CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

“Community Innovation and Social Enterprise” Conference

When: July 8-10, 2015
Where: Cape Breton University, Sydney, Nova Scotia

The Community Economic Development Institute of the Shannon School of Business is dedicated to advancing community capacity in economic development. Building on the popularity of our 2011 and 2013 conferences, where we had over 200 attendees, we are organizing another multidisciplinary conference focused on “Community Innovation & Social Enterprise”.

Community-based ventures are a strong part of the Canadian economy for more than a century and recent innovative practices have made the social enterprise sector a hot topic. The conference brings together practitioners, researchers, and community organizations, from home and afar, to discuss current practices, challenges, and innovations in advancing social entrepreneurship and improving community livelihoods.

The conference will include presentations by more than 30 thought leaders. Featured speakers include Danny Graham of Engage Nova Scotia,  Michael Lewis community development practitioner, Dr. Colin Mason Professor of Entrepreneurship at University of Glasgow, and  Dr. Sara Depedri of University of Trento and Euricse research network.

The conference includes the following themes:

·     Community-based development

·    Co-operatives and sustainable business models

·    Social Enterprises and Innovation

·     Place-based business

·     Sustainable Aboriginal economies

·     Entrepreneurial Financing

Please mark your calendar and come to Cape Breton to connect in July.  We are keeping the conference cost low:  if you register by May 15, the cost of the conference is only $190+tax, and that includes our famous Surf & Turf dinner extravaganza (Cape Breton lobster & beef) by the Sydney harbour.

You are invited to submit a proposal for a presentation, panel, or roundtable discussion.  We also accept general proposals which may not fit the categories listed above.  There will be no formal conference proceedings published.

Please submit your proposal by March 31.  The proposal should include:
* Working title
* The theme it fits in
* 100-word abstract of the presentation, and a
* 50-word bio.

Please submit your proposal to: confer2015@cbu.ca and attach your proposal as a Word file.

For more information and to register, visit the Conference registration webpage: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/community-innovation-and-social-enterprise-registration-14830340949