Working Centre Publications

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The Working Centre has reproduced two books so far that we are pleased to offer here as free downloads.

As publisher of these works, we have an open access policy which enables anyone to access the content below electronically without charge, in the spirit of a Creative Commons. We want to encourage the circulation of these works as widely as possible without affecting the ownership of the copyright, which remains with the copyright holder. Users are welcome to download, save, perform or distribute this work electronically or in any other format. If you are interested in using the work, please:

  • Credit the authors;
  • Ensure that the text is not altered and is used in full (the use of extracts under existing fair usage rights is not affected by this condition);
  • The work is not resold or used for commercial purposes;
  • Contact Working Centre Publications for permission for larger excerpts

Related Articles

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The Working Centre: Experiment in Social Change - by Ken Westhues
Thu, Jul 12 2012

This book explores the philosophical roots of The Working Centre, and examines the centre from a sociological perspective. It includes essays and articles written by Westhues and others.

From the first chapter: By its clasic definition, sociology has room for many kinds of linkage to social action. I have found The Working Centre an especially worthwhile linkage, because it is relatively free of sectarian, partisan, or specialized interests, and can therefore serve the goal of community development in an admirably dialogic, democratic, and holistic way.

Click here or the image above to download The Working Centre (.pdf format)

 

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Understanding Canada
Thu, Jul 12 2012

Government intervention in the lives of Canadians has grown enormously over the past ten years, as our country and its people struggle towards a sense of identity and purpose. How much can the State help us to develop, as individuals and as citizens? And how much can each of us do on our own to achieve personal and community development?

Understanding Canada traces the concept of community development from its beginnings in colonial Africa to recent attempts at self help in Canada, and relates it to the ideas of individualism and liberalism. Focusing especially on the Atlantic Provinces, the author looks at efforts to ‘help” the poor from the top down and from the bottom up. He analyzes the successes of the approach of the Antigonish Movement which flourished in the Thirties.

Continue reading "Understanding Canada"