Staff and members of the Canadian CED Network join family and friends of Ethel Côté in mourning the passing of this incredible woman who dedicated her life to building and promoting the social solidarity economy and the Francophonie in Canada and around the world.
Ethel was a longtime member of CCEDNet. Alongside terms on our board, governance committee, and policy council, she chaired our International Committee for many years, representing CCEDNet on the board of the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS) from 2005 to 2009. As part of this role, she, alongside Yvon Poirier, introduced three resolutions at the 2008 CCEDNet AGM on Kyoto Protocol, Civil Society and Aid Effectiveness, and Make Poverty History. This was just a part of Ethel’s overall activity supporting global advancement of the social solidarity economy, which included attending events such as the World Human Rights Forum, the Quartiers du Monde International Conference, the Centre de la francophonie des Amériques, and the Social Enterprise World Forum.
Here in Canada, Ethel was particularly active in the province of Ontario. She worked with countless organizations, sometimes through employment or as a contractor, but often also providing pro bono support to small businesses and nonprofits. Ethel was the first Executive Director for longtime member Impact ON (previously le Conseil de la Coopération de l’Ontario) and an instrumental early member of the Ontario Social Economy Roundtable. For her work in the province Ethel was recognized with the Order of Ontario.
Ethel also contributed to the advancement of the Social Solidarity Economy throughout Canada, including through her participation in CCEDNet’s national events like EconoUs, in which she contributed her excellent speaking and facilitation skills as an MC and keynote speaker. She lent her expertise in social enterprise development to a number of different organizations including MecenESS and Entreprise sociale canada (both of which she founded), the Social Enterprise Council of Canada (of which she was a co-founding member), Innoweave and the Canadian Centre for Community Renewal, among many others.
Ethel’s strong commitment to feminism and women’s economic empowerment was also prominent in her work. This also included active membership and participation with the Women’s Economic Council. Because of her work on this front, she was selected as the 2015 Champion of Women’s Economic Empowerment by UN Women.
Ethel was a mentor and model for many wanting to make a positive change in their communities and their economies. Her legacy will continue through the relationships she forged and the work she accomplished. She will be sorely missed.
Further reflections on Ethel Côté’s impact and legacy:
- Statement from Impact ON on the Passing of Ethel Côté
- Déclaration du RIPESS
- La francophonie ontarienne pleure la perte d’Ethel Côté (Radio Canada)
- Décès d’Ethel Côté, entrepreneure engagée aux convictions coopératives (ONFR)
- Hommage à Ethel Côté : Pilier de la francophonie et alliée des femmes immigrantes francophones (MOFIF)
- Ethel Côté : une professeure d’exception et une amie chère (Université de l’Ontario français)
- L’emblème de la francophonie et de l’économie sociale ontarienne Ethel Côté n’est plus (leDroit)
- Décès de Ethel Côté, pionnière de l’économie sociale (l-express.ca)
