I am new to the Gathering. My first experience was last year as a first year student in the Community Development/Community Economic Development program at Red River College. By the time of the conference we had only been in school for a month. Needless to say I was green, very green. I was still working out how to explain what community development is to my parents (I still am.) On the day of the Gathering our class was tasked to be room hosts for the workshops. Our roles were to introduce the speakers and facilitate question and answer periods at the end. Now, public speaking on the best days can cause dry mouth and sweaty palms and the thought of having to speak in front of CED veterans caused these symptoms to go into overdrive. In the end, there was no need for worry. The community atmosphere at the Gathering created a space of understanding and compassion and greatly reducing these feelings of anxiety. But this post is not about my personal stress symptoms. Instead, I want to share my experience of the Gathering from a student perspective, specifically how the conference acted as an introduction to the sector through a total immersion into the work and an opportunity for critical self-reflection.
Extending learning beyond the classroom and supporting students entering the workforce has long been a goal of Gathering coordinators and it has benefitted students by providing them with three essential experiences: learning, sharing, and peer connection. Connections help students build their networks and find mentors; sharing encourages students to test theories and opinions developed in the classroom; and learning provides opportunities to explore CED projects and organizations in Manitoba (the variety of fields represented at the conference acts as a sort of “CED sampler” for those new to the sector.) However, it was the personal learning, the opportunity for critical self-reflection, which I found to be the most meaningful experience. The keynote speakers, Karen Joseph and Harsha Walia, made me critically reflect on my role in my community. They challenged me to assess the language I use and the actions I take in my work. They encouraged me to reflect on how I approach allyship and gave me guidance on how to move forward with being a more effective ally. These necessary questions are ongoing processes but I credit the keynotes, the workshop facilitators, and the gathering community for challenging me and creating a space for this reflection.
I am returning to the Gathering this year as a member of the Spark team and while there might be some residual dry mouth I am returning with the knowledge and insights gained from last year. I am looking forward to reconnecting with old friends and mentors and reach out to new people who can show me new ways of approaching my work.
This year CCEDNet-Manitoba is celebrating 15 years of the Gathering. Milestone anniversaries like this always encourage contemplation of the past. People reflect on the work that was accomplished and connections made along the way. At the 2017 Gathering there will be a celebration of the work and reunions between old friends, however there will also be an eager energy and a drive to move forward into the future. After all, there is still work to do towards building our shared future.
Genevieve Dack-Tittley graduated from the University of Manitoba with a BA (Honours) in Political Studies, and since worked in various arts and education based programs both locally and internationally. It was the love of this programming that led her to return to school to earn her certificate in Community Development/Community Economic Development at Red River College. She is excited to now be part of the CCCEDNet team.
In her spare time Genevieve is an active volunteer in her community. She currently sits on the boards of both One Trunk Theater and Friends of Sherbrook Pool.
Longtime CCEDNet member Bob Annis was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation at their recent conference in Nelson, BC. 
Bob’s commitment to rural Canada is evident through his leadership roles with Community Futures program (past chair of Community Futures Westman, Community Futures Partners of Manitoba, Pan-West Community Futures Network, and current chair of Community Futures British Columbia), Metropolis, Canadian Community Economic Development Network, International Comparative Rural Policy Studies Consortium, and CRRF/FCRR (board member and past president). Bob’s outstanding contributions have enhanced the betterment of rural Canada and the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation.
The Community Impact Investment Coalition of British Columbia is calling for legislative and regulatory changes that will enable greater commumity investment in the province.
The Ministry of Economic Development and Growth is launching a Call for Proposals for new 
In support of the Government of Canada’s commitment to developing a Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Honourable Jean‑Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development recently announced members of a new Ministerial Advisory Committee on Poverty, which brings together a diverse group of 17 leaders, academic experts and practitioners working in the field of poverty reduction, and individuals who have experienced poverty first-hand, to provide expert advice on poverty-related issues.
Social innovation is a new solution to a social or economic problem which gives better results than traditional approaches. It can improve people’s quality of life through collaborating with new partners, testing creative ideas and measuring their impact. Social finance is a tool that seeks to mobilize private capital for the public good. It creates opportunities for investors to finance projects that benefit society, and for community organizations to access new sources of funds.
In order to gather ideas from communities and regions across Canada, the 
Applications are open for the Social Finance Awards. These annual awards recognize the people and organizations who are helping to build an impact investing market that works for all.
Embedding local money: Approaching the City Council to see if they might take over running of the local currency the Kawartha Loon (see photo below), accepted by more than 110 businesses. At the moment it is backed by the $60,000 thus far exchanged for the currency. If it were backed by the City’s estimated $30 million deposits, the reach and impact of the scheme would increase hugely.
The Aviva Community Fund helps passionate people like you make positive change in your community.
The BC Co-operative Association applauds the Provincial Government for seeing co-operatives as key to building a sustainable provincial economy.
For as long as I have been working in the field of community development, the CCEDNet Gathering has been an annual event that I look forward to. I attended my first Gathering almost a decade ago; at the time still a university student just beginning to appreciate the importance of community-led strategies for economic, social and environmental resilience and sustainability. The Gathering introduced me to the innovative work being done across Manitoba and the people leading this work in their communities. As a student, the Gathering provided me with valuable connections as well as new ideas about the kind of work I wanted to pursue. Each year, I have returned to the Gathering while working for a number of different organizations in a variety of roles. I always leave feeling more grounded in the work that I am doing and with a renewed sense of purpose after spending the day celebrating the innovation and successes that are being generated in our communities.
Over the last 10 years, Jenna has worked in different areas of community-based programming, including youth recreation, youth and adult literacy, food security and housing. This diversity of experience has given her an appreciation for the many different ways to approach and understand community economic development. She is thrilled to now be a part of the CCEDNet team.