CCEDNet October 2011 Newsletter

October 12, 2011

CCEDNet News

CED News and Upcoming Events


CCEDNet News

1. Policy Priorities for CED in Canada

This spring, CCEDNet’s Policy Council updated our Policy Priorities to build on the momentum of last year’s National Summit on a People-Centred Economy. A summary version will being sent to every MP’s Ottawa office in the coming days, and we encourage you to send it to your constituency offices when promoting your work with federal partners.


2. Do You Know Your Return on Investment?

Have you done a return on investment (ROI) or social return on investment (SROI) calculation for your programs and services? Our updated Policy Priorities present some of the ROI and SROI calculations that members have shared. Demonstrating the value of our activities and approaches is a valuable strategy for promoting members’ work. If you have an ROI or SROI calculation f or your organization or program, please send it to Kirsten Bernas at to help build the case!


3. Federal Pre-Budget Brief

This summer, CCEDNet submitted our Brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance as part of their consultations in preparation for the 2012 federal budget. Our three recommendations for a sustained economic recovery encourage the federal government to build capacity in community enterprises, enhance procurement practices, and improve access to finance.


4. New Publication: Building a Federal Policy Framework and Program in Support of CED

CCEDNet’s latest report addresses the ongoing challenge for CED organizations in Canada to maximize their long-term community benefit when multi-year funding for core organizational costs remains out of reach. To remedy this problem, the report recommends the development and implementation of a federal CED Policy Framework and Neighbourhood Revitalization Program (NRP) modelled after the Government of Manitoba’s CED Policy Framework and Neighbourhoods Alive! program.

Read the full report


5. Spark: Capacity Building in Winnipeg

Spark is the Canadian CED Network’s capacity building service for non-profits in Winnipeg engaged in community renewal, poverty alleviation and social change using a community development or CED approach. Spark staff work with organizations to define their skill and capacity gaps, and then connect them to relevant resources. The centrepiece of the service is arranging matches between organizations and volunteers with specialized skills (from a wide variety of professions) to provide time-limited but crucial technical assistance.

For more info see www.sparkwpg.ca or check out some of the recent matches made on our Facebook page


6. CCEDNet Helps Skyworks Charitable Foundation Promote Documentaries on Homelessness

CCEDNet has partnered with Skyworks Charitable Foundation in helping to promote the Home Safe documentary series, which examines the impact of homelessness on Canadian families. The three-part series examines the systemic roots of homelessness in Toronto, Calgary, and Hamilton as a consequence of economic restructuring, discrimination and displacement. More importantly, these documentaries give a voice to the families who are struggling with homelessness and presents an opportunity to hear firsthand the complex challenges of poverty.

Click here to learn more about Home Safe and view film clips.


7. New On-line Resources on International Co-operation

CCEDNet’s International Committee is offering a series of webinars on themes that connect CED initiatives in Southern countries with Canada. Resources and recordings of past sessions on community forestry, microcredit, the co-construction of public policy and FIESS 2011, and food security and sovereignty are available on our website.

Upcoming topics will likely include women’s economic empowerment, fair trade and CED, cooperative development and sustainable tourism. Watch future bulletins for more information.


8. Ready for a Change of Scenery?

CCEDNet’s International webinars are supported by Uniterra, one of Canada’s largest volunteer placement programs. With placements from two weeks to two years, there are always opportunities to explore new cultures, share your expertise and support local organizations that are working actively to improve living conditions around the world. Current postings include an Organizational Capacity Development Advisor in Botswana and a Marketing Advisor in Nepal.

For the latest available positions, click here


9. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

Have a video you want to share? We post and ‘favourite’ videos on our YouTube Channel, such as this one with the very eloquent (and CCEDNet founding member) Rankin MacSween explaining the wisdom and potential impacts of investing locally. 

We also post frequent news updates and announcements to our Facebook fan page and Twitter stream, and have many more videos available on our YouTube channel.


CED News and Upcoming Events

10. The International Forum on the Social and Solidarity Economy

More than 1,300 participants from over 70 countries have registered for the International Forum on the Social and Solidarity Economy that will take place in Montréal, October 17-20.

An impressive line-up of Canadian and international speakers, workshops, site visits and complementary activities will provide a unique opportunity to connect with peers from the non-profit, co-operative and social enterprise sectors.

Canadians attending are invited to a teleconference meeting on October 13 at 12pm to meet each other, compare learning objectives, and provide information on blogging, tweeting and sharing learnings with each other and with others across the country. To join the discussion, click here.

FIESS Registration closes October 11. Click here for more information and to register.


11. Two International Worker Co-op Conferences in Beautiful Québec City

Business Succession and Employee Ownership Oct 11-13, 2011: experts share their experiences with co-operatives as a solution to the growing challenge of business succession. World renowned presenters include Félice Scalvini, Vice-President, International Co-operative Alliance

North American Worker Co-op Conference Oct 13-15, 2011: an historic occasion to discuss best practices with worker co-operators from Canada, the U.S., Spain, France, Italy, and Argentina and hear many speakers, including Amy Goodman from Democracy Now!


12. 2011 Manitoba CD/CED Gathering: October 21st

Registration is now open for the 9th annual Manitoba CD/CED Gathering: Enough, For All, Forever. Last year, over 600 participants enjoyed the wide range of workshops, helpful hints for building capacity and engaging your community, networking and connecting with people from a variety of sectors, and celebrating the success of CED initiatives across the province.

This year, the Gathering is pleased to have a keynote address from renowned author and member of the Atlantic Speaker’s Bureau, Silver Donald Cameron, and the Manitoba premier of the Economics of Happiness.

Click here for more information and to register.


13. Canadian Conference on Social Enterprise

Registration is now open for the fourth Canadian Conference on Social Enterprise which will be held in Halifax, November 20-22. The program includes intensive day-long and half-day training sessions on topics such as introduction to social enterprise, demonstrating value, governance for social enterprise, business planning skills, marketing, financial analysis, social enterprise franchising, supporting and building social enterprise in Canada.

Click here for more information and to register.


14. Northern Summit on the Social Economy

As the Social Economy Research Network of Northern Canada completes its activities, it is convening a final Northern Summit on the Social Economy, Nov 22-23 in Yellowknife.

Read the full post


15. Tamarack Evaluating Community Impact Workshop

The Evaluating Community Impact: Capturing and Making Sense of Community Outcomes workshop is a three-day, interactive learning event designed to increase the capacity of leaders involved in community change efforts to better understand and evaluate the outcomes of these efforts.

This workshop is geared towards people involved in community change initiatives with an interest and some basic experience with evaluation. It will be held Nov 29 – Dec 1 in Kitchener, Ontario.

Read more


16. Become a Member

Thank you to our members, funders, and sustaining members such as Ryan Gibson and the Canadian Centre for Community Renewal who make our work possible.