Every year, CCEDNet members are invited to submit nominations for CCEDNet’s Board of Directors. This year, there were four vacancies to be filled.
Four eligible nominations were received by the deadline, leading our Elections Officer to declare the following candidates elected by acclamation:
- Ryan Oneil Knight
- pk mutch
- Michael Norris
- Tori Williamson
The results will be ratified at CCEDNet’s Annual General Meeting of the members on June 13, 2024.
Congratulations to these amazing CED leaders from across Canada, who will be part of CCEDNet’s dedicated Board of Directors.
Ryan Oneil Knight
Ryan has built multiple businesses over the last 15 years and spends a great deal of his time leading and mentoring young entrepreneurs. His expertise focuses on unlocking capital for entrepreneurs and co-operatives with a mission to use their business as a source for good.
After starting the social enterprise Detailing Knights, a mobile waterless car cleaning company, Ryan was able to launch his first youth entrepreneurship program called Knighthood Academy.
Knighthood Academy was designed to help at risk youth in the community develop their leadership skills through an entrepreneurship bootcamp. Various youth with multiple barriers have accessed the program ranging from high school drop outs, past gang members, and those recently released from detention.
“I have realized that entrepreneurship is a tool that gives a level playing field to all those that want to partake. I envision helping youth all over the world experience entrepreneurship at least once during their learning journey.”
To this end Ryan is an active board member with the Canadian Community Economic Development Network. He is also a board member with the Peel Learning Foundation, helping to bring alternative resources to youth in the Peel District School Board. Ryan is also a board member with the Mississauga Board of Trade.
pk mutch
pk mutch is a serial award-winning social entrepreneur, publishing professional, entrepreneurship curriculum consultant, experienced board director/chair, and adjunct faculty at the Gordon S. Lang School of Management and Economics at the University of Guelph. mutch was recognized as one of Canada’s Inspiring 50 women in April 2018 and as a top community collaborator by the Immigrant Women in Business association in 2019.
In 2013, mutch became the founder/managing member of the HighWire Collective (formerly Eve-Volution Inc.) and founder/Publisher/Managing Editor for LiisBeth Media, a niche nonprofit, indie digital publishing venture that serves as a platform and voice for over 30 000 diverse women in entrepreneurial spaces who believe business can be a powerful ally in our collective quest to create a sustainable, fair and inclusive, people first world.
mutch has worked with Indigenous entrepreneurs, and supported the development of the first women’s incubator program in Imman, Jordan. mutch co-founded and currently serves as the Entrepreneur in Residence at The Fifth Wave (Canadian Film Centre/Media Lab), Canada’s first and at present only feminist-identified accelerator program for women entrepreneurs in digital media, film and gaming. mutch also serves as a consultant and course designer/ facilitator for Rise Asset Development, Elizabeth Fry Society and Up with Women.
Michael Norris
Michael has 15 years of experience in Community Economic Development, starting with conservation initiatives at the Friends of the Highland Creek Association in Scarborough, ON. As a recognized young leader, he served as president of the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association, representing 2.5 million students and contributing to Ontario College’s Major Capacity Expansion Plan. He graduated from the Vancouver School of Economics at the University of British Columbia, specializing in Sustainable Development, and engaged in social enterprise and cycling advocacy in Vancouver.
Post-graduation, Michael returned to Toronto to aid in establishing Ontario’s first French-Language University, UOF, and later focused on Indigenous economic development, food security, and housing. His efforts include supporting the establishment of an Indigenous grocery co-operative and the training of 30 Indigenous women in hydroponic farming, alongside promoting affordable housing through the land-lease model.
Michael currently serves as the Senior Director of Impact at Impact ON, where he oversees all project deliveries and continues his advocacy work, recently recognized as an Agent of Change by OceanWise Eco-Action Accelerator. An avid road cyclist and paddler, Michael remains committed to local community initiatives.
Tori Williamson
With a passion for understanding the systems around us and working collaboratively on community-centred solutions, Tori believes in people and the power of shifting perspectives and objectives to create monumental change. As Chief Operating Officer at Buy Social Canada, she spearheads consulting services and works across the social procurement ecosystem.
She sits on the Stronger Together Solidarity Working Group to help bring inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility to the social innovation sector. Currently, she is the Project Manager for Wood Buffalo Social Procurement Implementation, Winnipeg Sustainable Procurement Action Plan, Edmonton Sustainable Procurement Tools and Procedures and Education and Training Lead for the British Columbia Social Procurement Initiative.
