We are interested in launching a new regular column for our newsletter

"Cross Canada Developer check-in". Here is a chance to share stories and happenings in the co-op world in your community.

 

This is a call for submissions. Submissions may be a few sentences or a few paragraphs, and could be about a particular co-op which has recently started, trends you see in your community or province regarding co-op development, or anything you think may be of interest to other members.  If possible, please include an image or photo preferably a jpg. Submissions can be emailed to Kaye Grant.  Please include your name and contact information in case we have questions.

 

CoopZone is hosting a tele-learning session for all CoopZone members on Multi-stakeholder Co-operatives / Solidarity Co-operatives.   It will take place on Tuesday, June 10th at 3:00 pm Eastern Time for up to 90 minutes. 

The questions which we will ask the presenters to address include:

When you have helped to develop multi-stakeholder co-op(s), how has it gone?  What lessons have you learned, and what do you think are the pros and cons of the model?

We put out a call for presenters and had a great response.  There will be six presenters, who will speak on average for 10 minutes each, leaving time for discussion.  The presenters will be as follows: Russ Christianson (who has also agreed to facilitate), Marty Frost, Rick Juliusson, Cheryl Krostewitz, R�jean Laflamme, and Martin Van Den Borre.  Apologies to the two who offered but who we could not accommodate in scheduling.  Hazel Corcoran will take notes for the benefit of those who have interest but cannot attend.

If you would like to participate, RSVP to Hazel ([email protected]) as soon as possible, and at the latest by June 9th at the end of the day.   

The

notes on the last session, re: lawyers and developers working effectively together, will be available on the CoopZone web site by Monday, May 12th, here:  http://coopzone.coop/telelearning.

Although the Conference is still many months away the enthusiastic 2014 Conference Planning Committee is already hard at work. 

 

Mark your calendar

The Conference Theme is Co-operative Collaborations - Member Engagement and External Collaborations.

 

 

Location: Wolfville, NS

Dates: November 6 - 8, 2014

 

The Committee, chaired by Eric Tusz-King, includes Benjamin Ryder (Arrowseed), Debra Moore (Just Us Coffee), Jessica Provencher (La Barberie), Joel Stoddart (Careforce), Reba Plummer (Urbane Cyclist) and staff; Peter Hough (CoopZone Representative) Kaye Grant and Hazel Corcoran.

 

CWCF Awards - Please Submit Nominations!

 

Nominations are sought by June 1st, 2014 for either or both of the CWCF Awards which can be given at each annual Conference.  CWCF strongly encourages members to nominate a co-op for the Worker Co-op Best Practices Award, or an individual for the Worker Co-op Merit Award. Award winners, who are generally from the region in which the Conference is held, will have their registration and expenses covered to attend the Conference.

 

Submit your nominee(s) to Kaye Grant, [email protected], with a brief write-up as to why you are nominating the co-op or the individual. The details of each Award are below.

 

Award for Worker Co-op Best Practices

 

The Worker Co-op Best Practices Award goes to a worker co-operative which has demonstrated best practices in governance and/or operations, including in upholding the values and principles of the co-operative movement within their co-operative, and has shared, or is willing to share their experience and learnings with other worker co-operatives in Canada. The award winner will be chosen by the Board of CWCF. Co-operatives in which a current Board or staff member of CWCF is a worker-member are ineligible.

 

The recipient(s) is/are presented with the Award during the CWCF annual Conference, and then will be asked to present a profile of the co-operative to the Conference. Generally the recipient co-op is from the region in which the Conference is held. CWCF covers the registration fee and expenses to have one member of the recipient co-operative attend the Conference. The Award is presented with a brief explanation of the co-operative's best practices, and then the recipient is given the opportunity to make a speech or to present a workshop, which would be with the support of CWCF if required.

 

Worker Co-op Merit Award

 

The Worker Co-op Merit Award goes to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to worker co-operation in Canada, as judged by the Board of CWCF. Current Board and staff of CWCF are ineligible.

 

The recipient is presented with the Award during the CWCF annual Conference. Generally the recipient is from the region in which the Conference is held. CWCF covers the registration fee and expenses to have the recipient attend the Conference. The Award is presented with an explanation of the person's contributions to the movement, and then the person is given the opportunity to make a brief speech.

 

Le lien pour la version fran�aise suit. 

 

Find out how your co-op can win a share of $200,000!

 

For the third consecutive year, The Co-operators will distribute a total of $200,000 to eight emerging and expanding co-operatives across Canada. This online contest gives co-ops a chance to win valuable prizes aimed at growing their businesses while increasing their exposure.

 

How does it work?

From May 5 to May 30, 2014, co-ops submit an electronic application and then a panel of judges will narrow the list to 16 finalists. Next, each finalist will produce a creative video up to 90-seconds long that highlights their co-op and commitment to the co-op business model. Each video will be available on the contest website from September 3 - October 1, 2014, where co-op fans can vote for their favourite to win. The contest will be promoted on The Co-operators Facebook and Twitter sites.

 

Several chances to win!

In total, there will be eight prizes distributed in four regions across the country: West, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic.

 

Two co-ops from each region will receive $25,000 in cash funding!

• $500 will be provided to the eight finalists who are not one of the major prize winners.
• Every finalist will be invited to participate in a consultation session aimed at growing their business.

 Winners will be announced during National Co-op Week on October 17, 2014.

 

Are you up for the challenge?

• Visit www.cooperators.ca/en/About-Us/foundation/national-coop-challenge for complete details.
• Email [email protected] for more information.

An important part of being a co-op is connecting to other co-ops, encouraging them to grow and getting more Canadians involved with co-ops. After successful contests in 2012 and 2013, The Co-operators is pleased to give emerging and expanding co-ops a stronger voice in their communities.

 

We hope you will apply or spread the word to other co-ops!

 

La version fran�aise suit

 

March 25th marked the inaugural meeting of the first All-Party Co-operative Caucus on Parliament Hill. The purpose of the All-Party Co-operative Caucus is to discuss and support policies directly affecting co-operative enterprises. The objectives of the All-Party Caucus are to promote the co-operative movement, to contribute to its development and to facilitate exchange and dialogue between parliamentarians and the co-operative sector stakeholders. Click here to find out more.  

 

Les Parlementaires tiennent la r�union inaugurale du Caucus multipartite sur les coop�ratives

Cliquez ici pour en savoir plus

 

This March, the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF) has published a Gratitude  Report. It's an update on an important campaign launched in 2012 to raise $12 million over four years to Build a Better World. Since then, the campaign has raised over $5 million in donations and pledges towards reaching its goal. -

 

See more at: http://cdfcanada.coop/news-and-resources/gratitude-report-2014  

 

 

See the line-up of speakers here.