CWEDC-CPDECF - About Us - Council Profiles

Louise Champagne is a founding member and President of Neechi Foods Co-op, which opened at 325 Dufferin in 1989. Neechi Foods Community Store is a full-range grocery store, owned and operated by Neechi Foods Co-op, an Aboriginal worker co-operative that provides employment, training and collective business ownership to inner-city residents. "Neechi" means friends in Cree and Ojibway. Neechi Foods grew out of community planning meetings, held at the old Indian and Metis Friendship Centre that were organized by an Aboriginal economic development training program. At the National level, Louise is a member of the Co-operative Development Steering Committee. Louise has a B.A. in Economics and History and is working on completing a graduate degree.

MELANIE CONN

Melanie Conn has been working in community economic development (CED) and in the women's movement since the early 70s in Vancouver, British Columbia. In her work with credit unions, co-operatives and women’s organizations, she developed an approach to CED that blends theoretical analysis with practical application. Melanie’s CED work includes research, technical assistance, education and training. She was a founding member and staff of WomenFutures CED Society from 1985-1997. Since 1997, she has been a lecturer and associate at the Centre for Sustainable Community Development at Simon Fraser University. She is the director of the Centre's Certificate Program for CED Professionals which she designed in response to the need for professional development opportunities for people working in CED. The program has students from a wide range of workplaces, including government departments, Community Futures Development Corporations, economic development organizations, First Nations, non-profits and environmental groups.

___________________________________________________

ROSALIND LOCKYER

Seven years of University, majoring in Education and Psychology, and 20 years working as a teacher, entrepreneur, and community developer, left Rosalind blatantly aware of systemic women’s issues, and determined to work for positive change. In 1995, she began this work with women in Northwestern Ontario to help found and grow PARO. Under her leadership, PARO has received significant recognition for its contribution to women. In 2002, PARO received the Soroptimist of Americas Eastern Canada Award for Advancing the Status of Women, and in 2004, and in 2005 respectively, the Chamber of Commerce Awards for Business Excellence-Not- For- Profit and then, the Employee of the Year-Service to Lori Morin, PARO. In 2005, Rosalind was awarded the prestigious Influential Women of Northern Ontario Award-Public Sector from Northern Ontario Business recognizing her leadership in building PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise into the dynamic, multi-faceted women’s community economic development program that it is today.

Doreen Parsons works in rural Nova Scotia where she develops and coordinates women-centred CED initiatives for the WEE Society-Women’s CED Network. For many years, Doreen led HRDA Enterprises Limited, a CED corporation in Halifax, where she managed a range of community enterprises and training programs. She has been an educator and CED practitioner for more than twenty years—working locally, provincially and nationally on economic equality issues.

Joni is the Executive Director of a non profit called Compagnie F, entrepreneurship pour femmes. Compagnie F is a women's resource centre working in the field of Women's Community Economic Development to provide popular education training, tools, networking, coaching, promotion to women of all ages and backgrounds, who are interested in developing or consolidating their entrepreneurial potential and gaining financial independence. Café Réseau is Compagnie F's social economy project. Café Réseau is a public café with a mission to provide a space for independent workers and micro-entrepreneurs to work, seek resources, promote themselves and network. Part of its mission is to promote women's entrepreneurship by organizing promotional activities, by showcasing women's products and services. Joni is currently working on a Master's degree in Cultural anthropology at Concordia University and her research is focussing on whether immigrant women have a greater propensity for entrepreneurship than women born locally. Joni has a B.A. in education. Her past experience includes work with women's loan circles and a youth employability training and mentoring program. She also worked with CIDA in Lebanon, providing resources and support to local non profit organisations, and groups located in Palestinian refugee camps. She also had the opportunity to work and live in Tehran, where she taught at the local French school.

Carol is a partner in Rural Vision, a firm of community economic development consultants. From 1994 to 2001, she was the co-founder and Executive Director of WRED (Women and Rural Economic Development). WRED provided a variety of self-employment and entrepreneurial training and support services for rural women across Ontario. From 1963 to 1995, Carol was a partner in Rock Farms Unlimited, a family farm enterprise. She was the Executive Coordinator of the Perth County Training Committee from 1989 to 1994, a local committee which brokered training in Perth County, Ontario. Carol was a founding executive member of both the Ontario Farm Women’s Network, The Ontario Rural Council, the Canadian CED Network and the Canadian Farm Women’s Education Council. She has won several awards for her community development work.