The Government of British Columbia announced last week that companies now can register to become a Community Contribution Company (CCC or C3), a new business model that balances social responsibility and profit.

Designed to bridge the gap between for-profit businesses and non-profit enterprises, this innovative business model is the first of its kind in Canada.

Longtime CCEDNet member David LePage was among a group that registered a company on the very first day.

The BC government developed this new type of hybrid business model to respond to emerging demand for socially focused investment options. C3 status signals that a company has a legal obligation to conduct business for social purposes and not purely for private gain. This obligation will help attract capital not currently accessible to the social enterprise sector by appealing to philanthropic investors who still expect some financial return.

Social enterprises can exist in many business areas and have many different objectives, including health, environmental, cultural or educational. For example, a social enterprise could provide recycling services in a community with the social objective of generating employment in collecting recyclables and applying most of the profits to a local charity.

The regulations were developed in consultation with members of the B.C. Social Innovation Council. Public consultations held in 2010 supported the idea of a new business model like the C3, and the resulting amendments were well-received by the social enterprise community.

C3s are based on a model first introduced in the United Kingdom in 2005 (Community Interest Companies or CICs). They differ from a typical private company in that they are subject to an “asset lock”. There is a strict cap on dividends that can be paid out to shareholders. The bulk of a C3’s profits must go toward the C3’s community purposes or be retained or transferred to a qualified entity, such as a charity.

Read the BC Government’s Press Release >>

For more information about C3s >>

CCEDNet’s Board is pleased to announce that Wendy Keats has been named Director for a term ending at the 2014 Annual General Meeting.

Wendy is a co-founder and the Executive Director of the Co-operative Enterprise Council of New Brunswick, a leading CED agency in the province. Prior to this, she spent 18 years as a private CED consultant and trainer working with nearly 200 community groups in organizational development, strategic planning, governance, project management, and many other development areas. Wendy is a certified mediator and served as a senior faculty member of UPEI’s Centre for Conflict Studies for more than a decade. She provides training and mediation services to all levels of government, business and the community. Wendy sits on numerous boards and committees related to CED and has a special passion for youth engagement and renewable energy. She lives completely off-the-grid in the woods of Salisbury, tending her gardens and relaxing on the river whenever the hectic world of CED allows it.

Learn more about Wendy and other Board members >>

Board membership is open to all CCEDNet members, with at-large Director positions elected each year. If you are interested in joining the Board, contact us or watch for the annual call for Board nominations, which is usually sent to members in February.

On July 24, Benoît Hamon, France’s Minister responsible for the Social and Solidarity Economy, presented a new bill on the Social and Solidarity Economy.

The proposed law is described as a key part of the government’s ‘battle for employment,’ supporting the Social and Solidarity Economy sector’s strong growth potential.

The government notes that, the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) sector in France represents 2.4 million workers (1 out of 8 non-public sector jobs) in 200,000 organizations: non-profits, cooperatives, mutuals, foundations and social enterprises. In fact, over the last 10 years, the SSE sector created 23% of new jobs, compared with 7% for the traditional economy.

The bill focuses on five priorities:

Amplifying financing for SSE structures and businesses
Increasing worker empowerment and control
Creating regional employment
Consolidating the economic model of SSE businesses
Integrating SSE public policies for long term stability

France’s step follows Québec’s introduction of a Social Economy Framework Law earlier this year, and a growing number of other countries which have passed similar legislation.

See the Government of France’s announcement (in French) >>

Social enterprises are springing up in every nook and cranny you can imagine. Some are even hard to get to. A few weeks ago, a diverse group of non-profit, community, and trades workers, as well as members of the media, boarded a bus to visit one of Manitoba’s newest and boldest social

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enterprises, Aki Energy. The tour, co-sponsored by BUILD and the Canadian CED Network, was a method of bringing whoever was interested in direct contact with the work being done and the people doing it.

What unfolded was a story seldom seen by your average urban Canadian, or covered in the mainstream media. Aki Energy, along with the communities that support it, smashes the nefarious misconception that First Nations are takers, recipients, and unwilling to work. The tour showed off two communities that were active, innovative, and eager to work. What’s more is that they are themselves the engine of change. The power of social enterprise was already quite evident.

Aki Energy is a young Aboriginal social enterprise. It was incorporated in early 2013, with its

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operations only running since the spring. For now, Aki installs geothermal heating systems on two reserves, Peguis First Nation and Fisher River Cree Nation. Workers are local people who face multiple barriers to employment. Aki Energy connects Aboriginal workers to the green economy, which benefits the community, the environment, and, hopefully, the workers themselves.

The Aki model has become even more viable recently as the Manitoba Government and Manitoba Hydro put into effect PAYS (Pay As You Save), the first piece of legislation of its kind in North America. PAYS reduces the cost of a retrofit from $22,000 to $14,600, a significant amount of which is labour, meaning that it will stay in the community. The initial plan is fifty units for this year. Eventually, Aki hopes to retrofit most of the 1,000 housing units on the two reserves.

Manitoba currently boasts the highest rate of geothermal installations per capita in Canada, and for good reason. By harnessing the naturally stable temperature beneath the earth’s surface, geothermal energy is able to provide green heat and cooling for one third of the cost of traditional systems.

After departing from Neechi Commons, the first stop was a job site in Fisher River Cree Nation. The

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crew was installing a geothermal pump that will heat the new community fitness centre, which remains in the early stages of its construction. Geothermal is three-to-five times more efficient than electricity. The Fisher River site was the earliest phase of the geothermal installation process, with the other sites, of which there were three in Peguis, each showing a subsequent stage in the installation process. The tour of the sites imparted a familiarity with the first set of Aki Energy’s workers, as well with the installation process. The workers were wonderfully accommodating and helpful to a group that, by and large, had no experience with the technology.

With a business strategy that employs people who are otherwise often overlooked, mistreated, and generally excluded from the economy, Aki Energy is poised to strengthen the communities, economies, and environments in which it operates. As a local initiative, led by the two reserves, it is also an example of a story far too often overlooked in Canadian media and discourse: that reserves are places of innovation, generosity, energy and pride.

Christopher Thomas is Communications Assistant and CreateAction participant in the Winnipeg office of the Canadian CED Network. Reach him at c.thomas (at) ccednet-rcdec.ca

This post is one of several CCEDNet will be doing to profile how social enterprises contribute to strong and inclusive communities in preparation for the Social Enterprise World Forum, October 2-4, in Calgary. Join us there!

What do shoes and authentic Aboriginal art have in common? Nothing, or so I thought as I was hunting along Queen Street in Toronto looking for a new pair of comfortable shoes. Definitely not my favorite activity, but I couldn’t help noticing the moccasins and mukluks on sale. I was tempted. Buying a pair would be a neat way to show my support for Canadian Aboriginals. Then I realized they were knock-offs made in places like Bali and China, and I changed my mind.

As luck and my job as research and development coordinator for social enterprises at the Canadian Community Economic Development Network would have it, a week later I found myself interviewing the developers of Kitigan, an Aboriginal social enterprise. This one-of-a-kind Aboriginal art business just opened last month and sells authentic, high quality, handmade goods online. Founded by the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centre (OFIFC), Kitigan operates through their ‘social enterprise incubator’ which will enable other Aboriginal social enterprises to develop.

I quickly learned that getting access to the mainstream market is a huge issue for artists such as Georgina Franki, a member of the Tlicho Nation in Behchoko, Northwest Territories. Georgina sells intricately beaded purses made of moose hide. She learned about Kitigan when she brought some of her work to the OFIFC to sell. This online store is a dream come true for her.

For many Aboriginal artists, especially those who live far from cities, travelling to galleries and organizations to sell their work takes away precious time from creating their art. In addition, their work may be under-valued by buyers. As well, as I witnessed while looking for shoes, their original art forms are often replicated by foreign businesses. Kitigan ensures that the artists are being represented properly to customers through accurate descriptions of their art and that they are not being exploited by paying full value for their work.

Chester Langille from OFIFC explained that providing quality products to customers is their number one priority. Nonetheless their social mission is something they are proud of. In addition to providing Aboriginal artisans with an avenue to promote their work and receive revenue through sales and royalties, Kitigan also builds the capacity of Friendship Centres and participating Aboriginal businesses and organizations, who act as their suppliers.

Kitigan purchases art from their suppliers because they are directly engaged with artists who can be inaccessible to buyers such as Kitigan. In return the suppliers receive commissions on all products sold by Kitigan. Eventually Chester envisions supporting suppliers to have physical distribution outlets which will further build the social economy in their community. I couldn’t believe how streamlined Kitigan was making the process of purchasing authentic Aboriginal art, yet I was still concerned that unsuspecting customers such as myself, may buy an imitation.

All artists selling their products on the website will be certified through Authentically Aboriginal, when it is launched by Kitigan’s partner Nation Imagination. This quickly addressed my worry. This certification is similar to the Fairtrade Certification for customers that want to be sure that they are supporting fair trade products. The brand Authentically Aboriginal enables Aboriginal artists to differentiate their art from those who simply create “native art” through a certificate and serial number associated with their work. It will be the only registry of its type in Canada.

Around 80% Kitigan’s anticipated market consists of non-Aboriginal customers. To find Kitigan’s website, the non-Aboriginal community would typically use labels such as “Native American”, “American Indian”, or “Indian” to search for Aboriginal products online. Nevertheless, it was a conscious decision made at the outset of Kitigan to not list their products using these labels.

Considering that Kitigan is faced with the challenge of attracting business from a customer group that is less aware of Aboriginal artwork and artisans, this decision may appear illogical. However, similar to other social enterprises, Kitigan faces the challenge of serving its social goals and making money. In this case, one of Kitigan’s priorities is its cultural mission and by not listing their products using the above labels, they are honouring the teachings and properly representing the identity of Aboriginal people in Canada.

Kitigan is confident that through search engine optimization techniques, and creative solutions, including partnerships with organizations such as the Ontario Nonprofit Network who can increase the number of backlinks to their website, they will be seeing plenty of traffic and revenue generation.

I encourage you to check out Kitigan and other Aboriginal social enterprises such as those mentioned in Trico Charitable Foundation’s blog. The Osoyoos First Nation’s Nk’mip Cellars is a beautiful winery! As for myself, I am leaving behind the crowded streets and packed stores and jumping onto Kitigan to buy a pair of moccasins that supports authentic Aboriginal arts.

Stephanie Massot is a Social Enterprise Research and Development Co-ordinator and a CreateAction participant in the Toronto office of the Canadian CED Network. You can reach her at ontario at ccednet-rcdec.ca or on LinkedIn.

The 20th anniversary of the Santa Maria Fair was held July 11-14 in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, providing an occasion for many activities.

One of those was the 2nd World Social Forum on the Solidarity Economy. One representative from the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS) was invited to attend, which was the reason Yvon Poirier, Chair of CCEDNet’s International Committee, was there representing RIPESS North America.

The event celebrated the 10 years of the Brazilian Solidarity Economy Forum as well as the 10 years of the National Secretariat for the Solidarity Economy and 16 years of intercontinental networking for the social solidarity economy that RIPESS has facilitated.

The numerous activities were a valuable opportunity to learn more about the dynamic solidarity economy movement in Brazil. It is well established, in particular thanks to the dedication of the Brazilian Secretary of State for the Solidarity Economy, Professor Paul Singer.

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After meetings in Lima in 1997, Québec in 2001, Dakar in 2005 and Luxembourg in 2009, it is now Asia’s turn.

Every four years, organizations and practitioners of the social solidarity economy, community economic development, fair trade, microfinance and others have met as part of the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS) to discuss and debate how to strengthen our practices, and how to promote our alternatives as a response to the numerous crises, including climate, that we are facing.

This year, they will meet in Manila, Philippines on October 15-18. The overall theme selected for the 5th Meeting is Building Social Solidarity Economy as an Alternative Model of Development. The complete program, with specific themes is posted on line.

CCEDNet has been a member and active participant in RIPESS since 2002. In particular, we have been represented on the board by Michael Lewis (to 2005) and Ethel Côté (2005-2009).

A good number of members attended the meetings in 2005 and 2009. We would like to send a strong group to Manila as well.

We are currently soliciting contributions to a dedicated fund that will allow us to send 3 to 5 people. If ever the funds collected exceeded our requirements, we will put out a call for more participants.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Mike Toye
Executive Director

Yvon Poirier
International Committee Chair

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The Social Finance Awards is an annual award series hosted by SocialFinance.ca. The awards are presented to leaders who are playing a pivotal role in catalyzing the Canadian social finance marketplace.

The awards showcase and celebrate the efforts that individuals and organizations are making to mobilize private capital for public good. Too often these efforts go unnoticed, and there exists an opportunity to inspire action in this field by highlighting the stories of these leaders.

Last year, we celebrated the Most Promising New Financial Player in the Canadian social finance landscape. Over 2,500 voters cast their votes to determine the winner of the Social Finance Award for 2012 as the RBC Generator Fund with the Casse d’économie solidaire: Desjardins as the second place finalist, and the Toronto Atmospheric Fund as the third place finalist.

We are excited to announce this year’s theme for the Social Finance Innovator Award as the “Most Promising Collaboration” in the Canadian social finance landscape.

This year, SocialFinance.ca will present two types of awards.

Social Finance Innovator Award: is an annual people’s choice award that recognizes trailblazing innovators in the Canadian social finance landscape based on a theme selected by SocialFinance.ca

Social Finance Excellence Awards: are a series of awards that will recognize players who have demonstrated a strong commitment to building the social finance sector in Canada. The winner of each award will be determined by SocialFinance.ca based on a predetermined set of data-based criteria

The Award Process

If you are, or you know, an individual or organization that should be recognized for their leadership in impact investing in Canada, be sure to nominate them.

Not sure if you qualify for one of the award categories? Check the detailed Innovator Award criteria and Excellence award criteria that will serve as the basis for determining the award winners. You can also contact us at for more information about the award criteria or winner determination process.

Award Timeline

Nominations for Innovator and Excellence awards will be accepted during July and August

Judging of Innovator award nominees will take place between August and September

Finalists for Innovator and Excellence awards will be informed by the end of September

Public Voting for the Innovator award finalists will take place in October and November

Announcement of all award winners will take place at the MaRS Centre for Impact Investing’s impact 8 Demo Day

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Become a Change Maker

CCEDNet’s Guide to Ethical Purchasing in Manitoba

Spend Local & Build Community

Over the years, countless people have approached CCEDNet to find out how they can get involved in building safer, stronger, more resilient communities. For some people, finding an exciting non-profit volunteer position through Spark might do the trick. But for those of us without the time or expertise to volunteer, a simple shift in spending habits can help support your community and make positive impacts in someone’s life.
To that end, CCEDNet-Manitoba has compiled a convenient guide to help you become a change maker. Whether calling for pest control or buying freshly baked bread, Manitoba is home to dozens of social enterprises and local initiatives that are providing meaningful employment and training opportunities and building stronger communities. Read below for some examples, and learn more about each organization and their contact information by clicking its name.

EAT LOCAL & ETHICAL
Diversity Foods

is a collaboration between the University of Winnipeg’s Community Renewal Corporation and SEED Winnipeg. It is designed to serve up delicious and locally-sourced food, all while offering meaningful employment opportunities to inner-city residents. In addition to the U of W campus restaurant, Diversity also offers a catering service, so call them for your next meeting, gathering or party.

Fruit Share

is a volunteer-led organization that will come pick your fruit and share the yield between yourself, themselves, and community groups. Started in 2010, the initiative is now active in several Manitoba communities, working to eliminate wasted fruit and foster a greater sense of community. If you have more fruit in your yard than you know what to do with, give Fruit Share a call, and know that it will be put to productive use.

L’Arche Tova Cafe offers you a delicious meal and makes known the gifts of people with developmental disabilities. It was established as social enterprise in 2012, and has since encouraged the public to interact with and get to know a person with a disability over a cup of coffee, thus fostering greater levels of inclusion and equality. Also keep L’Arche Tova Cafe in mind for your future catering needs.

Soup Bee is a non-profit social enterprise operated by the West Broadway Community Organization that offers two delicious gourmet soups each week (one vegetarian and one with meat). Soups are prepared in such a way that provides supportive employment opportunities to Winnipeg’s downtown/core area; the program promotes local food security and environmental sustainability.

Sam’s Place is a socially conscious bookstore and coffee house, catering service, and a local venue for music and artists. The organization’s mission is to provide the Elmwood neighbourhood in Winnipeg with an inclusive multicultural meeting place, working to promote social justice, education and change.

Immigrant Integration & Farming Co-operative began its main operation, the Rainbow Community Gardens, in 2008. The membership of the co-operative is made up of newcomers to Winnipeg (and in most cases Canada), who are encouraged to grow their own fruits and vegetables, from which produce is retained by the families but also shared within their community and local markets.

Food Connections Project is a social enterprise and pre-employment program that offers delicious city-wide catering options. The program provides hands-on training in and for the hospitality industry. Participants are able to operate a community store and participate in cooking classes, a breakfast program and the catering business.

COMMUNITY SERVICES
Nor ‘West Co-op Community Health was founded in 1972 and has been working to provide accessible primary health care, counseling and childcare every since. Working in the tradition of alternative health models of the Canadian Prairies, NorWest offers an array of empowering health services to its members and partners; it is the only health co-op in Manitoba.

Childminders offers childcare services for organizations by providing reliable childcare during workshops and meetings, gathering, etc. Childminders works to empower women and communities by providing skill development opportunities for childcare workers, and reliable services for families.

W.R.E.N.C.H. views bicycles as personal empowerment. As such, their mission is to remove the barriers to building, repairing, and maintaining bicycles, a mission that also includes a focus on educating youth. The Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub supports a wealth of community bike shops around Winnipeg as well as a great selection of educational workshops.

Natural Cycle Worker Co-op Limited offers a wide range of cycling services; whether it be the use of their environmentally

ethical courier service, bike maintenance, purchasing a new bicycle or even ordering a specific part, Natural Cycle can help you with all of your cycling needs. Located in Winnipeg’s Exchange District, Natural Cycle is helping to promote healthier and more sustainable lifestyles.

Resolution Skills Centre provides conflict resolution services and valuable professional development programs for non-profit organizations.The Skills Centre, which is run by Mediation Services Winnipeg, operates on the belief that effective conflict resolution skills can help you at work, in your personal relationships, and at home.

Assiniboine Credit Union is, like all credit unions, a cooperative organization with a responsibility to its members. ACU, however, takes this relationship further, being a living wage employer and sponsor to a myriad of community investments throughout Winnipeg, Thomson, and Gillam. Be sure to contact them for any and all of your banking needs.

HOME IMPROVEMENT & COMMERICAL SERVICES

BUILD

is an acronym for Building Urban Infrastructure for Local Development. This non-profit social enterprise retrofits low-income homes to be more efficient and environmentally sustainable while employing members of its community who face multiple barriers to employment. Its work builds community and the economy while improving the environment.

Peg City Car Co-op

runs Winnipeg’s only carsharing service, offering the benefits of having access to a vehicle without the financial and environmental burden of owning one. This budding cooperative maintains support for alternative modes of transportation such as biking and public transit, but should you require the use of a car from time to time, then look no further and contact Peg City Car Co-op today.

BEEP

stands for the Brandon Energy Efficient Program, and since 2007 it has been increasing the energy and water efficiency of Brandon’s affordable housing stock. It develops unskilled workers with limited work experience into capable craftspeople who work to make their communities stronger and more environmentally responsible.

Mother Earth Recycling is a province-wide aboriginal social enterprise that specializes in recycling electronics, or e-waste. Together with their partners, MER is working to bolster aboriginal employment and training in the recycling sector.

Manitoba Green Retrofit logorebuild (1) no phone or web operates as a non-profit social enterprise to offer several much-needed residential services through employing community members of Winnipeg’s inner city who face barriers to employment. Using MGR, like all social enterprises, ensures that your money creates a ripple effect in the community, driving economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Inner City Renovations is a social enterprise with the goal of being self-sustaining employee-owned company, and it serves a variety of clients in the commercial renovations sector. Founded in 2002, ICR continues to create quality jobs for low income people who live in Winnipeg’s inner-city, which strengthens the communities in which they work.

CONCLUSION
A convenient tool to use, and to spread among your networks, is the Social Purchasing Portal. This useful online service markets small ethical businesses committed to the core principle of community economic development. The challenges Manitobans face are numerous and often daunting, such as a deteriorating environment, growing income inequality, endemic ill-health, tepid economies, and stubborn barriers to employment. But Manitobans are developing a number of innovative ways to help overcome these challenges and improve our communities in doing so. By deciding to use these services listed here, you are choosing to spend your money and time in such a way that is socially, economically, and environmentally responsible.

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This October, the Canadian CED Network encourages you to attend the Social Enterprise World Forum in Calgary from October 2-4. This is the first time this event will be held in Canada. The early registration fee is only in place for two more weeks. Register here!

Some recent news has been released surrounding the happenings of the event.

The closing keynote will feature Pamela Hartigan, the Director of the Skoll Center for Social Enterprise at Oxford University’s Said Business School. Her topic wil be “Will You Greet or Great the Future?” Find out more here.

While you are at it, take a peak at the full of speakers that have been announced.

Please remember to register soon, and we hope to see you there!

Director of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford University’s Said Business School

Pamela Hartigan