CEDF

Oswald Sawh’s career has been mostly in community development with a 22-year career with the Communities Economic Development Fund (CEDF), 5 years being the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and 8 years as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  Oswald was the CEO when CEDF started the Look North initiative, the Province of Manitoba’s Norther Economic Development strategy.

Look North is a movement for Northerners, by northerners to grow the economy in Northern Manitoba. It is a long-term vision and plan to unleash the economic potential of the North for generations to come.  The Look North initiative was set in motion by the Province of Manitoba in 2016, and is deeply rooted in the principle that the people of the North best understand their needs. Through extensive and ongoing engagement with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, businesses, industry and labour leaders, a vision of growth and prosperity for northern Manitoba that is inclusive of all perspectives has been developed.  The Look North initiative is led by Communities Economic Development Fund (CEDF), a Manitoba Crown Corporation that has operated in northern Manitoba since 1973. In March of 2019, CEDF was named by the Province as the organization best suited to carry out the Look North initiative because of its long-standing relationship to northern Manitoba and its peoples. CEDF has the depth of knowledge required and the right people to transform northern economies.