Winnipeg, MANITOBA – Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Steve Ashton has formally declared this week Community Economic Development Week in Manitoba. The declaration recognizes the important contribution CED-based initiatives, including this week’s National CED Conference, are making to meet the social and economic needs of Manitoba communities.
The Canadian Community Economic Development Network will bring together over 400 Community Economic Development (CED) practitioners, academics and government partners from across Canada for the 2009 National CED Conference happening from June 3-5, at the University of Winnipeg. Highlights include a welcome from Minister Ashton at the Skyview Ballroom, Marlborough Hotel, June 4 at 8 pm.
This year’s conference, Full Circle: Sharing a Vision for the 7th Generation, will provide an opportunity to highlight the unique character of successful CED initiatives in the Prairies while engaging in nationwide learning and federal policy planning.
Community economic development (CED) is local action by people to create economic opportunities and enhance social conditions in communities. Hundreds of Canadian communities have benefited from the transformative solutions offered by CED.
“Governments have a critical role to play in creating an enabling environment for communities to implement effective solutions to the problems they face,” says Michael Toye, Executive Director of the Canadian CED Network. “The Manitoba Government’s recognition of CED as a significant strategy to improve community conditions is a valuable indication of what can be achieved when governments and communities work together.”
The 2009 National Conference is being organized by the Canadian CED Network (CCEDNet) in partnership with local hosts SEED Winnipeg and Ka Ni Kanichihk. CCEDNet is a national membership-driven organization established to support community economic development. The network currently has hundreds of members and unites over 10,000 CED organizations and practitioners, across Canada and internationally.
