Message from the Executive Director

CDEM’s 2024-2025 fiscal year is coming to an end in a complex economic and political context. We remain steadfast and focused on supporting francophone economic development in Manitoba’s Francophone and bilingual communities.

We are all proud to be Canadians, Manitobans and Francophones. We demonstrate this every day through our initiatives. The CDEM actively contributes to the economic prosperity of Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities, while strengthening the vitality and sustainability of our province’s official language minority communities (OLMCs).

Building our Future

CDEM will soon unveil its 2025-2028 Strategic Plan.  Developed through extensive consultations with our members, partners, and stakeholders over the past year, the plan will ensure that our organization continues to undertake the best to build our future. Founded in 1996 by the AMBM, the CDEM is a recognized leader in francophone economic development in Manitoba and will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year. The CDEM will continue to leverage its strengths through collaboration and on-the-ground efforts alongside our funders, stakeholders, partners, and the community.

As part of this collaborative approach, a delegation of economic players, including CDEM, the World Trade Centre Winnipeg and the Rural Manitoba Economic Development Corporation (RMED), will travel to Marseille, France, in April for the WTCA 2025 Global Business Forum. This mission aims to demonstrate the importance of doing business in French in Manitoba and to promote our economic dynamism on the international stage. This is just one of many upcoming initiatives— stay tuned for more details.

As the only economic development organization in Canada’s Francophonie created by bilingual municipal governments, CDEM has an essential role to play in this ever-evolving landscape and remains committed to supporting and strengthening Manitoba’s bilingual communities.

Together, let’s continue to build a stronger, more inclusive and more prosperous Manitoba where everyone thrives.

Madeleine Arbez
Executive Director, CDEM