The Manitoba regional network of the Canadian CED Network is a robust and dynamic membership organization, with a network made up of organizations working on economic, social, and environmental change in Manitoba. This includes non-profit community-based organizations, social enterprises, and cooperatives.
CCEDNet Manitoba takes action at local and provincial levels and supports Manitoba members towards CCEDNet’s vision of sustainable, equitable, and inclusive communities directing their own futures.
The Manitoba Network:
Builds Strength: Increasing the capacity of community organizations to do their own work well.
Builds Knowledge: Sharing practices, models, and stories that articulate CED approaches and strategies.
Builds Connection: Weaving connections between members and communities toward a more developed CED ecosystem and toward our vision.
Builds Power: Advancing our vision and collective voice for change through public policy advocacy, government relations, and coalition building.
The Network achieves these strategic priorities through our initiatives:
Also includes the Network’s membership engagement, facilitation, and recruitment work. Manitoba members come together through numerous annual events, providing feedback and direction for the work of the Network and connecting with each other.
Spark– builds strength in community organizations and social enterprises. It is a pro bono matching service that works to connect Winnipeg-based organizations focused on economic, social, and environmental change with professionals wanting to donate their skills for social good.
Community Economic Development in Manitoba
In Manitoba, our members have strengthened our province’s communities and have helped build stronger local economies that benefit everyone through the Community Economic Development approach.
Community economies can be sites of economic, social, and environmental transformation. Our members are challenging the status quo and building alternatives through a Community Economic Development approach. In Manitoba, the CED framework and approach has been especially informed by the Neechi Principles.
CED prioritizes local ownership and control. CED action is democratic, driven and led by community members. It engages and builds the capacity of community members to be agents for their own future.
Outcomes of CED include creating economic opportunities that improve social conditions, addressing poverty, and supporting environmental action.
Acknowledgement of the Land and our Shared Commitment
CCEDNet Manitoba gathers on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Ininew, Oji-Cree, and Dakota people, and the homeland of the Red River Métis Nation. The work of our members and regional network occurs in communities across Treaties 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
We acknowledge the full and complicated history of this place, and the people who have always cared for it, with the intent and spirit of learning to become better, more respectful, guests here.
CCEDNet Manitoba benefits from the participation and leadership of many local Indigenous leaders, and acknowledges how they have shaped our Network, our approach, and have been dear friends and teachers in our development. We look forward to continued relationship and cultivating joyous work together in the spirit of truth and reconciliation.
Our Team
CCEDNet Manitoba’s office is located in the Social Enterprise Centre, #202 – 765 Main Street in Winnipeg, Treaty One Territory. Call us! 204-943-0547
Reach Michael and Marlis at and reach Geoff, Lindsey, and Gen at
Marlis Funk (she/her)
Manitoba Events and Engagement Coordinator BIO +
Marlis contributes directly to the Network Weaving and Manitoba Learns program areas of our Manitoba regional network, and supports engagement among members and the broader CED sector. Marlis plans CCEDNet events and creates learning and networking opportunities that bring people together. Marlis brings over 13 years of experience as a professional photographer and entrepreneur in Vancouver and Winnipeg, and recently worked in administration and events at Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg.
In Marlis’ ideal community, we support each other in times of celebration and in times of difficulty. We love to share good food and stories, and everyone cares for each other and the environment!
Outside of work, Marlis loves finding ways to incorporate bike rides, ice cream (or coffee), and friends into my everyday social time.
Michael Barkman (he/him)
Manitoba Network Manager BIO +
Michael’s work at CCEDNet focuses on the Manitoba CCEDNet membership and regional network, implementing a regional plan focused on building knowledge, strength, connection, and power among Manitoba members and the CED sector. Member relationship-building and convening through events and meetings, leading public policy advocacy through coalitions and direct government relations, and supporting CCEDNet’s Manitoba Learns program and the Gathering are Michael’s primary activities.
Michael is a life-long Winnipegger, based in Treaty 1 Territory. He cares deeply about social, economic, and climate justice and the power of collective movement and solutions rooted in the knowledge of local communities. Involved in organizing and advocacy work throughout the province, he has previously served as the Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students – Manitoba, the interim Executive Director of the Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties, the Chair of Make Poverty History Manitoba, and has a BA in Political Science and Urban & Inner-City Studies from the University of Winnipeg. A respected and cared for earth with easy access to local food, accessible transit, good bike lanes, and inclusive, green jobs would be in Michael’s ideal community, plus regular drag shows.
Michael thrives in the outdoors (hiking, paddling, or cross country skiing), on a stage (improv theatre), quietly at a piano at home, or spending time with family and community.
Geoff manages the Spark service, which connects local organizations to ideas, resources and people. The centerpiece of Spark’s work is creating short term and high impact matches between the organizations and volunteers with professional skills.
Geoff is a graduate of the Master of Social Work program at the University of Manitoba. Prior to joining the CCEDNet team he worked for 5 years in Bolivia as a cooperant with CUSO International, strengthening the capacity of a large non-profit and their projects with children and families.
In Geoff’s ideal community, people have the resources and the connections they need to live their best lives, but not at the expense of others’ ability to do the same.
Geoff is a year-round active commuter and outdoor adventurer.
Lindsey McBain
Spark Recruitment Co-ordinator BIO +
In his role at Spark, Lindsey connects organizations to ideas, resources and people. The centerpiece of the Spark service is creating short-term and high impact projects between the organizations and volunteers with professional skills.
Lindsey has had the pleasure of working in several roles at CCEDNet over the past decade, including communications, policy development, member engagement and in his current role with our Spark service. In addition to his Spark work, Lindsey has played an active role as a LITE Board Member and currently chairs the steering committee of the Right to Housing Coalition.
In Lindsey’s ideal city, there would be universal access to the foundational supports, specifically the housing and jobs required to end poverty and exclusion. In this city, people would be sufficiently interconnected to act in solidarity, and from that, build systems and spaces that are both collective and sustainable.
Lindsey likes helping to shovel the snow off the local hockey rinks and making new ice, so everyone has a shared public space to enjoy the windchill.
Genevieve Dack-Tittley (she/her)
Spark Recruitment Co-ordinator BIO +
Through Spark, Genevieve helps connect organizations to ideas, resources and people. The centerpiece of the service is creating short term and high impact matches between the organizations and volunteers with professional skills. After graduating from the University of Manitoba Genevieve worked in various arts and education based programs both locally and internationally. It was the love of this programming that brought her to CCEDNet and her role at Spark In Genevieve’s ideal community everyone has access to free active and public transportation, free and easy access to childcare, and a Universal Basic Income Genevieve is an active volunteer in her community and enjoys watching bad reality television
