Regional tours were not included in the registration price

Acadian Coastal Tour

Enjoy a day along New Brunswick’s Eastern shore on a journey through the life of a lobster, from hatchery to adulthood. Explore the marine ecosystem with a tour of Shediac’s Homarus Eco Centre, followed by a cruise on Shediac Bay to learn about lobster fishing and the tips and tricks to cooking and eating this delicious crustacean…and of course you’ll get to enjoy a lobster meal fit for a king!  Finally, you’ll learn how lobster traps are made and visit North America’s largest exporter of herring. Before heading back you’ll get to hear the Acadian lilt during a tour of Cap Pele Village and visit the Smokehouse Museum.

Tour price : $149/person, lunch included

Bay of Fundy Coastal Tour

Explore the Fundy Valley by visiting a local greenhouse where you will learn about Foods of the Fundy Valley. Then take a short trip to the Historical Riverside Consolidated School for a tour of this 1902 landmark. At the school you will hear a presentation on community revitalization plans for the area before continuing to an interpretive hike by the Fundy Guild in breathtaking Fundy National Park. Afterwards, replenish your energy in neighbouring Alma at the Buddha Bear Cafe and check out local arts and crafts in Cleveland Place Artisan Shop & Bookstore.

Tour price : $99/person, lunch not included but can be purchased in Alma

Mi’kmaq Basket Making & Heritage Path Tour

Immerse yourself in traditional Mi’kmaq culture as you learn the fine art of basket making in Elsipogtog First Nation. After a traditional greeting, you will head into the woods along the Heritage Path for a smudging ceremony before learning about the trees used for basket making. You will also get to see a teepee made by the very same elders who will be your teachers. After an introduction to the materials and processes, you will make a nest basket under the guidance of the elders. As you work on your basket, you will learn some traditional Mi’kmaq ways and phrases. By the end of the day, you will leave enriched by the teachings of the elders, carrying a basket that you yourself have woven.  (Led by Roads to Sea Guided Tours.)

Tour price : $199/person, lunch included

The Big IDEA for Real Change

Building an Economy that Works for All requires new systems and ways of understanding our world so all people and the environment are deeply valued. To do this, the leadership and participation of historically disadvantaged and equity-seeking groups is a necessity. Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) are essential to creating organizations and communities that reflect our aspirations. In an era of #MeToo, Truth & Reconciliation, Black Lives Matter and LGBT2SQ+, are our practices keeping pace? This conversation with Carol Anne Hilton, Joanna Reynolds, Robert Lessard, and Sarah Leeson-Klym (moderator) examined what IDEA means from different perspectives, and what we all can do to apply it everyday.*Meal not included in the evening.

Exploring the Opportunities of Social Innovation and Social Finance

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Over the past year, a Co-Creation Steering Group has been working with the Government of Canada to provide recommendations for the development of a Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy.  The strategy could be the most significant national policy opportunity in a generation.  Members of the Steering Group (David LePage, David Upton, Marie Bouchard and Francine Whiteduck) shared what they heard in their year of engagement across Canada, how the strategy could accelerate community innovation across the country, and how to get involved.

Storytelling sessions share stories of success or struggle and the key lessons learned.

Storytelling sessions share stories of success or struggle and the key lessons learned.

Storytelling sessions share stories of success or struggle and the key lessons learned.

A Sustainable Environment is a Vital Part of an Economy that Works for All

We often view the economy as a silo. The field of economics predominately focusses on sheer numbers: revenues and expenses. When our economic activity has negative impacts we call them externalities, as though people and the environment in which we live stand outside the economy. The economy is not a silo but is embedded within the environment and within society, respectively. Social workers and environmentalists cannot only focus on mitigating the ‘externalities’ of the economy; we must work together to address the root causes and create systems change. Without a sustainable environment there are no sustainable economies and there are no sustainable livelihoods. We need to break this vicious circle.This dialogue between Dale Prest (Chief Executive Officer, the Climate Forest Company), Wendy Keats (Executive Director, Co-operative Enterprise Council of New Brunswick), and Raissa Marks (Executive Director, New Brunswick Environmental Network) explored the connection between environmental sustainability and an economy that works for all.

Building a Fair Economy from the Ground Up

City Councillors Matthew Green (Hamilton, ON), Matthew Brown (Preston, UK) and Maeva Vilain (Montreal, P.Q.) are community organizers and elected officials committed to equity in local economic development. They discussed how they’re approaching current challenges and developing promising strategies to build community wealth — through democratic processes and structures. This plenary discussion was moderated by Colette Murphy, Executive Director of the Atkinson Foundation. She is the co-founder of the Power Lab, a new leadership learning initiative for people organizing historically disadvantaged and equity-seeking communities to have a powerful voice in Canada’s public infrastructure development process.

Skills-building workshops are interactive sessions that teach skills that can help create ‘an economy that works for all’.

Skills-building workshops are interactive sessions that teach skills that can help create ‘an economy that works for all’.

Acadian Arts and Culture Tour

Immerse yourself in the Acadian arts and cultural scene by taking in a mini concert with local talent before heading out for a walk.  See the beautiful Parc des arts du Sommet and listen to a presentation on Acadian Ingenuity.  Tour the Aberdeen Arts and Cultural Centre and hear about Artists as Social Entrepreneurs.  A guided visit of the Galerie Sans Nom Coop will present Contemporary Art in Acadia.  Finish off with dinner at your choice of local restaurant.

Riverfront Bike Tour

Start your two-wheeled journey on the Moncton side of the picturesque Petitcodiac River to see history in the making and hear the story of the Moncton-Riverview Causeway and the largest river restoration project in Canadian history.  Ride over the causeway to take in the sights from the other side of the river in Riverview and visit the Chocolate River Station.  Here you will hear a brief presentation by Lady Boss Collective on Small Business and Social Enterprise, grab a bite to refuel at Buddha Bear Café and browse the locally produced maple products at Briggs Maple before winding your way back over Moncton.This tour is sponsored by the Town of Riverview

Urban Arts and Culture Walking Tour

Discover Moncton’s Downtown arts scene in this guided walking tour.  You will be amazed with the newly renovated Capitol Theatre before venturing down the streets of Moncton to see 16 larger-than-life INSPIRE murals.  Then take in some fine art at the Apple Art Gallery where you will be served refreshments.  Finish off with dinner at your choice of local restaurant.This tour is sponsored by the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick

“The Social Shift”

75 minutes

Travel with us as we drive across the nation, floating on a geographic canvas of consumption and inequity, kindness and generosity and, most of all, a drive for change. We will share the stories of fired-up citizens adding a different type of value to the world through business: social value. Value that is not only economic, but improving people’s lives and bettering society; that builds communities, protects the environment, supports local and employs people of all abilities; a type of value that lives up to the responsibilities that our world and future rely on. Hilarious, informative and heartfelt, this is a journey that will leave viewers inspired, engaged and ready to contribute to making the world a more inclusive and sustainable place for all.

“Climate Change and the Human Prospect”

A two and one-half day intensive discussion with global and local thinkers to define a path to restore and revitalize local communities in the face of climate change.Sixty years after the original Pugwash Retreat on nuclear proliferation, humankind faces the legacy of an industrialized world, Climate Change. It is the defining crisis of our times, and as citizens of this Earth, we recognize and acknowledge it is a tragedy of our own making.Inspired by this original gathering and armed with a conviction that local action is not only possible, but the path forward, 24 global and regional Thinkers, representing all aspects of community life, gathered for two and a half days of intense, intentional conversation focused on actionable, locally-focused and forward-motion Climate Change plans. We believe this retreat can be a significant part of fostering a Climate Change Movement in Atlantic Canada.  This retreat was a beginning, a first step toward what we hope will be an ongoing and positive movement generating new ideas and innovations to help our communities survive and thrive in the midst of changes to come.

Short Documentary

CEDEC has partnered with two Indigenous communities, training providers and local employers to develop an integrated learning model that leverages resources to support training in Essential Work Place, Customer Service & second language skills. The objective is better skills alignment and improved employment outcomes for low essential skilled individuals enabling them to access employment in the tourism sector in the Gaspésie and Kebaowek (North‐Western Quebec)Training has kicked off in Kebaowek and the film we have produced is telling the story of the partnerships that were created to get to this point. Sepaq will be opening a national park in the summer and they have been enthusiastic about working with local indigenous people.

“The Inclusive Economy”

« The Inclusive Economy: Stories of Community Economic Development (CED) in Manitoba » was created by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – Manitoba and CCEDNet Manitoba with Rebel Sky Media.

All around us we see the results of the gaps that capitalism leaves. The Inclusive Economy gives a glimpse into the world of CED, and showcases the good work that’s going on right here in our province. Economists, CED practitioners, and employees of Social Enterprises and Co-ops share their experiences to give a full picture of an economy that is for and by people.

The film was premiered at an event in Winnipeg at the end of January. This premiere was free, and following the screening, there was a panel discussion featuring a few of the individuals seen in the film.
This film was made in conjunction with Community Economic Development in Manitoba: Theory, History, Policy and Practice a report detailing the history of CED in Manitoba.This film was made in conjunction with a report detailing the history of CED in Manitoba. The report is forthcoming and will be available at the launch.This project was funded through the generous financial support of the of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council through the Manitoba Research Alliance’s project: Partnering for Change: Community Based Solutions for Aboriginal and Inner City Poverty.

The Power of Community

Locality – Tony Armstrong

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EconoUs2018 was proud to host Tony Armstrong from Locality, England’s leading membership network supporting community organizations to be strong and successful.  Through many years of severe austerity and a Localism Act that introduced new powers for communities, Locality took a ‘Local by Default’ approach to public services, supporting community ownership of assets, neighbourhood planning and a Localism Commission that has charted a course for communities to take back power. Locality’s experience offers instructive insights into how we might take action to renew the power of community here in Canada.

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Using a Theory U approach led by the team from NouLab, the final morning of EconoUs2018 allowed participants to take a step back and reflect on what’s been learned and what’s next, both personally and collaboratively.  Participants were able to think about the work they are doing, questions they have and places where they are stuck. Facilitators drew on the talent in the room to accelerate action, take fresh perspectives, and bring great ideas to life.

Click on the image to access the content

Using a Theory U approach led by the team from NouLab, the final morning of EconoUs2018 allowed participants to take a step back and reflect on what’s been learned and what’s next, both personally and collaboratively.  Participants were able to think about the work they are doing, questions they have and places where they are stuck. Facilitators drew on the talent in the room to accelerate action, take fresh perspectives, and bring great ideas to life.

See and learn firsthand how co-operatives drive innovation and foster resiliency in Calgary.  This tour will feature stops at different co-operatives ranging in size and focus, and will also provide an opportunity to get to know the city better.

This walking tour will be hosted by staff from the Alberta Community and Co-operative Association and feature presentations from co-op employees. The various stops will include: MEC, Alberta Community Energy, Grain Exchange, First Calgary Financial, Last Best Brewery, Servus Credit Union, and YYC Growers and Distributors.

Participants will learn about the daily workings of our co-op sector, and be able to discuss topics relevant to their work.

**No lunch served. Participants will be taken on a walking tour leaving and returning from Hotel Arts.

Can business create a positive social impact and make a profit? Come discover the heart of CMNGD (pronounced COMMONGOOD), a social enterprise, providing on the job experience and mentoring, at a living wage, to people living in our homeless shelter (The Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre) through a linen laundry service tailored to the hospitality industry.  Join the Founders and employees of CMNGD for an interactive tour of the first Solar Thermal Commercial Laundry Plant in Canada, designed by Eclipse Sustainability Projects, as we discuss how to do business differently by positively impacting people, planet, profit and purpose in business. CMNGD is not only creating a positive social impact but they’ve financed their business using ATB BoostR. ATB BoostR has been used by multiple Alberta businesses to crowdfund their business using reward based incentives. Learn more about rewards based crowdfunding and how social businesses like CMNGD and others are using it to fund their businesses.

**Participants will be taken by bus leaving and returning from Hotel Arts.

Celebrate and connect with fellow community leaders from across Canada at the opening reception for EconoUs2017. Hear from Chief Dr. Robert Joseph from Reconciliation Canada and Shaun Loney, social entrepreneur, on reconciliation in the context of creating shared prosperity for all.

Location: Calgary Public Library, John Dutton Theatre

The opening reception is being held at the John Dutton Theatre on the second floor of the Central Library. The reception will kick off at 3:00pm with light food and refreshments while mingling with friends new and old from across Canada. At 3:30 sharp we’ll move into the theatre to hear from our MCs and speakers. Please don’t be late!

Getting there:

• Meet at Hotel Arts between 2:30 – 3:00 and enjoy a guided walk with Calgary Economic Development to the John Dutton Theatre.
• Arrive via public transit using the LRT City Hall C-Train Station
• Park your bike on the east side of the Central Library
• Park your car in the City Hall Parkade at 322 9 Ave SE or in the Impark lot at 332 6 Ave SE

(a workshop organized in partnership with the LEED Programme of the OECD) – presented by Sylvain Giguère from the OECD

In many OECD countries (including Canada, the United States, Australia, Mexico and New Zealand), there is a gap between indigenous and non-indigenous people on a range of critical socio-economic outcomes, including unemployment, educational attainment, and overall well-being. Well designed and targeted policies can assist indigenous peoples in developing skills to find long-term employment, while also contributing to broader economic development objectives and inclusive growth. This workshop will explore the role of federal, provincial and local policies in better preparing indigenous peoples for the labour markets of today and tomorrow. The workshop will focus on policy innovations in Canada and internationally that have positively contributed to the local employment and economic development outcomes of indigenous peoples. Discussions from this session will feed into an OECD report that will be published in December 2017.

Location: Hotel Arts – Spectrum 1/2

Food For Thought is a feast for the senses! Enjoy 20+ local food and beverage sampling stations where you’ll savour Calgary’s finest ingredients while mingling with chefs and farmers. Learn why sustainable growing practices make a difference to your health, the planet and the local economy. Each ticket sold will provide a meal to someone in need through Mealshare. Proudly hosted by REAP Business Association in partnership with Hotel Arts.

Location: Hotel Arts

This gathering is designed to help us build relationships amongst Alberta CED stakeholders and inspire a sense of possibility for the future of CED in the province. We’ll dialogue about what’s possible for CED in Alberta and how we can move opportunities forward

If you would like to participate please contact: Sarah Leeson-Klym  or 204-218-1355

Hear how community leaders from across Canada are using grassroots engagement to change lives and overcome challenges to build Thriving Communities.

• Diane Hodgins, Shorefast Foundation
• Beatrice Alain, Le Chantier de l’économie sociale
• Frederic Khonje (Affinity Credit Union)
• Wayne Chiu (Trico Homes)
• Moderated by Nadia Kidwai, Journalist and Radio host

Location: Hotel Arts

**Breakfast will be served in the lobby between 7:30 – 8:00am.

**(Please note that the Community Wise venue is inaccessible via wheelchair)

**(Please note that the Community Wise venue is inaccessible via wheelchair)

**(Please note that the Community Wise venue is inaccessible via wheelchair)

Craft brewing is on the rise across Canada. Alberta has grown from 19 breweries in 2014 to 51 today, with a new brewery opening every month. New local breweries bring more options for consumers, more tourism to the province, and most importantly, they create jobs in communities in every part of Alberta. Our craft brewers are an important component of the local food movement reconnecting people to the land, to those that make their food and to the community.

Terry Rock, Executive Director of Alberta Small Brewers Association will be our guide. We will travel to Calgary’s Northeast to visit three local brewers. Toolshed had humble beginnings in a backyard toolshed. Don’t be fooled by their name and roots, they are the fastest growing brewery in Calgary. We’ll cap the tour stopping by Common Crown whose goal is to bring people together through music, the arts, and beer.

By the end of this tour, we promise you’ll have fallen in love with our brewers, our beer, and our city.

Breweries included:

• Tool Shed
• Common Crown
• Zero Issue Brewing

 **Participants will be taken by bus leaving and returning from Hotel Arts.

TOUR THE UPS AND DOWNS OF HUMAN INGENUITY!

one of Beakerhead’s enthusiastic Curiosity Rovers take you on a tour of some of the 2017 Beakerhead installations. You’ll get a dose of delight — and science! — on this 60-minute walking tour. Beakerhead is a smash-up of art, science, and engineering that runs from September 13 – 17, 2017. This year, the major installations create a larger-than-life story of Snakes and Ladders, highlighting the ups and downs of invention and innovation. The tour will take you through multiple experiences that are vastly different but share a common theme of celebrating human potential and imagination.  Join us for an exploration of the game-changing characteristic of people who have stood here since the beginning of human history to today. The installations are approximately 15 minutes apart, so wear your walking shoes.

** Participants will be taken on a walking tour leaving and returning from Hotel Arts.

Join us as we escort you to the Alastair Ross Technology Centre, one of the city’s largest innovation hubs, for TechStock 2017. This year, we explore how technology and social innovations are making a profound impact on our society and driving change in areas such as sustainability, health, education, gender equality, and more. Walk through our exhibition halls and visit 30+ companies and organizations that are driving change for an afternoon of energy, interactive technology and displays, food trucks and more.

This annual event, presented by Innovate Calgary, runs as part of Beakerhead, a week-long smash up of art, science, and engineering.

**Participants will be taken by city transit (accompanied by volunteers) leaving and returning from Hotel Arts.

Join Trico Charitable Foundation for the Social EnterPrize, where two Canadian social enterprises will receive $100,000 each for demonstrating best practices, impact and innovation in Doing Business Differently.

These recipients will then be joined by two past recipients – Potluck Café and Catering and Mission Possible – for a panel conversation about alignment, the ‘secret sauce’ behind their success. The discussion will highlight the power of aligning the three EconoUs2017 themes, and aligning concepts that are too often thought of as mutually exclusive: using strong business models while also strategically utilizing grants, being a lead organization while also embracing community partnerships, and addressing the immediate needs of those in poverty while also seeking systemic change.

• Dan Overall (Executive Director, Trico Charitable Foundation)
• Colin Stanfield (Executive Director, Potluck Café Society)
• Matthew Smedley (Executive Director and CEO, Mission Possible)

2017 Social EnterPrize Recipients:

• Dan Kershaw  (Executive Director, Furniture Bank)
• Diane Hodgins (CFO, Shorefast Foundation)

 Location: Hotel Arts

**The evening will kick-off in the lobby of Hotel Arts at 6:00pm with exhibits and mingling with social entrepreneurs and community leaders that are innovation for shared prosperity. At 7:15pm we’ll move into the ballroom for dinner and the Trico Social EnterPrize Awards Ceremony.

Individual tickets are available for this event only here.

Raising the Democratic Stakes:
Community Economic Development Strategies for Polarized Times

Looking to the end of this decade, we can see community economic developers are up against rising inequality, disruptive technology and polarizing politics. The good jobs that were the foundation of shared prosperity are disappearing. Citizens have been reduced to stakeholders in a local economic development process that too often acknowledges their interests but not their democratic power. It’s a time of experimentation with bold strategies to “raise the stakes” — to build power among residents and workers for decent work and equitable economic growth. It’s also an era of unprecedented collaboration in workplaces, neighbourhoods and cities everywhere.  Panelists will discuss their current strategies and collaborative efforts, and challenge participants to reflect on what we can do to create sustainable livelihoods for all in the 21st century.

This plenary will explore how we as community leaders can unify and strengthen our vision to create good jobs and shared prosperity for all.

Panelits: 

• Colette Murphy (Executive Director, Atkinson Foundation)
• Sylvain Giguere (Head, Local Economic & Employment Division (LEED), OECD)
• Alejandra Bravo (Director of Leadership and Training at the Broadbent Institute)
• Jessica Bonanno (Chief Financial Officer & Director, Employee Ownership Program (Democracy Collaborative)

Location: Hotel Arts

**Breakfast will be served in the lobby between 7:30 – 8:00am.

What if we could leverage the collective talent and ideas of attendees at EconoUs2017 to create, improve, and work on actual projects in actual communities across Canada? What if you could bring the idea you’ve been working on and get focused coaching from the brilliant minds who will be at the conference?  What if you came to a learning conference and left with concrete action steps informed by that learning?

This year we will spend our final plenary session moving from learning to action through a rapid design and peer coaching process that helps accelerate ideas using the talent that’s in the room. Up to a quarter of the participants at EconoUs2017 will have an opportunity to work on their projects in a collaborative and dynamic process.  Think about the work you are doing, questions you have and places you are stuck. Gain the insight of a small group of peer coaches who will help bring fresh perspective and new ideas to your work. As a peer coach, you will gain inspiration and exposure to ideas that relate to work you’re doing while being part of helping bring great ideas to life.

What if we could leverage the collective talent and ideas of attendees at EconoUs2017 to create, improve, and work on actual projects in actual communities across Canada? What if you could bring the idea you’ve been working on and get focused coaching from the brilliant minds who will be at the conference?  What if you came to a learning conference and left with concrete action steps informed by that learning?

This year we will spend our final plenary session moving from learning to action through a rapid design and peer coaching process that helps accelerate ideas using the talent that’s in the room. Up to a quarter of the participants at EconoUs2017 will have an opportunity to work on their projects in a collaborative and dynamic process.  Think about the work you are doing, questions you have and places you are stuck. Gain the insight of a small group of peer coaches who will help bring fresh perspective and new ideas to your work. As a peer coach, you will gain inspiration and exposure to ideas that relate to work you’re doing while being part of helping bring great ideas to life.

Facilitated by: Chris Corrigan (Process Artist, a Teacher and a Facilitator of Social Technologies)

Location: Hotel Arts

Lunch will be served while we, as a delegation, continue to consider ways to advance innovations for shared prosperity on a national scale. In a ‘fireside chat’ and interview style setting we’ll hear from ATB CEO and community leader Dave Mowat in regards to how we can take bold new steps towards building thriving communities, creating good jobs and doing business differently. You will leave EconoUs2017 with what you came for (and more): new ideas, reflections, insights and a feeling of being part of a larger movement with others across the country.

Location: Hotel Arts