Author: Ben Losman

Originally published in iPolitics, May 7, 2021. Long before COVID-19, Canadians struggled to access affordable housing. Now, isolation, unemployment, and mental illness — side effects of the devastating virus —…

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…

Until now, there has never been an economic impact study on the innovative Nova Scotia Community Economic Development Investment Fund (CEDIF) tax credit program to assess its impact in creating…

Yesterday’s federal budget contained two financial commitments for advancing the federal Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy, which provide a foundation for moving forward on this file. The government committed…

Originally published in CBC National, April 13, 2021. The Global Risks Report, released by the World Economic Forum earlier this year, cites the top challenges facing us today – a…

Originally published in iPolitics, April 7, 2021. Long before the global pandemic reached Canada, the care of our most vulnerable citizens had challenged many governments, communities, and families. “Care work”…

The Overton window: A sweet spot for policies that are aligned with the government’s agenda and within the range of policies politically acceptable to the voting public at a given…

Simon Fraser University’s Community Economic Development (CED) Program has prepared multiple generations of practitioners for environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive economic development at the neighborhood, municipal, and regional scales.  SFU’s…

Originally published in The Toronto Star, April 5, 2021 Events of the past year have laid bare inequities faced by our country’s citizens. Women who are filling critical roles to…

The Stronger Together Award celebrates individual and organizational members who have made exceptional contributions to Community Economic Development and/or who have provided outstanding leadership to CCEDNet in achieving our vision…

Originally published in The Hill Times, April 1, 2021 The numbers are devastating. Almost one in seven Canadians (14.6 per cent) reported they live in a household where they’ve experienced food…

Buy Social Canada has announced the winners of the 2021 Social Procurement Champion Awards.  The Champions are a municipality, a community advocacy group and a group of social enterprises who…