Community Innovation & Social Enterprise Conference 2024
The Community Economic Development Institute of the Shannon School of Business, Cape Breton University, is dedicated to advancing community capacity in economic development. Building on the popularity of our previous conferences, we are pleased to announce the latest iteration of our Community Innovation & Social Enterprise Conference.
The conference will bring together practitioners, researchers, and community organizations, from home and afar, to discuss current practices, challenges, and innovations in advancing community economic development (CED), social entrepreneurship, and improving community livelihoods.
KeyNote Speaker
We are excited to announce as our keynote speaker Professor Frankie (Frances) Young. Dr. Young is an Indigenous scholar who works on legal reform for Indigenous economic development, Mi’kmaq philanthropy, Indigenous economic well-being, Indigenous self-governance, and Mi’kmaw identity.
Conference Themes
The conference includes the following themes:
- Community-based development
- Social Enterprises and Innovation
- Co-operatives and Sustainable Business Models
- Measuring Community Impacts
- Indigenous Enterprise and Collaborative Reconciliation
- Entrepreneurship Ecosystems
- Impact Investing and Social Finance
- Innovative Financing Models
Anyone interested in submitting a paper or presentation proposal or general questions can be directed to CED_conference@cbu.ca.
The conference will be held on Cape Breton University’s campus on beautiful Unama’ki. Unama’ki, one of the seven districts of Mi’kma’ki, is the unceded traditional, ceremonial, and historical land under stewardship of the Mi’kmaw people from time immemorial. This territory is covered by the Peace and Friendship Treaties.
Unama’ki /Cape Breton is easily accessible, serviced with direct flights from Toronto and Montreal.
Unama’ki /Cape Breton is known for its natural beauty, pace of life, history, and friendly people. Home to the Fortress of Louisbourg, the Bras d’Or Lakes, and the world-renowned Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island's breathtaking scenery leaves an imprint on all visitors. We look forward to hosting you here in 2024.
