Charity Village� NewsWeek: Cover Story-Voluntary Sector Networks: Sharing knowledge and celebrating differences

Charity Village� NewsWeek: Cover Story: "Voluntary Sector Networks: Sharing knowledge and celebrating differences
May 30, 2005
By Nicole Zummach

Canada's voluntary sector is growing and maturing at a rapid rate. Recent studies prove that it is an economic force to be reckoned with, and increasingly, governments are making an effort to involve nonprofits in public policy and decision-making. But who is in the driver's seat? Who is directing traffic as the sector gathers momentum and builds capacity? As far as the Canadian Federation of Voluntary Sector Networks is concerned, no one person or organization is at the helm and that's the way they like it.

The Federation was launched in 2002 to help existing and emerging voluntary sector networks across the country strengthen their impact in their respective communities. 'Our primary focus is on the relationships and building connections among voluntary organizations in each jurisdiction,' explains Federation representative Paula Speevak Sladowski. 'We want to build cohesion so we can have discussions with the other sectors - business, labour, local governments - and really look at what the capacity building and public policy issues are, specific to that province, territory, or municipality.'"