Cross-Cutting Research
Some of the research projects undertaken by the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) are developed as “cross-cutting projects” that link to the mandate of more than one Social Economy Research Cluster (SERC). The following projects are of that type.
The broad context and mandate for all BALTA research is derived from the BALTA proposal to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) to establish a five year research network and program. BALTA’s cross-cutting research has addressed the following themes:
- Community economic, social and ecological transition in the face of climate change, peak oil and other critical trends
- Golden mussel social enterprise development with British Columbia Coastal First Nations
- Land tenure and land trusts
- Credit unions and their role in rural community reinvestment
- Cluster-based social enterprise models
- Networks and collaboration
- Social enterprise employment services
Project D1 – Literature Reviews for SERCs 1, 2 and 3
Project Leads: Mark Roseland, Peter Hall and Sean Markey, Simon Fraser University
Student Research Assistants: Robyn Heaslip, Simon Fraser University; Rob O’Brien, Simon Fraser University; Andre Vallillee, University of British Columbia
These preliminary reviews of the existing literature were conducted in early 2007 for each of the broad research themes in BALTA’s intended research program.
SERC 1 literature review – Housing and Human Services in the Social Economy
SERC 3 literature review – Infrastructure for the Social Economy
 |
Golden mussel aquaculture |
Project D2 – Leveraging Social Ownership of Proprietary Trademarks related to the Golden Mussel as a Base for Expansion of Social Enterprise in Coastal B.C. Aboriginal Communities
Project Leads: Doug Gordon, Native Brotherhood of B.C.; Mike Lewis, Canadian Centre for Community Renewal
Student Research Assistant: Nadine Pinnell, Simon Fraser University
This project is linked to an initiative to use a trademarked aquaculture product, the golden mussel, as a basis for social economy based community economic development in Coastal Aboriginal communities in British Columbia, Canada. The BALTA project includes two aspects: research on questions of relevance to the development of the golden mussel initiative; and research tracking the golden mussel initiative as a social economy development system case study.
Literature review on Mussel Aquaculture
Literature review on Franchising
Literature review on Systematic Replication of Social Enterprises
Power point presentation to 2008 BALTA Symposium
Golden mussel aquaculture
Project D3 – Land Tenure and the Social Economy
Project Leads: Mark Roseland, Simon Fraser University; Mike Gismondi, Athabasca University
Student Research Assistant: Karen Heisler, Simon Fraser University
Shared equity land ownership is important in the social economy. Examples of it can be found in a range of sectors including agriculture, housing (in rural and urban municipalities), eco-conservancy, commons management, and in areas of community forestry. This project examined the range and scale of shared equity land tenure models being used across various sub-sectors of the social economy, including land trusts and land banking. The review also incorporated the legal landscape of land tenure models with respect to taxation, zoning, jurisdiction, etc.
Project report – literature review
Power point presentation to 2009 BALTA Symposium on overall land tenure research
Power point presentation to 2009 BALTA Symposium on conservation land trusts in Alberta
Project D4 – Sustainable Infrastructure for the Social Economy: Cluster-based Social Enterprise Models
Project Leads: Jorge Sousa, University of Alberta; Mark Roseland, Simon Fraser University
Student Researcher: Lena Soots, Simon Fraser University
Lack of affordable space has forced dislocation on many non-profit organizations, both in times of economic boom (due to rising commercial rents), and in times of government and funding cutbacks. In response to these challenges, cluster-based social enterprise models (CBSE) have emerged as collective models to provide necessary physical infrastructure and resources as well as to facilitate co-operation and network building. CBSEs are also intended to facilitate strategic collaboration and alliance building. Given the increasing need for inter- and cross-disciplinary approaches to the complex social and ecological problems that face our societies, these centres can play a key role in development of the sector and can serve as potential hotbeds for social innovation and creative problem-solving. This research project examined CBSE models as a mechanism for developing sustainable infrastructure for the social economy and to determine their effectiveness in enhancing organizational performance and social innovation.
Power point presentation to 2008 BALTA Symposium
Power point presentation to 2009 BALTA Symposium
Project D5 – Credit Unions as a Financing Source for the Social Economy and Rural Community Re-investment
Project Lead: Sean Markey, Simon Fraser University, Stewart Perry, Canadian Centre for Community Renewal
Student Research Assistant: Freya Kristensen, Simon Fraser University
This project examined the role of credit unions in supporting the social economy and is linked to SERC 3’s research mandate related to infrastructure. At the same time, this project links to the work of SERC 2 in looking more deeply at the role of credit unions in rural community re-investment. The research involved an examination of four credit union case studies, two each in large municipalities and smaller centres.
Project D6 – Foundations for the Social Economy
Project Leads: Mike Lewis, Canadian Centre for Community Renewal; Patrick Conaty; New Economics Foundation
Student Research Assistant: Lena Soots, Simon Fraser University
At present the strategies, policies and tools employed by the social economy in most countries are diffuse. There is no integrated narrative to bring together the small parts to form a more cohesive whole. Nor has an integrated theoretical framework been developed for how the social economy and community economic development can contribute to addressing major emerging challenges for communities related to climate change, peak oil and other transformative issues. This cross-cutting project is intended to review the scope and success of emergent systemic approaches in order to explore the implications for developing a new social and ecological economy at the sub-regional level. The investigation will produce a new conceptual framework for understanding the foundations for a more strategic approach by social economy actors. The final result of this project will be a book, but a research conference paper is available now.
Paper presented to the 2009 CIRIEC International Research Conference
Project D7 – Land Tenure and the Social Economy (Phase 2)
Project Leads: Mark Roseland, Simon Fraser University; Mike Gismondi, Athabasca University; George Penfold, Selkirk College
Student Research Assistants: To be determined
This project will build on the results of Project D3. The goal of the research is to understand why, despite evidence from elsewhere, there is so little momentum in British Columbia and Alberta for a broader range of community development applications of land trusts beyond conservation trusts. The research will explore the opportunities and barriers to development and use of land trusts to address the challengers of housing affordability and agriculture/food security.
Power point presentation to 2009 BALTA Symposium
Project D8 – Credit Unions and Rural Reinvestment (Phase B)
Project Leads: Sean Markey,, Simon Fraser University, Stewart Perry, Canadian Centre for Community Renewal
Student Research Assistant: Freya Kristensen, Simon Fraser University
This project builds on earlier research (Project D5) examining the role of credit unions in supporting the social economy and in rural community re-investment. The focus is on smaller credit unions in rural communities.
Project D10 – Advancing the Social Economy Through Networks and Collaboration
Project Lead: Mark Roseland, Simon Fraser University
Student Research Assistant: Freya Kristensen, Simon Fraser University
This project explored researcher-practitioner networks and selected other networks in order to identify best practice models, assess how each of them functions, and why they are successful. In addition to its general value, the research is intended to assist BALTA in considering options for continuing the BALTA legacy beyond the end of our current SSHRC funding.
Power point presentation to 2009 BALTA Symposium
Project D11 – The Role of Social Enterprise in Employment Services in the British Columbia Context
Project Lead: Joanna Buczkowska, University of British Columbia
Student Research Assistant: Samantha Shamash, University of British Columbia
This project is examining the growing sector of social enterprises providing employment for marginalized individuals with barriers to traditional employment. The focus is on social enterprises in British Columbia, Canada.
