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

2009 NATIONAL CED CONFERENCE REQUEST FOR PRESENTATIONS –
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Full Circle: Sharing a Vision for the 7th Generation

June 3-6, 2009
University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB

In every deliberation we must consider the impact on the seventh generation…
– 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 on 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 (), 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

December 8, 2008

This summary report on labour market and community economic development opportunities in Surrey, Burnaby and New Westminster is based on information from the following sources:

• Key informant interviews with:
  • Employers
  • Youth
  • Employment Assistance Services -Youth Workers
• Existing research
• Mapping of current community resources
• Community Economic Development Agencies

This report was compiled as part of the “Youth in Charge: Leading Change through CED” project. This project, sponsored by Service Canada’s “Youth Awareness” program, engages youth in Community Economic Development (CED) to create economic and employment opportunities for young people in BC communities.

The goal of Youth in Charge is to create community action plans with a variety of stakeholders, which enable young people to create community economic opportunities in their local areas. The target population focuses specifically on young people with barriers to employment, and the information outlined in this report is based on the perceived needs of this target group.

To download the report click here>>

FEATURE: What if they threw a recession and nobody showed up?

(From CCEDNet’s BC/Yukon Newsletter)

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 – a classic Community Economic Development model – as opposed to banks, 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. They also tend to reinvest profits into their community. As such, credit unions -as this article explains- while not immune, are less susceptible to the volatility of the international and financial market.

Housing Trusts-another tried and true CED model- set aside land, forever, for affordable housing. Individual homeowners, co-operatives and non-profit housing associations purchase long terms 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 US however, where philanthropy is more common place, housing trusts are a staple ingredient in affordable housing efforts. Recently, they are being re-examined in light of the recent sharp increase in foreclosures.

Housing experts across the country have their eye on community land trusts as proven means of preventing foreclosures. A survey released March 2008 found only two foreclosures among a national sample of 3,115 land trust homeowners. From Holly Sklar, “No Foreclosures Here.”

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 either contribute to short-term economic growth, possibly benefiting the very people and mentality which caused this mess in the first place and we can shut our eyes til the next economic shock comes along or the money can be used to directly benefit Canadians within a sustainable economic and environmentally sound model, and get us off this track.

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.

November 27, 2008

Grant program will help rural communities adapt and diversify

Funding will support new and diverse economic opportunities

Edmonton — Almost $20 million over the next three years will be available to rural communities and regions to help them address economic, environmental and social challenges.

“While Alberta’s economy remains strong, communities that rely on agriculture and forestry are experiencing some challenging times,” said Agriculture and Rural Development Minister George Groeneveld. “This new funding will support community-based projects that help increase skills, encourage entrepreneurship, innovation and promote economic diversification through valued-added initiatives.”

The Rural Community Adaptation Grant Program is designed to assist rural communities that are experiencing or are facing future hardship caused by global economic volatility, a significant environmental event, or reliance on a single industry or employer.

The three-year, $15-million program will support community-based projects that result in more diverse economic opportunities. Grant amounts range from $10,000 to a maximum of $500,000 per project. Another $4.9 million in grant funding will also go directly to 12 rural-based Regional Economic Development Alliances across Alberta to support community and regionally led transition projects.

“REDAs are the foundation for regional economic development in Alberta,” said Iris Evans, Minister of Finance and Enterprise. “By ensuring they have the tools and resources they need to succeed, Alberta’s economy as a whole will benefit and evolve.”

The funding is part of the Government of Alberta’s Community and Regional Adaptation and Transition initiative to help communities and regions adjust to changing economic conditions. Communities interested in accessing the Rural Community and Adaptation Grant Program can contact Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s Rural Development Division at 780-427-2409, email or visit www.rural.alberta.ca.

Overall funding for the initiative was made available through The Government of Canada’s $1-billion Community Development Trust to help provinces and territories assist communities, organizations and workers move toward greater economic self-reliance. Community Development Trust funding supports two priorities of the Government of Alberta:

• enhancing value-added activity, increasing innovation and improving the long-term sustainability of Alberta’s economy; and
• promoting strong and vibrant communities and reducing crime so Albertans feel safe.

Media inquiries may be directed to:
Ron Popek
Rural Development Division
Agriculture and Rural Development
780-422-1858

Jason Maloney
Communications
Finance and Enterprise
780-422-9029

To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000

This research table is a comprehensive listing of the research being done through the Social Economy research program. There is an impressive array of new knowledge being created about the Social Economy, its outcomes, and its strengths and weaknesses in Canada. This table includes links to findings and publications.

Rupert Downing is CCEDNet’s Co-Director of the national community research partnership on the Social Economy (the CSEHub) and co-manages national research and knowledge mobilization with
Matthew Thompson, CCEDNet’s Research Program Assistant. There are over 300 community and university-based Social Economy researchers across the country.

Click here to view the document: WORD | PDF

Uniterra invites the population to express themselves on the Food Crisis

Ottawa – November 12th marks the official launch on the Uniterra.ca website of the online Forum: “A World Without Hunger Thanks to the Farmers’ Movement” held through the Journées québécoises de la solidarité internationale (JQSI). JQSI are taking place November 12-23 within the province of Quebec by members of the Quebec Association for International Cooperation organisations (AQOCI). This annual event provides an occasion to discuss and gather information on various subjects related to International Development.

“Now, the tragic situation that poor families face is well known; they spend 80% of their limited resources on food and they cannot pay the rising price of grain, which has increased by 50 to 100%”, says Michel Chaurette, president of the Alliance Agricole Internationale and Executive Director of Centre for Education and International Cooperation (CECI). “This Forum is an opportunity to reflect on the role Farmers’ Movements play in the Food Crisis”, adds Sylvain Matte, Director of the Uniterra Programme.

Uniterra, one of Canada’s leading volunteer cooperation programmes, is a joint effort between World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and the Center for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI). Uniterra allows citizens and organizations to help reach the 8 Millennium Development Goals to reduce world poverty.

Uniterra Partners in Canada and in Africa will contribute to the online Forum by providing texts to stimulate participation in the online discussion. Jacques Desjardins from the Alliance Agricole Internationale, Quebec, Prof. Lynda Lusby of Acadia University, Nova Scotia, Mr. Théophile Dipama from the Interprofessional Committee of Rice in Burkina Faso (CIR-B) and Mr. Sidy Ba, manager of the Frame for Dialogue of Peanuts Producers in Senegal (CCPA) are a few examples of some participants submitting comments in the online froum. The forum will be facilitated by two current volunteers: Kelli Fraser, working with the Federation of Community Forestry Users of Nepal (FECOFUN) and Suzanne Comment, with the National Coordination of Farmers’ Organisations (CNOP), Mali.

In addition to the Forum, Uniterra will also be organizing various activities with volunteers for JQSI.

On November 15 will be a day to exchange ideas on Food Sovereignty at Université du Québec à Montreéal (UQAM). Three international volunteers will discuss the various challenges currently surrounding Food Sovereignty in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal through the Panel-Discussion, “A World Without Hunger Thanks to the Farmers’ Movement”.

Local Committee students from Université du Québec à Montréal, Université Laval, Vanier College and Université du Québec en Outaouais will organize various conferences, kiosks and Food Fairs on their respective campuses. Also, on November 20th from 5 to 9 pm at the Marché Jean-Talon, Quebec Without Borders interns will launch the “Mali, a look at an agricultural cooperative” photo exhibit. This exhibit will be on display until November 28th.

Uniterra mobilizes over 400 volunteers of all ages, annually, on various projects in 13 countries across the world. These volunteers help over 125 partners of the global South in development initiatives to visibly reduce poverty in their communities. Partner groups returned volunteers and Local Committee members mobilize the Canadian population in support of international cooperation and achieving the eight Millennium Development Goals. To date, volunteers have reached more than half-a-million Canadians to underline the importance of International Development.

For more information, please contact: Rob Milchard
Communications Officer
World University Service of Canada
613-761-3684

Montreal, 28 October 2008 – Nancy Neamtan, President and CEO of Chantier de l’économie sociale, today received the Neil Reimer prize at the congress of the Canadian Union of Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) currently taking place at the Palais des congrès de Montréal.

The CEP has given this award in recognition of Reimer’s contribution to public good during his entire career. “I am very proud to receive this award offered by the CEP. He just somehow recognize the importance of the alliance built over the past few decades between the players union movement, the social economy and local development for economic development centered on human beings. When a financial crisis caused by excessive greed shakes the world, it is more important than ever to strengthen solidarity among all the movements that share a vision of development. I thank with all my heart the members of the CEP in Quebec who nominated me,” said Nancy Neamtan.

Neil Reimer is director emeritus of the National Union of Workers of energy and chemistry. He was at the heart of the New Democratic Party in Alberta and assumed the presidency from 1963 to 1968.

www.chantier.qc.ca

The strategic alliance between the Canadian Community Economic Development Network and the Chantier de l’economie sociale is based upon the mutual objective to create a strategic partnership between the two organizations that will:

• impact the public policy framework to create an environment supportive of CED and social economy
• contribute to the broadening of community, private and public sector engagement in social economy and CED
• support the implementation of community economic development and social economy principles and practices in local communities
• transfer knowledge and information between members of the two organizations

 

CCEDNet’s Emerging Leaders committee is looking for new members! Join our exciting committee of young people working in the CED field. Deadline: November 17th, 2008.

Click here for more information>>

or Visit the Emerging Leaders section of our site>>

 

2008 – CD/CED Gathering

This year you have the incredible opportunity to attend two of Canada’s biggest CED events right here in Winnipeg! On November 28th, start with a pancake breakfast to celebrate Winnipeg’s inner-city and then head over the 2008 CD/CED Gathering for a full day of learning, networking and inspiration!

7-10:00 am:

LITE’s 12th Annual Wild Blueberry Pancake Breakfast!

This year’s Breakfast is November 28, 2008 at the Indian and Métis Friendship Centre (45 Robinson, at Dufferin). This community-partner catered breakfast is a celebration of CED in Winnipeg’s inner city and is a highlight of the LITE campaign.

9:30am – 4pm:

The 2008 CD/CED Gathering!

Join others engaged in all aspects of community economic development for a full day of networking, learning, sharing, and inspiration. With over 30 workshops, this free, all-day event takes place on November 28th at St. John’s High School in Winnipeg’s North End (401 Church Avenue).

CCEDNet congratulates Board of Directors member Victoria Morris on being named Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Co-operative Association.

(*From Saskatchewan Co-operative Association News Bulletin) 

Announcement of Saskatchewan Co-operative Association Executive Director

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Saskatchewan Co-operative Association (SCA), President Beryl Bauer is pleased to announce the selection of Victoria Morris as Executive Director for the organization.

Victoria has worked with Saskatchewan Co-operative Association since 2006 as Program Officer. From this role, she brings knowledge of Saskatchewan’s co-operative sector, a passion for co-operatives and a strong understanding of the work of SCA to the Executive Director position. Prior to joining SCA, Victoria worked with CBC, Youth Action Now and a number of other community based initiatives, primarily in youth leadership, capacity building and community economic development.

She is currently serving a second term on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Community Economic Development Network and she has recently completed terms on the Boards of Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op and the Saskatoon Potters Guild.

Victoria is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administration in Community Economic Development through Cape Breton University.

SCA welcomes the new perspectives and continued support that Victoria will bring to the position.