The Latest News From Canada's Worker Co-op Sector
November 2019 Volume 11 Issue 10
In This Issue
  • Shift Delivery Promotes Sustainability
  • CWCF's Technical Assistance Program Accepting Applications
  • Date Change for CWCF 2020 Conference
  • London Brewing Releases Certified Organic Beers
  • Guelph, Ontario Architecture Firm Becomes Worker Co-op
  • Quebec Wants Newspaper Group to Form a Worker Co-op
  • Upcoming Webinars
  • Applications Open for Saint Mary's Co-op Study Tour
  • Worker-Owned Apps Trying to Fix Gig Economy's Exploitation
  • Who Owns the World Conference Looks at Ways to Build a New Democracy
Shift Delivery Promotes Sustainability

By Kenzie Love
Vancouver worker co-op Shift Delivery launched in August, 2011, with a vision of reducing the impact of goods movement and creating empowering green jobs. To all appearances, the co-op has succeeded on both counts.

Technical Assistance Program Accepting Applications
The Canadian Worker Co-op Federation (CWCF) offers grants to assist worker co-ops that are, or agree to become, members of CWCF to hire a co-op developer or other professional to help with a challenge that the co-op is facing. There are currently several grants of up to $3500 available, and we encourage members — or prospective members — to apply for them.

Date Change for CWCF 2020 Conference
CWCF's annual conference will take place in Vancouver, BC, from November 12-14, 2020. Look for more details in the coming months.
London Brewing Releases Certified Organic Beers
With the release of two organic beers, London Brewing becomes one of two independent craft breweries in Ontario who are certified to brew organic beer. The London Organic Lager is now available in local LCBOs and Beer Stores and the Front Porch Organic Session IPA will be hitting shelves before the end of November.

Guelph, Ontario Architecture Firm Becomes Worker Co-op
A forty-one year-old firm in Guelph, Ontario, has transitioned to a worker co-operative. Arise Architects Co-operative  – formerly known as J. David McAuley Architect Inc – is the oldest architectural firm in the city.

Quebec Wants Newspaper Group to Form a Worker Co-op
The Quebec government has come out in favour of a way to help save a regional media group from going under -- by turning it into a co-op. In August, Groupe Capitale Medias, which owns six newspapers in the regions of Quebec, filed for bankruptcy protection. The Legault government is supporting an employee-driven co-op to try and save it.

Upcoming Webinars
The Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI) offers a free Democratic Management Skills Check-Up December 5, 2019. In addition, Round Sky Solutions is offering a free webinar on "4 Tools for Virtual Collaboration" December 10, the first in a four-part series.
Applications Open for Saint Mary's Co-op Study Tour
Imagine spending 10 days exploring Spain or Italy, and seeing first-hand the benefits of a successful co-op economy. Our international study tours are an essential component of the Master’s program and the chance for students to gain valuable experience focused on models of co-operative excellence. The study tour is the in-person component of a 6-week, online course that includes readings, discussions, lectures, papers, and a journal project. Non-student tour spots are available.

Worker-Owned Apps Are Trying to Fix the Gig Economy's Exploitation
What would happen if low-wage workers came together to cut out the middleman and build their own platforms? This isn’t just a thought experiment. Worker-owned apps such as Quebec's Eva are already providing real alternatives to dismal working conditions in the global gig economy.

Who Owns the World Conference Looks at Ways to Build a New Democracy
In his opening address, conference convenor Trebor Scholz – founder director of the Institute for the Cooperative Digital Economy, the research arm of the  Platform Co-op Consortium , based at the New School, which hosted the event – painted his ideal vision for 2035.

The Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation (CWCF) is a national, bilingual grassroots membership organization of and for worker co-operatives, related types of co-operatives (multi-stakeholder co-ops and worker-shareholder co-ops), and organizations that support the growth and development of worker cooperatives. CWCF's e-newsletter is available free of charge to anyone with an e-mail address and an interest in worker co-operative developments in Canada.    
Please send any comments and suggestions to:  
Kenzie Love
Editor of CWCF Newsletter 
(403) 276-8250