Québec City, November 6, 2023―The Regional Development Network’s social economy initiative, SEEnet, in collaboration with regional organizations, will host an “Exploring the Social Economy” workshop at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 108 in Châteauguay on Monday, November 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event, held in partnership with the Montérégie West Community Network (MWCN) and the Pôle d’économie sociale Vallée-du-haut-Saint-Laurent (VHSL), is part of Social Economy Month, which celebrates and highlights the role of social enterprises throughout the province of Québec.
Representatives from the Pôle VHSL and SEEnet will give presentations explaining the basics of the social economy and its positive impacts on local communities. Julie Caron from the Sainte-Catherine-based Jute & Cie social insertion organization will also present her enterprise. Afterward, attendees will be able to participate in a question-and-answer session with the presenters and guests.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with our regional partners to host a full slate of Social Economy Month events like this one in Montérégie,” said RDN Executive Director Cathy Brown. “SEEnet’s role is to get English speakers throughout the province better acquainted and involved with the social economy, and events like these are a great way to connect with our communities.”
MWCN Program Manager Matt Mardini said, “We are thrilled to partner with RDN and the Pôle for this event to explore the transformative potential of the social economy. Together, we’re paving the way for businesses in our community to thrive while making a positive impact on society.”
The event is free of charge with registration required. More information is available via the SEEnet website. Lunch will be provided.
This year marks the first that SEEnet will be hosting English-language Social Economy Month events, doing so in partnership with other regional social enterprise organizations and the member organizations of the Regional Development Network (RDN). This year’s events will be held in Châteauguay, Québec City, Gaspé, and Baie-Comeau.
ABOUT THE SOCIAL ECONOMY
The social economy is made up of enterprises, typically either cooperatives or revenue-generating nonprofits, which include a democratic decision-making process and whose objectives go beyond generating profit for owners and shareholders. The province of Québec is a world leader in the social economy; however, its English speakers have historically been less involved than their French-speaking counterparts. SEEnet’s role is to increase English speakers’ participation in the social economy and explore the ways in which social enterprises can help solve community-specific issues.
ABOUT RDN AND SEEnet
The Regional Development Network (RDN) is a provincial nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing socio-economic development for English-speaking communities across the province of Québec. Supported by a network of 18 community-based organizations serving English speakers in Québec, RDN collaborates with federal, provincial, and municipal governments as a way to represent its network’s needs and challenges and to create projects and partnerships. regdevnet.ca
Launched in 2021, SEEnet is the social economy initiative of RDN. SEEnet educates and informs English-speaking Quebecers about the social economy, supports the development of social enterprises by English speakers, and builds links with other social economy organizations in the province. SEEnet is funded by the Secrétariat aux relations avec les Québécois d’expression anglaise. see-net.ca
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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Hoffman Wolff
Social Economy Officer
Regional Development Network
[email protected] · 418-684-8810
Matt Mardini
Program Manager
Montérégie West Community Network
[email protected] · 450-691-1444
