Manitobans need a poverty reduction and social inclusion strategy that recognizes and builds on the important CED initiatives that are building stronger communities across the province. This will require a plan that increases income assistance to those in need, develops a strong social enterprise sector, enhances accessibility for all, improves access to affordable housing, and provides support for early childhood development.
These core recommendations are explained in full in CCEDNet-Manitoba’s recent submission to Province of Manitoba. Our submission was sent in response to the Province’s call for public consultations on ALL Aboard: Manitoba’s Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion Strategy. In addition to supporting employment development, accessibility, affordable housing, and child care, CCEDNet-Manitoba also submitted a series of recommendations regarding the structure of the plan. We recommend that the Province of Manitoba:
Attach outcome-based targets and timelines to its poverty reduction indicators to enhance accountability
On March 19, the Québec Government introduced the Social Economy Act.
The objective of this bill is to recognize the contribution of the social economy to the socioeconomic development of Québec and to determine the role of the Government in that area. It works to promote the social economy and support its development through the creation and adaptation of policy tools, and to foster access to the Administration’s measures and programs for social economy enterprises.
The Chantier de l’économie sociale and the Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité are designated as primary interlocutors of the Government on the subject.
The functions of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy as regards the social economy are clarified, and a Panel of Social Economy Partners is created to advise the Minister.
Ministers must take the social economy into consideration in existing measures and programs, when updating those measures and programs, and in developing new tools for enterprises. They must also, whenever it is relevant, promote the social economy initiatives carried out in Québec.
Lastly, measures are proposed to ensure the Administration’s accountability with respect to the social economy through planning, follow-up and reporting, including the adoption of an action plan and the tabling of reports on the carrying out of the Act.
It is hoped that the Act will be passed by summer.
Nominations are currently being sought for two positions on CCEDNet’s Board of Directors. CCEDNet members with energy and a vision for the CED movement in Canada are encouraged to submit their candidacy. The deadline to receive nominations is April 8, 2013.
This year we are seeking nominations for two at-large directors who will be elected to a three-year term by the members.
All resolutions must be submitted to info at ccednet-rcdec.ca no later than April 8, at 5:00 p.m. (EST). Late resolutions will be held over to the AGM in the following year.
All sponsors of resolutions will be contacted no later than April 25. At that time, sponsors will be notified that their resolution will be presented at the AGM or that the resolution has been rejected because it does not fulfill the requirements.
Community investment, not austerity, the key to economic growth
Austerity measures are not the way to kickstart an already stagnant economy, warns the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
With the release of its annual Alternative Federal Budget (AFB), the CCPA shows how austerity can be replaced by a plan that strengthens the economy, leads to a better quality of life for all Canadians, and eliminates the deficit by 2016. The Alternative Federal Budget shows what the federal government could do if it decided to seriously tackle Canadians’ largest social, economic, and environmental concerns.
“Instead of budgeting with eyes wide shut, the AFB responds to the issues that most Canadians struggle with every day. It invests in programs that are good for growth and good for Canadians, while balancing the books,” said CCPA Senior Economist Armine Yalnizyan in a press release published earlier this week.
Rather than focussing on misguided defecit cutting, the CCPA argues for investment in much-needed services and programs for Canadian communities. Targeted government spending in areas such as national child care, community-based health care, and basic infrastructure repairs can help stimulate employment while building stronger local economies across the country. Proposed AFB initiatives include a Community Economic Development Policy Framework, and a Neighbourhood Revitalization Fund. According to the CCPA, the AFB Plan would generate 200,000-300,000 full time jobs.
The AFB Plan:
Reduces poverty and inequality by investing in child care, pharmacare, affordable housing, income supports, and post-secondary education,
Tackles the ongoing crisis for First Nations housing, drinking water, education,
Implements a long term, transparent and public plan for investments in infrastructure,
Creates 300,000 jobs, lowering the unemployment rate to 6% by 2014, and
Introduces a new top personal income tax bracket, closes the biggest tax loopholes, and introduces a withholding tax on tax havens.
British Columbia will soon become home to a new corporate structure designed to bridge the gap between for-profit businesses and non-profit enterprises. The B.C. government approved regulations in early March 2013 to allow the creation of community contribution companies (CCCs), a hybrid business model designed to spur private investment in the province’s social enterprise sector. The establishment of CCCs was originally proposed in Bill 23, The Finance Statutes Amendment Act, which was introduced in March, 2012
Inspired by a similar policy in the U.K., CCCs will have access to privileges currently unavailable to non-profits, such as the ability to accept equity investment, issue shares, and pay shareholder dividends. These regulatory changes recognize the important economic impacts of social enterprises, and will help the sector sustain their important community-based missions.
This announcement was welcome news for Canada’s social enterprise sector, and marks a clear commitment from B.C. to remain at the cutting edge of social investment policy. The new regulations are slated to take effect on July 29, 2013.
How will it work?
CCCs are required to devote a portion of their profits to community purposes, which are determined at the time of incorporation.
CCCs will be restricted abilities to distribute profits. Investor returns will be controlled according to set regulations.
CCCS are to remain accountable to the community. All incorporated CCCs will be obligated to publish an annual report outlining its community impact spending.
“This step keeps British Columbia at the front of the pack when it comes to demonstrating leadership in the area of social innovation and social entrepreneurship.”
– Honourable Moira Stilwell, Minister of Social Development
Have you ever attended meetings that go nowhere? Or, seen presentations that bored your socks off? Have you seen too many PowerPoints? Avoid these plagues and learn the basics of facilitation including what it is and when to use it. Through the interactive activities of the workshop, participants will create the beginning of a facilitation toolkit with processes they can immediately implement.
Facilitator – Lynn Ann Lauriault | Instructor in the CD/CED Program, Red River College:
Lynn Ann Lauriault is a graduate of the University of Toronto, with a B.A. in Sociology & Political Science and a Masters in Adult Education and Community Development (O.I.S.E.). She has worked as a facilitator of Community Development in urban & rural settings in various parts of Canada and in Africa. She currently teaches the Community Development/Community Economic Development program at Red River College where ‘Facilitating Empowering Processes’ is one of the courses.
Facilitator – Mike Tutthill | Planning & Evaluation Facilitator, Health in Common: Mike Tutthill is a Planning & Evaluation Facilitator at Health in Common where he helps organizations and communities develop and facilitate planning and needs assessments through gathering information and local knowledge to support planning processes, create community development tools, and implement plans. Mike holds an undergraduate degree in International Development Studies from the University of Winnipeg and a certificate in Community-driven Health Impact Assessment from the Coady International Institute at St. Francis Xavier University.
Practical, Tactical Strategies to Drive Community Engagement through Social Media
April 18 | 1:00 – 4:00pm | United Way Learning Centre | 580 Main St.
Getting information about your message, programs, events, and services out to your community and the broader public is an important part of community development. Social media can be a powerful tool, but you need information and expertise to use it effectively. In this interactive session, you will explore – and find answers – to questions such as:
Is social media a right fit for my organization?
Which social media channels should I be on? Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, etc.
How do I get people to listen to what I’m saying online?
We’ve got no money. How do we get this done on a shoe-string budget?
Facilitator – Joseph Ranseth | Senior Marketing Strategist, Vine Multimedia:
Actively involved in internet marketing since 1999, Joseph Ranseth is an innovator in using social media to bring communities together for positive purposes. Recognized as one of the most Inspiring People On Twitter by the Huffington Post, Joseph has been featured several times on TV (Fox News, CBS, City TV) for his viral campaigns. Joseph has recently returned from years of living in Phoenix to his home Winnipeg to launch his own purpose-driven marketing agency Vine Multimedia, serving as the Senior Marketing Strategist. An active volunteer, Ranseth is on the board of directors for the National Autism Association in the US, is an active volunteer & major donor with the United Way of Winnipeg, and – most proudly – he is a Big Brother with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg.
Engaging People in Community Development
May 2 | 1:00 – 4:00pm | United Way Learning Centre | 580 Main St.
Community development is rooted in a belief that people have special knowledge, skills, and experience regarding their communities, and should be involved in programming, planning, and action to make change. However, there are many challenges to getting people to attend events, get involved in programs, or take part in planning or visioning for their community. Various tools and approaches developed for city and community planning can help mitigate conflict and maximize opportunities to build a common vision and collaborative partnerships, which leads to successful community development. This workshop will explore different engagement and participatory planning strategies, consider ways to deal with some of the most likely challenges in the process, as well as featuring tips and stories by local community development workers with a wealth of experience successfully engaging their communities.
Facilitator – Brendan Reimer | Regional Coordinator, Canadian CED Network:
Brendan Reimer is the Regional Coordinator for the Prairies and Northern Territories at the Canadian Community Economic Development Network, a Board Member at the Assiniboine Credit Union, as well as a member of the Social Enterprise Council of Canada. Working out of the new Social Enterprise Centre at 765 Main Street, Brendan is a teacher and an organizer, and works hard to change policy in support of building fairer and stronger local economies, reducing poverty and homelessness, and creating more sustainable communities. He has taught the “Management of Non-Profits” course at the University of Winnipeg’s School of Business and Administration, and facilitates many workshops every year on the topics of CED, social enterprise, building financial sustainability in non-profits, and understanding and advancing policy.
Build & Grow Your Social Enterprise
May 16 | 9:00am – 3:30pm | Social Enterprise Centre | 765 Main St.
If your nonprofit is interested in exploring the social enterprise model, or if you are looking to strengthen an existing social enterprise, this is the workshop for you. This highly effective, informative and interactive session provides an overview of the ‘what and how’ of social enterprise. Learn about the steps of development for social enterprise and hear lots of examples of successful Canadian social enterprises. All participants will receive a copy of enp’s comprehensive Canadian Guide to Social Enterprise, and become eligible for an enp-mb Social Enterprise Development Grant.
Click here to learn more about Enterprising Non-Profits – Manitoba
Facilitator – David LePage | Program Manager, Enterprising Non-Profits:
David LePage is the Program Manager of Enterprising Non-Profits in Vancouver. He is a member of the Social Enterprise Council of Canada, board member of Social Enterprise Alliance, and a collaborator with the Social Enterprise World Forum. He has been engaged in the social economy for nearly forty years, including inner city and rural economic development, community media, and social enterprise.
Facilitator – Brendan Reimer | Regional Coordinator, Canadian CED Network: Brendan Reimer is the Regional Coordinator for the Prairies and Northern Territories at the Canadian Community Economic Development Network, a Board Member at the Assiniboine Credit Union, as well as a member of the Social Enterprise Council of Canada. Working out of the new Social Enterprise Centre at 765 Main Street, Brendan is a teacher and an organizer, and works hard to change policy in support of building fairer and stronger local economies, reducing poverty and homelessness, and creating more sustainable communities. He has taught the “Management of Non-Profits” course at the University of Winnipeg’s School of Business and Administration, and facilitates many workshops every year on the topics of CED, social enterprise, building financial sustainability in non-profits, and understanding and advancing policy.
Counselling and Communication Skills for Difficult Situations
May 30 | 9:00am – 4:00pm | United Way Learning Centre | 580 Main St.
Working in the community can sometimes mean interacting with people dealing with high levels of stress, difficult life situations, or challenges with mental health. This workshop focuses on the foundational skills to have an effective conversation with individuals who are having difficulty and may be in crisis situations. This includes an introduction to trauma informed care, and foundational communication skills required in helping conversations. Additionally the workshop includes how crises develop and common emotional, cognitive, and behavioural responses to crisis. Participants will also learn a counselling model to use when engaging with individuals in crisis used on Klinic’s crisis lines. This workshop uses a mixture of lecture, group discussion, audio examples, and case study to facilitate participant learning. Also expect a guest appearance from members of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Canadian Mental Health Association who will explain what other resources are out there to help you create an accessible workplace committed to inclusion and promoting good mental health.
Facilitator – Lyndsay Hersikorn | Trainer & Counsellor, Klinic Community Health Centre:
Klinic is a member of the Manitoba Association of Community Health providing a full range of health related services from medical care to counselling to education. Klinic promotes health and quality of life for all aiming to help people make choices about their own health. Lyndsay Hersikorn is a trainer and counsellor at Klinic Community Health Centre. She provides public education, training, and professional development in a number of clinical areas. She is a certified crisis counsellor through the American Association of Suicidology. As a counsellor at Klinic she has experience working with individuals in crisis, and individuals with histories of trauma.
The Spring 2013 Strengthening Non-Profits Workshops are hosted by Spark – A Service of the Canadian CED Network, with support from the United Way of Winnipeg
The Canadian CED Network is Proud to Announce the Return of CreateAction!
Now in it’s 9th incarnation, the CreateAction program will again be funded by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (contingent upon final funding approval). Its purpose is to give out-of-school post-graduate youth, who have a career focus in community economic development (CED), a relevant six-month work experience placement. We are recruiting up to 40 community-based CED organizations to host work experience participants for the equivalent of 25 weeks between April 1st – September 30th, 2013.
How does it work?
Organizations submit applications by email or fax to the Canadian CED Network to host a participant (see contact info below). The Canadian CED Network selects the host organizations and the host organizations in turn hire the participants according to job-specific placements.
Eligible work experience placements may include project management, participatory research, communications, social entrepreneurship, business planning, social marketing, CED financing and asset mapping, to name a few. A special focus for this intake will be on building capacity and sustainability of innovative community enterprises and supporting the development of new community enterprises. For examples of CED work experience placements from the previous intake, click here.
The Canadian CED Network requires host organizations to be members of the Canadian CED Network or to become members once their applications for hosting work experience participants are approved. For information about being a member, click here.
The Canadian CED Network will select the host organizations according to the following criteria:
relevance of proposed work experience to the community enterprise focus and to community economic development (for the Canadian CED Network’s definition of CED, click here);
commitment and organizational capacity to assist participants with their daily work, mentoring and career development;
geographic diversity (e.g. rural, remote, Aboriginal, northern, francophone communities outside of Quebec, and urban disadvantaged communities with recent immigrant populations);
track record in hosting work experience placements, students or interns;
dedication to leveraging the work experience into full-time employment or study for the participant;
ability to recruit participants from diverse backgrounds.
The Canadian CED Network will give preference to organizations that can successfully recruit participants who are Aboriginal, francophone, visible minorities, and/or disabled.
The Canadian CED Network will:
manage the CED Work Experience Program;
employ participants at $15.00 an hour for a total of 35 hours a week for 25 weeks, including participant Mandatory Employment Related Costs or statutory benefits;
coordinate monthly intern teleconference calls to share experiences and to network;
provide peer learning and mentoring opportunities to the participants to support the development and implementation of a presentation project with a sub-group of their peers related to a specific aspect of social enterprise development relevant to their interest and placement
contribute ongoing career coaching and employment related support to the participants.
Host organizations will:
supervise the work experience participant;
contribute to the work experience participant’s learning opportunities;
contribute ongoing career coaching and employment related support to the participants;
allow the work experience participant to spend approximately one day per week to work on their presentation project;
support the development of the participant’s presentation project by integrating the work of the organization into the project.
To be eligible to participate in this program youth must be:
between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the time of intake/selection;
a post-secondary institute, college, university or CEGEP graduate;
out of school;
a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person on whom refugee status has been conferred;
legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations;
not in receipt of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits;
can demonstrate a lack of labour market attachment to field of study (under-employed or unemployed);
can demonstrate that working in the field of community economic development is a career goal; and
has not previously participated in a Career Focus work experience placement.
Youth interested in the program may submit an application to the Canadian CED Network or may apply directly to the host organizations. The successful host organizations will be announced on the Canadian CED Network’s website.
For more information and to submit your application, please contact Matthew Thompson at mthompson at ccednet-rcdec.ca or 416-760-2578.
13 Canadian community-based organizations receive $255,000 from The Co-operators
Numerous CCEDNet members are among the 13 community organizations for whom The Co-operators has announced $255,000 in funding. The funding, provided through it’s the Co-operators Foundation Community Economic Development (CED) Fund, supports a variety of programs that are strengthening communities and helping people achieve greater self-reliance from St John’s to Vancouver by providing training and employment opportunities to help local residents overcome barriers.
The following six organizations are receiving grants totalling $120,000:
Houselink Community Homes, Toronto ($20,000) Houselink runs The Silver Brush, a painting business offering reliable and competitive interior painting services to commercial and residential properties. The Silver Brush helps employees develop job skills, which helps to remove barriers to continued future employment.
FarmStart, Guelph, Ontario ($20,000) FarmStart develops programs that provide entrepreneurial and ecological farmers with resources to help them successfully launch their business. Support is provided primarily to new Canadians, young people without farming background, and those taking up farming as a second career.
Supporting Employment and Economic Development (SEED) Winnipeg Inc, Winnipeg ($20,000) SEED helps low-income people and groups develop and expand small businesses, including co-ops, to reduce poverty and assist in the renewal of primarily inner city communities in Winnipeg. Their efforts provide job opportunities for at-risk groups while revitalizing economically distressed neighbourhoods.
New Community Youth Development Corporation, Saskatoon ($20,000) Grant money from The Co-operators will help YDC pilot opening a café that will provide employment and income for young girls trying to leave the sex trade. The program will link to high school curriculum, so that girls will also be able to earn life-skills and cooking high school credits, while working.
The Cleaning Solution, Vancouver ($20,000) The Cleaning Solution provides environmentally-friendly cleaning services to non-profit and private customers, while providing support and employment for people living with mental illness.
Common Thread Cooperative, Vancouver ($20,000) Common Thread is a non-profit co-op of organizations that offer sewing programs and enterprises that provide skills development and employment opportunities for disadvantaged people living in Vancouver. The funding will support a project called Stretching Our Fabric: New Products and New Skills, through which the co-op will provide training and expand its product line.
An additional $135,000 consists of annual allotments of previously-approved multi-year funding commitments to seven organizations:
Stella Burry Community Services (St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador)
Causeway Work Centre (Ottawa)
Enterprising Non-Profits (Toronto)
Sistering: A Woman’s Place (Toronto)
Community Ownership Solutions (Winnipeg)
Atira Women’s Resource Society (Vancouver)
JustWork Economic Initiative (Vancouver)
“These organizations build healthier, more equitable communities by providing invaluable support and employment opportunities to people who might not otherwise have them,” said Kathy Bardswick, President and CEO of The Co-operators. “Our support will allow them to make an even greater impact in their communities.”
The CED Fund was developed in 1995 to commemorate The Co-operators 50th anniversary, and through it The Co-operators has granted $3.8 million to 91 organizations. The CED Fund is part of The Co-operators Foundation, which supports community-based enterprises and other worthy causes throughout Canada. For more information on the Fund and its recipients, please visit: www.cooperators.ca/en/About-Us/Foundation/CED.
Despite the notoriety of being the site of Canada’s first Tim Horton’s in 1964, the latter part of the 20th century was a decades-long, painful process of deindustrialization that hit the people and economy of Hamilton, Ontario hard.
But in recent years, there seems to be a remarkable leadership that is turning things around.
I suspect one of the catalyzing influences in these efforts was the remarkable mix of engagement and action that went in to Hamilton’s development as one of Vibrant Communities’ trail builders.
The municipal government got on board, striving to achieve community prosperity and sustainable services through a vision that included making Hamilton the best place to raise a child, promoting innovation, better engaging citizens and providing diverse economic opportunities. Paul Johnston, Director of Neighbourhood Development Strategies with the City of Hamilton, presented Hamilton’s strategies for aligning investments and activities to better support healthy neighbourhoods at CCEDNet’s Ontario Connections for Community 2011 conference. You can listen to the recording of his presentation on the conference webpage.
Last December, Hamilton’s Planning and Economic Development Department proposed a 3-year CED pilot project.
Now, many indicators reveal that Hamilton is in a period of economic growth not seen for decades, even while other communities in Ontario are still suffering the effects of the last recession.
To better understand this, Hamilton’s Social Planning and Research Council is publishing a series of bulletins looking at the city’s social landscape, analyzing its economic strength, examining how benefits are distributed across the population, and making recommendations to further improve the economy so that all residents share in the prosperity.
A diversified economy, affordability, skills development collaboration and a focus on poverty reduction have contributed to Hamilton’s low unemployment rate.
Hamilton’s economy could be further strengthened by increasing investment in childcare programs, focusing on attracting a greater share of Canada’s immigrants and making Hamilton a living wage community.
Congratulations to the shared leadership that is making Hamilton the best place to raise a child.
What other cities or towns are showing similar leadership?
Over the past year, we have been working hard to improve our website and our virtual capacity to connect our members and people working to create inclusive and sustainable economies in Canada. You’ll see that our events listing and job postings have many more entries, and we are looking forward to moving our membership directory on-line in the coming months, so that the world can easily learn more about the amazing work of our many dynamic members across the country.
Part of these improvements include this latest addition: a website blog. We will be posting opinion and commentaries on all things related to CED. If you’d like to become a blogger, write to us at info@ccednet-rcdec.ca
All the latest CED news and events from the SFU community!
Simon Fraser University’s Community Economic Development program recently published their newsletter for February 2013.
In this issue, Nicole Chaland (program director) shares news about the school’s new social enterprise accelerator program – the first in North America to use design thinking to help launch non-profit and co-operative enterprises. Nicole also offers a sneak peak at their revised Community Economic Development Certificate Program.
Building Urban Industries for Local Development (BUILD) and the Brandon Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP) operate as social enterprises in Manitoba. They perform energy efficiency retrofits on low-income homes while providing training and jobs for local people with barriers to employment.
In a new CCPA-MB report, Kirsten Bernas (CCEDNet’s Policy Advisor) and Blair Hamilton begin to document the quantitative and qualitative value associated with the multiple benefits produced by BUILD and BEEP. With these annual savings, the initial investment in BUILD and BEEP’s retrofit activities is expected to be paid back within four to five years. Retrofits include insulation upgrades and the installation of water savings devices such as low-flush toilets and low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. In addition to lowering utility bills for low-income families, these retrofits reduce energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
The report reveals that the annual savings associated with the energy and water efficiency upgrades performed by BUILD and BEEP in a typical operating year total just over $359,300 and $116,900 respectively. With these annual savings, the initial investment in BUILD and BEEP’s retrofit activities is expected to be paid back within four to five years. Retrofits include insulation upgrades and the installation of water savings devices such as low-flush toilets and low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. In addition to lowering utility bills for low-income families, these retrofits reduce energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Click here to read the CCPA Fast Facts about this research, or click the buttom below to download the full report