Governance and Administrative Structure

Last Updated on June 13th, 2008

Our project represents the Northern Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan Regional Node of the SSHRC-funded Social Economy Suite. It is co-managed by the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives and the Community University Institute for Social Research (CUISR).

Governance for the project follows a de-centralized approach with many of the activities and resource allocation being administered by the designated organizations in each of the three provinces that comprise our region: Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northern Ontario. These are: CUISR, WIRA and CESD.

Administrative tasks for the entire project are the responsibility of the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives at the University of Saskatchewan.

The research clusters have selected two co-directors – one being an academic co-director and the other selected from the representatives of the community partner organizations. Research clusters set their own agendas and focus of study. The co-directors for the overall project, co-leads of the clusters, and directors of the provincial organizations comprise the management board. An advisory council comprised of community representatives provide suggestions and feedback regarding the direction of the project overall. There are also two international members for the management board who offer outside perspective and recommendations.

Research findings from the clusters will be shared at local, regional and national symposia.

The decentralized structure was developed to encourage the participation of community-based organizations in the research process. Community participation will be a key to the success of the project.

Member of the Canadian Social Economy Research Partnerships