June 9, 2010
More than 230 delegates concerned with rural economic development are meeting in Thunder Bay next week at a Conference of the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations (OACFDC). The members of the organization represent 61 Community Futures Development Corporations, located in small towns and rural areas across the province.
Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) provide free counselling and business loans to entrepreneurs, and work on community economic development projects. CFDCs are funded by Industry Canada through FedNor and FedDev Ontario, and operate as non-profit corporations. Decisions are made locally by volunteer Boards of Directors working with managers and staff in each office. Volunteer directors and staff alike will be attending the conference June 10 to 12.
OACFDC President Bill Spinney explains that the 61 CFDCs have been providing business loans and community development services to rural Ontario for some 20 years, and were never more needed than they are today.
“Our members have answered the ‘stimulus call’, delivering more services, more investment lending dollars, new Federal programming and doing it in a timely and fiscally responsible manner,” Mr. Spinney says.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Aboriginal in Nature” and there is a focus on collaboration between First Nations and non-Native communities to enhance economic activity across rural Ontario. OACFDC Executive Director Diana Jedig points out that sharing best practices is an important part of the annual Conference.
“Our CFDC members are always looking for ways to diversify their local economy and sharing information with First Nations communities will provide insight and ideas. We have five Aboriginal specific CFDCs developing strong ties to their neighbouring CFDCs, too,” Ms. Jedig adds.
Tewanee Joseph, Executive Director of the Four Host First Nations Secretariat at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, will be speaking Friday morning. Mr. Joseph is credited with developing unprecedented Aboriginal participation in the planning, hosting and staging of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Bestselling Author Calvin Helin will present his positive solutions towards Aboriginal self-reliance, advocating ways to break the cycle of dependency. Mr. Helin is an activist, entrepreneur and lawyer from the Tsimshian Nation in British Columbia.
With more than 25 years experience in gold mining exploration and production, Tim Twomey, of Premier Gold Mines, will summarize the mining cycle and related business prospects. He will also talk about industry and career opportunities available to Aboriginal communities.
Janet Matthews, Co-author of "Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul", will inspire delegates with uplifting stories of Canadian heroes from her book.
In addition to the four keynote addresses, there will be 18 workshops on a myriad of topics relating to rural economic development and building rapport with First Nations to develop the rural economy.
As well, delegates will travel to Mount McKay for a scenic view of the area, followed by dinner at Fort William First Nation. Hosting this event are two area CFDCs: Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund and Thunder Bay Ventures.
The Conference will close on Saturday night with an Awards Gala. Three CFDCs will be honoured for successful community projects in which they have taken the initiative, and an Entrepreneur of the Year will be named. The Entrepreneur will be chosen from several nominees, all successful businesses that received loans and counselling from CFDCs.