Credit Unions as a Financing Source for the Social Economy

This proposal/plan outlines a research project of the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA). This project conducted initial exploratory research concerning credit unions as a foundation for developing a proposal for subsequent more in-depth research.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; Canadian Centre for Community Renewal (CCCR

BALTA Handbook for Case Studies in the Social Economy

The BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) is a five year initiative to conduct research on the social economy. This handbook provides a framework, detailed guidelines and methodology suggestions for case study research focused on the social economy. It also provides an example of a case study done using the framework

Community Economic Development, Community Development Finance: Introducing the Terms Exploring the Relationship

How the two terms community economic development and community development finance are defined is crucial to the construction of any development system, whether it be geographic or functional in scope. What the terms are thought to entail will influence the fundamental direction of any effort. In this article, the authors set out what is generally accepted as the connotation of these terms, and then report the particular principles that appear to underlie the most effective practice in CED and Community Development finance

Credit Unions and the Social Economy: Being Competitive and Building Capacity

The credit union sector occupies a significant place in both Alberta and British Columbia and credit unions are a prominent element of the social economy in the two provinces. This report examines the results of research into the role that credit unions are playing in supporting social economy organizations, including case studies of four representative credit unions.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC

Supporting Innovative Co-operative Development: The Case of the Nova Scotia Co-operative Development System

In recent years, social science research has increasingly acknowledged the role of the social economy in building sustainable communities, and, around the world, co-operatives are recognized as major actors in the social economy. In Canada, the Nova Scotia Cooperative Council has forged several innovations in the past decade resulting in the development of a co-operative development system unparalleled in Anglophone Canada

Supporting Innovative Co-operative Development: The Case of the Nova Scotia Co-operative Development System

Description The research was initiated in order to contribute to one of the central research goals of BALTA – namely, to highlight “the scope and characteristics of social economy innovations that are achieving demonstrable social and economic results in other regions” in order to provide lessons and insights for strengthening the social economy in BC and Alberta. This research was subsequently used to inform further action research on how to strengthen the co-operative development systems in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. The NS-CDS case study looks at 6 main areas of the co-operative development system including: 1. Development Finance 2. Human Resource Development 3. Planning, Advocacy and Research 4. Policy and Governance 5. Community Economic Development 6. Accountability and EvaluationThis research paper was presented to the 2007 Canadian Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. It discusses a case study of the recent history of successful innovation and development in the co-operative sector in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, that has been unparalleled in other parts of Anglophone Canada. The case study looks at the Nova Scotia Co-operative Development System from a systems perspective in order to encompass a wide range of interacting processes that are involved in the Nova Scotia experience. The research identifies success factors in the Nova Scotia experience that might be relevant to co-operative development in other regions.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) ; Canadian Centre for Community Renewal (CCCR

Credit Unions and the Rural Social Economy

This research project of the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) explored the unique role of credit unions related to financing the social economy and contributing to rural revitalization. Several case studies were conducted as part of the research.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) ; Centre for Sustainable Community Development, Simon Fraser University (CSCD) ; Canadian Centre for Community Renewal (CCCR