Each for All: The Co-operative Connection

The Canadian Community Economic Development Network (www.ccednet-rcdec.ca) (CCEDNet) is a national member-based, democratically-run, non-profit, NGO organization whose mission is to promote and support community economic development for the social, economic and environmental betterment of communities within Canada.

The membership of CCEDNet is made up of Community Economic Development (CED) community-based organizations and practitioners from every region of Canada. The network has offices in Quebec and BC, staff in Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick, and supports the work of several hundred community based development organizations and other stakeholders in every province and territory. The Network is committed to reducing unemployment, poverty and social disadvantage in Canada by supporting the work of grass roots community development organizations through public education, policy development, research, practitioner development and peer learning. Regional Networks organize peer learning and development activities amongst community voluntary sector organizations in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Northern Territories, Ontario, and Atlantic Canada, and the Network works in partnership with le Chantier de l’economie sociale in Quebec.

Rupert Downing, prior to joining CCEDNet, was Executive Director of the BC Ministry of Community Development, Cooperatives and Volunteers, and managed the Ministry’s programs to support community led efforts to diversify local economies and enhance the social, economic and environmental sustainability of BC’s communities. He Co-Chaired the Federal Provincial Territorial Working Group on the Voluntary Sector Initiative, and developed federal provincial initiatives to support First Nations, coastal, rural and urban disadvantaged communities. He has also been a community development practitioner and policy advisor in rural, urban, Aboriginal, and northern communities in Canada, the UK and Latin America, for over 25 years. He has written several publications on the importance of community led approaches to building dynamic and sustainable local economies inclusive of disadvantaged people and communities. He has been the Community Learning Director with Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Distance Education and teaches Community Development Leadership at the University of Victoria.

Eryk and I had a chance this week to pull Mr. Downing away from his staff Christmas party for a quick chat at his offices in downtown Victoria.