to help us celebrate the Canadian Community Economic Development Network's 10th anniversary!
Expression of Interest Form PDF | WORD
Workshop Sheet
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Urge our government to create an economic stimulus package that supports community-driven solutions and protects communities!
At this time, we ask our membership to urge the federal government to create an economic stimulus package that maximizes community benefit. There are thousands of Canadian CED and social economy organizations already working effectively to create economic opportunities in their local contexts. With some strategic, significant, and timely investment they could scale up their impact, with real and measurable outcomes on jobs, enterprises, community assets, and local economic stimulation.
As the Canadian CED Network continues to engage all levels of government, you can get involved by: writing or emailing your MP, participating in the online consultations, attending an in-person consultation event, telling friends and colleagues, responding to surveys and polls, or writing a letter to your local paper.
CCEDNet has sent a letter to the federal government outlining immediate investment options to maximize economic stimulus and community benefit. This letter has been mailed to the recipients indicated and emailed to Canadian MPs. Members of our board and committees will also be attending the in-person consultation meetings listed below. We will continue to do our very best to update members on the outcomes of our mobilization efforts.
How you can get involved:
The Finance Minister is organizing pre-budget hearings by invitation only in
5 cities in the next few weeks. This is in addition to the on-line consultations happening.
Here are the locations of the meetings:
Saint John, New Brunswick
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Montréal, Quebec
Thornhill, Ontario
Victoria, British Columbia
To request an invite, email Minister Flaherty at Flaherty.J@parl.gc.ca and/or call (613) 996-7861.
Or try through a Conservative MP in your region.
Click here to participate in the online consultations.
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Renew your Membership!
The year is coming to a close with a mix of optimism, apprehension, and uncertainty. Optimism for the wind of change that has blown over the United States and elected the first black man and a former community organizer to the White House. Apprehension about the growing global economic downturn and what it will mean for both the communities we serve and our collective ability to respond. And uncertainty as the political landscape in Ottawa changes in unprecedented ways.
The regular failings and limitations of the market economy have often been the catalyst for community innovation demonstrated by our members time and again across the country. Locally-led solutions to economic and social dislocation can buffer communities from the impacts of a likely recession, and protect our most disadvantaged community members. This means that our work building stronger local economies, tackling poverty, and promoting investment in sustainable communities is needed now more than ever.
Since our founding in 1999, the Canadian CED Network has grown to over 600 members representing thousands of Canadians across the country. Over the last decade, our members and staff have worked on generating resources and support for innovative initiatives in poverty reduction, grassroots action, creating healthy communities and advancing policy improvements. Most important, our Network has enabled people working in CED across Canada to connect with one another, sharing innovations and learning about effective solutions to common problems.
In addition to serving as a national voice and platform for collective action, The Canadian CED Network continues to offer opportunities for peer learning, collaboration, regional and national networking, resources and a space for members to organize around specific issues. Regional and national member newsletters keep you informed of these and other activities. Making Waves examines the successes and challenges of our work from a front-line perspective, and our website (www.ccednet-rcdec.ca) offers new opportunities for on-line information sharing. CCEDNet's national conference continues to be the foremost opportunity for CED practitioners to engage with one another and address emerging issues, and of course membership provides substantial discounts on conference registration rates.
Your membership is essential to our success as a movement. Membership is based on the calendar year, meaning that it is time for membership renewal.
To renew your membership online, click here>>
or contact Bianca Mathieu at bmathieu@ccednet-rcdec.ca or call 1-877-202-2268.
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CCEDNet Member Profile: Storytellers' Foundation
Region: upper Skeena River region in northwest BC
Contact person: Anne Docherty (adocherty@upperskeena.ca)
The Storytellers' Foundation works in Hazelton in Northwest BC on the territories of the Gitxsan First Nation doing community development learning. Last year, they started an action research project on their community's capacity to control a local food system. Currently, Storytellers' staff and Learning Shop participants are growing more than 500 lbs of food for their good food box program. They have also coordinated a local food challenge. .
"Being a member of CCEDNet helps pull our heads up and link our very localized work to a national movement that is about justice. The most enjoyable part of belonging to the Network -- apart from the highly sociable gatherings -- is the people. We get a feeling of solidarity - knowing we aren't alone in the work we do and that we have a place to learn that is natural and yet intentional." Anne Docherty
For more information on the Storytellers Foundation visit their website: www.upperskeena.ca>>
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CEDTAS joining CCEDNet!
Do you need free, professional help to develop your CED initiative?
CCEDNet Manitoba is welcoming the Community Economic Development Technical Assistance Service (CEDTAS) as its newest permanent program. CEDTAS matches professional service providers wanting to volunteer their services with non-profit groups developing Community Economic Development (CED) projects.
Starting with the drawing up a work agreement between non-profits and the volunteers, CEDTAS offers support to both groups throughout the process of service delivery. Clients range from emerging community-based groups with good ideas to well-established organizations.
The partnership between CEDTAS and CCEDNet is based on a considerable overlap in the mission and day-to-day activities of both organizations, resulting in the better use of existing resources.
Previously hosted by SEED Winnipeg, CEDTAS has been a pilot project governed by a steering committee of representatives from various CED organizations in Winnipeg.
For more information on CEDTAS, click here>>
To contact a CEDTAS representative (as of January 5th):
Julio Rivas - Project Coordinator
juliocedtas@ccednet-rcdec.ca
(204) 949-1449
Robyn Webb - Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator
robyncedtas@ccednet-rcdec.ca
(204) 949-1448
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FEATURE: What if they threw a recession and nobody showed up?
By Nicole Chaland and Nathan Hunter
It's Henry Paulson's party, and he can cry if he wants to.
We just don't have to be there. And that's exactly what the Community Economic Development movement has decided to do - and we won't be attending the recession either.
Credit unions as opposed to banks - a classic Community Economic Development (CED) model - are owned entirely by their customers. If you have a chequing account at a credit union, you are an owner of that credit union. By definition, credit unions are locally-owned, locally-managed, and locally-governed. Shares are issued to members and are not sold on the stock market. Credit unions also tend to reinvest profits into their communities. As such, credit unions, as this article explains, while not immune from, are less susceptible to the volatility of the international and financial markets.
Housing Trusts - another tried and true CED model - set aside land for affordable housing... forever.
Individual homeowners, co-operatives, and non-profit housing associations purchase long-term leases from the trust and own their buildings outright.
Individual homeowners buy and sell apartments or homes through the same real estate market as everyone; prices fluctuate with the market but are lower because the trust owns the land. It's easier for co-operatives and non-profit housing associations to develop affordable housing because they do not need to worry about the cost of the land.
Trusts are common place in Canadian ecological conservation efforts, but haven't been applied to housing widely. In the U.S., however, where philanthropy is more prevalent, housing trusts are a staple ingredient in affordable housing efforts. Lately, they are being re-examined in light of the recent sharp increase in foreclosures.
Holly Sklar, in No Foreclosures Here writes, "Housing experts across the country have their eye on community land trusts as proven means of preventing foreclosures. A survey released in March 2008 found only two foreclosures among a national sample of 3,115 land trust homeowners."
If a community collectively owns its financial services and land for housing it is more resilient against the whims of the global market. Ultimately, we are experiencing first-hand what happens when decisions are made by a handful of people who are neither accountable nor altruistic.
Communities have relinquished responsibility for the health of their economies; communities can and should ask senior levels of government for help to reclaim responsibility through Community Economic Development.
An economic stimulus package can contribute to short-term economic growth, possibly benefiting the very people and mentality that caused this mess in the first place. Or a stimulus package can be designed to foster short-term economic growth and benefit
Canadians within a sustainable economic and environmentally sound model. Community Economic Development isn't a bubble. It's a rock. And a foundation. And one that we believe a healthy, sustainable community can be built upon.
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Update: The Canadian Social Economy Hub (CSEHub)
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 to current government initiatives and policies. Presentations were led by representatives from each regional research centre 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. Watch the CSEHub's website for audio and slideshow presentations from this gathering.
CCEDNet, as a partner in the CSEHub, has completed the pilot phase to the Social Economy ‘stories' and will publish the initial 6 stories online early in January. This project seeks to develop the personal face of Canada's Social Economy through interviews with actors within the sector. In the New Year, CCEDNet will be further 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.
On October 28th the CSEHub held a well attended tele-learning session on Newcomers and CED, featuring presentations by Lindsey McBain, CCEDNet's Program Coordinator for the Prairies/Northern Territories, and Stephen Ameyaw, a research associate to the Centre for Sustainable Community Development at Simon Fraser University and member of CCEDNet's Policy Council and Immigrant/Refugee Community Action Network (ICAN). They spoke about some of the effective CED solutions to newcomer settlement they have experienced and led discussion around how we can best share the fundamentals of CED, why social enterprise is a good fit for newcomers and what challenges are faced in applying CED to a newcomer context. To view the background slideshow for this tele-learning event, click here.
Also in October, the CSEHub published a report by Benjamin Isitt, an assistant professor of history at the University of Victoria, entitled "Housing For All: The Social Economy and Homelessness in British Columbia's Capital Region". This report examines the problem of homelessness in Victoria, BC based on the premise that the Social Economy can eliminate homelessness and provide housing for everyone. It provides illustrations of some of the innovative solutions provided by diverse Social Economy organizations in the province's capital.
For more information on CCEDNet's initiatives related to the Social Economy Hub, click here>>
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Read our updated Communities Agenda Brochure
We have updated our Communities Agenda Brochure with more current stats and information, as well as a new eye-catching format.
CCEDNet Member, Inner City Renovations wins coveted awards
Inner City Renovations (ICR) was awarded the Apprenticeship Distinction Award for "Employer of the Year" at a ceremony in front of approximately 300 people at the Delta Hotel in Winnipeg.
The award recognizes ICR's participation in and commitment to the apprenticeship program in Manitoba.
ICR, a member of CCEDNet, is a general contractor and construction manager, which offers a complete range of services in the commercial and residential markets. As a social enterprise ICR is committed to providing quality full-time employment to low income residents of the inner city, including at-risk youth. The company uses a model that promotes participatory management and maximizes the opportunities for workers to improve their skills, obtain trade certifications, and advance their careers.
In addition to the Employer of the year award, ICR also received an Honourable Mention award at the "2008 Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Awards".Tthe award was for the business category "Contributing to a Sustainable, Prosperous Economy and a Green and Healthy Community."
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Report from CCEDNet Intern Amy in Chiclayo, Peru
It's an exciting time to be in Chiclayo, Peru. The city is exploding with growth and soon the landscape may be unrecognizable; in the last few decades, this young urban centre has mushroomed into a mini-metropolis.
Thanks to a synergy of Canadian and Peruvian organizations, I've had the opportunity to witness CED responses to these transformations, first-hand. Every year, the Canadian International Development Agency, CIDA, through its International Youth Internship Program (IYIP), offers young Canadian graduates interested in pursuing a degree in International Development the chance to work with the overseas partners of Canadian NGOs. This year, I was one of 3 interns the Canadian CED Network placed with their partner COPEME, (Consortium or Private Organizations for the Promotion and Development of Micro and Small Enterprise) to work on supporting the microenterprise development initiatives of this organization.
True to form, commercial development in Chiclayo has been rapid and unequal. In a five-block radius, extreme variations co-exist: a beekeeper sells bags of honey on the street across from an indoor market full of pirates and their DVDs. A few blocks away is the mammoth outdoor market, which is just down the street from the newer, more expensive formalized bakeries and clothing stores Recently, international competition has joined the mix; first the supermarkets made their entrance, quickly followed by two malls and a Walmart-esque superstore. There's even a Starbucks opening... an omen of things to come (McWhat?). The street honey-seller now has major competition.
Enter COPEME. For three months now, I have been working with this umbrella organization of NGOs dedicated to micro- and small-enterprise development. That means keeping the honey-seller in the competition. While member NGOs tend to focus on hands-on microfinance and organizational development, COPEME provides workshops, consultations, and other technical support. Luckily for the honey-seller, his product, along with mangos, have been identified as one of the two regional industries with the greatest potential - so he's getting COPEME's attention.
This means that 65-year old Isaac the beekeeper is encouraged to join APIBOS, a new association of honey producers who are making the switch to organic production. Now his honey is processed in a regulated plant, enters a standardized jar with the APIBOS logo, and is sold at agricultural fairs and, hopefully soon, at supermarkets. As superstores continue to take over the city, not only will Isaac not be left behind, but he'll be presenting serious competition to the factory-produced honey on the same shelf. In effect, Isaac and his colleagues partake in an alternative to the mega-corporations infiltrating their country - one with positive spill-over effects for their whole community.
Working in Peru, I've had the opportunity to attend business development workshops, learn new strategies of policy advocacy, and most importantly, engage in some cultural exchanges. It has been challenging. Apart from adjusting my personal tastes to a new lifestyle (raw seafood soaked in lime juice is now 100% delicious), it can be difficult working in a place where my gender and age count against me in ways I haven't experienced in Canada. Plus, Peruvian NGOs are not immune to the weaknesses that seem to plague all non-profits, including budget constraints. Still, the intercultural exchanges have been, for the most part, very positive, good-spirited, and often hilarious. I'm happy to trade my chocolate banana bread recipe for insights on why I should celebrate Día de la Canción Criolla instead of my beloved Halloween. I am happy to be the recipient of such outpourings of pride in Chiclayano belief, culture, and heritage.
It will be interesting to see where the future takes Chiclayo. Now that commercial development is underway, it may be time for arts and culture to flourish. But whatever happens, it looks like the traditional small producers won't be lost in the mix. COPEME is only one of many organizations and government agencies dedicated to micro-enterprise development. With all the changes that Chiclayo is experiencing, it's nice to know that part of the old Chiclayo - traditional producers - won't disappear.
Amy is a graduate of McGill University, where she studied in the History Honours Program. She will be returning to Canada at the end of the February. In the future she would like to pursue a career in journalism, but hopes to continue working closely with social enterprises.
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Emerging Leaders Committee Members Led Workshop at World Youth Congress, Quebec City, 2008
Social enterprise has been the subject of increased interest and activity in Canada and overseas, as citizens strive to balance the economic, social and environmental outcomes of their activities. Among youth in particular, there is a sense that we cannot continue with "business as usual," as we seek innovative ways to address the challenges of global warming, a flagging global economy, costly conflicts, and globalization.
On Wednesday August 13, 2008, members of the Emerging Leaders Committee of the Canadian CED Network (CCEDNet) conducted a workshop on youth and social enterprise in Canada at the 4th World Youth Congress, "Regeneration 2008," which took place at Laval University in Quebec City. Within the global context described above, the workshop's primary objectives were to introduce an international youth audience to how youth are engaged in social enterprise in Canada.
To download a summary of the workshop proceedings and outcomes, click here>>
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Sixth Annual CED Gathering in Winnipeg
By Joel Legassie (CCEDNet intern)
Over 400 people attended the 6th annual Community Development and Community Economic Development Gathering at St. Johns High school in Winnipeg's historic north end on November 28th 2008.
The Gathering provides a free professional development and networking opportunity for the staff of community organizations, civil servants, representatives of funding organizations as well as community members, students, academics, and anyone interested in community development.
Participants attended 36 workshops led by CED experts from all over Canada as well as Mexico and Argentina. Winnipeg's CED community and funding organizations were well represented with participants from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, the United Way, Seed Winnipeg, Community Futures Manitoba, Volunteer Manitoba, the Community Education Development Association, Ndinawe and the Manitoba Co-operative Association, among others. Others traveled from further afield to attend the Gathering, including CCEDNet's CreateAction interns who came from CED organizations all across the country to volunteer at the event.
In addition to the workshops participants had an opportunity to share their experience, and discover new resources to enhance their work and their communities. The Gathering provided a forum where people could make new connections and strengthen old relationships with others working to build stronger, healthier and more inclusive communities.
All of the food for the Gathering was purchased from local social enterprises and cooperatives, and everything involved with serving and eating the food was composted after the event.
The Gathering was timed to correspond with the Annual LITE Pancake Breakfast held at the Indian and Métis Friendship Centre that morning. Over a thousand people attended this event and helped raise funds for LITE's Alternative Hamper Christmas Program, which buys Christmas Hampers from inner city grocery and catering businesses.
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Jobs & Events
- For national CED job listings, please click here>>
- For national CED event listings, please click here>>
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