Graduate's PhD thesis to represent U of T
Laurie Mook's thesis was selected by the University of Toronto as the University's representative (one per university) for the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools Doctoral Thesis Competition, Social Sciences & Education. Each year the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools recognizes an outstanding dissertation that has been produced by a PhD candidate at one of its member institutions, with an award which is presented to the recipient at its annual meeting.

Co-ops help tackle big problems
Carol Hunter is too honest to pretend the sky is about to fall. She is bracing for a year of heavy clouds and stunted growth. Hunter is executive director of the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA), the national organization representing the country's 10,000 co-ops, credit unions and caisses populaires. Five years ago, the association received $5 million from the federal government to assist local groups wishing to start new co-ops or strengthen existing ones.

Buying in to a new idea
Housing co-operatives offer residents a resilient form of affordable housing. In a city where housing costs are soaring and the rental vacancy rate is at record lows, housing co-operatives are a welcome relief for many families of moderate income scrambling for affordable housing. While Victoria has 36 co-ops, the waiting lists are long and the barriers to starting new co-ops are many.

New website being launched that focuses on patient needs
Nova Scotians looking for access to quality medical information, medical coaching, or existing prescription drug renewals may soon find help is just a click away on their computer. Nova Scotia’s co-operatives and credit unions, in partnership with several Nova Scotia doctors, are preparing to launch a new web-based medical support clinic – Connecting People for Health Co-operative Ltd.

Deconstructing Dinner
"Deconstructing Dinner" is a hit radio show by Jon Steinman at Kootenay Co-op Radio (CJLY) in Nelson, B.C. "Most discussion of food by media focuses on health and diet, a very individualistic connection to food," explains Steinman. "Deconstructing Dinner looks at the well-being of all people involved in the process of growing and preparing and enjoying food." This week's offering, for example, examines the debate over genetically modified foods (GMOs).

100 Years of Homelessness
January 9, 2008While homelessness may seem like a relatively new issue for Vancouver, homeless people have long been a part of Vancouver's history. Local First Nations were the first homeless. By the late 1860s, nearly 100 years of smallpox epidemics had reduced the native population of B.C. from an estimated 155,000 to only 20,000. Approximately 700 indigenous people lived on Burrard Inlet along with 500 non-Aboriginals.

Canadian financial firms offer investors role in global microfinance lending
Kamil Ramazanov is looking for a loan. The Azerbaijani butcher wants to buy two calves and is looking for US$950. He's offering to repay the money monthly over the next 12 months. His profile on Kiva.org says he's 49, lives in the town of Khachmaz with his wife and three children and owns a butcher shop.

$2.6 M goes to eight Québec social economy enterprises - The Chantier de l'économie sociale Trust announces its first investments
In the presence of numerous social economy stakeholders gathered for the occasion at the Cinéma Beaubien, the Chantier de l'économie sociale Trust (The Trust) announced the names of the businesses that will receive its first investments. The sum of $2.6 million will be divided among eight social economy enterprises that operate in different sectors and regions around Québec.

Social Entrepreneurship Summit Participants Unite in Next Steps for The Sector
Over 250 participants attended the Canadian Social Entrepreneurship Summit, an interactive gathering of non-profit, academic and social thought leaders from the social entrepreneurship sector in Canada.

Former Sask ministers take on critic duties as NDP moves to Opposition
Former finance minister Pat Atkinson is taking on a new role as the New Democrats move to the Opposition side of the Saskatchewan legislature.