The Latest News From Canada's Worker Co-op Sector
January 2022 Volume 14 Issue 1
In This Issue

  • Report from the Executive Director, by Hazel Corcoran
  • Rapport de la directrice générale, par Hazel Corcoran
  • Victory Gardens Helps Support Urban Food Growing
  • Profil de membre, la Coopérative « Victory Gardens », Vancouver
  • Worker Co-ops and the First Co-op Principle
  • CWCF 2021 Conference Videos and Presentations Now Available
  • CWCF Board Welcomes Kelly Storie of La Siembra Co-op / Camino
  • Upcoming Events
  • Foundations of Workplace Democracy Web Series, re: Tools for Accountability, co-hosted with USFWC - Jan. 26th, 4 pm ET
  • Member Updates
  • Canadian Co-op News Round-up
  • Worker Co-op Slack - joint with USFWC
  • Why Some Worker Co-ops Succeed While Others Fail
  • International Co-op News Round-up
Report from the Executive Director
By Hazel Corcoran

As we begin a new year, I hope everyone had a safe and restful holiday season. 2021 was another challenging time, and as we approach the second anniversary of the pandemic’s onset there remains cause for concern. But we at CWCF find cause for optimism in the resourcefulness and resilience our members continue to show.


Rapport de la directrice générale
Par Hazel Corcoran

En ce début d’année, j’espère que la période des Fêtes vous a permis de vous reposer en toute sécurité. L’année 2021 a été difficile et, à l’approche du deuxième anniversaire de la pandémie, plusieurs inquiétudes demeurent. Mais à la Fédération canadienne des coopératives de travail (FCCT), nous sommes optimistes.
Victory Gardens Helps Support Urban Food Growing
By Kenzie Love

Established in 2012, Victory Gardens grew out of the need its founders saw for people in their community to learn how to grow their own food.


Profil de membre – la Coopérative « Victory Gardens », Vancouver
Par Kenzie Love

Le concept des jardins de la Victoire date peut-être de la Première Guerre mondiale, mais une coopérative de travail vancouvéroise s’en est approprié la lettre et l’esprit pour faire durer la tradition.
Worker Co-ops and the First Co-op Principle
By Kenzie Love

When it comes to the meaning of the first co-op principle, the International Co-op Association's Statement of Co-op Identity seems clear at a glance, but a closer look raises questions.
CWCF 2021 Conference Videos & Presentations Now Available

Videos and slides from many of the sessions at the November 2021 Conference, which got rave reviews and had the highest turn-out ever, are now listed on our website. Topics covered include: Building on Anti-Racism in Worker Co-ops by our JEDI Committee (among the most powerful sessions every presented at a CWCF Conference); 5-minute Ignite presentations by co-ops in the Worker Co-op Academy (Massage & Wellness Co-op; Oasis Lavender Farm Co-op); Worker Co-op Financing; Worker Co-op Marketing; and keynotes on the State of the Movement - internationally, in the USA, and in Canada. There was an evening session co-hosted with CoopZone on Co-op Conversions, Co-op Development Challenges, and Public Policy. Last but not least, you can also view the Award presentations.
CWCF Board Welcomes Kelly Storie of La Siembra

Kelly Storie believes now is an opportune time to serve in this position, as Canada’s worker co-op movement is well-positioned to seize hold of the growing interest in democratizing the workplace.


Upcoming Events

Image courtesy Molly Graham, artist
Foundations of Workplace Democracy Web Series

Foundations of Workplace Democracy Web Series is back with new topics, presenters and resources for worker co-ops and democratic workplaces. Join the USFWC Co-op Clinic in partnership with the Canadian Worker Co-op Federation Wednesday, January 26th for a bilingual (English & Spanish) webinar on “Tools for accountability” where we’ll be sharing practical tools and processes for accountability and transparency in the workplace.
Presenter Daniella Preisler, originally from Chile, brings extensive experience as a cooperative developer consultant, certified community coach, trainer and co-founder of Colmenar Cooperative Consulting.

Pilar G. de Boismenu from the Glitter Bean Cafe of Halifax will be a member of the worker co-op panel at this event. Glitter Bean Cafe rose as an alternative to having to work in an unfair work environment. Workers who lost their jobs banded together and formed a worker-owned co-op to breathe life back into their much loved, cozy cafe. They remain unionized with SEIU 2, a victory won by cafe workers in 2013. They are working to create a community space that will provide a safer space for queer, two-spirit, and trans people in K'jipuktuk (Halifax).

Register for the webinar here.
Member Updates

  • CWCF would like to formally welcome BWPW - Black Women Professional Worker Co-op, as a new member. Please join us in congratulating them!
  • Come As You Are has prepared a ranking of the 10 most ethical sex toys on the planet.
  • Home Care Workers' Co-op was featured in a recent story by TVO.
  • The Ontario Co-op Association and London Brewing were featured in a recent episode of Each for All.
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Canadian Co-op News
Worker Co-op Slack

The U.S. Federation of Worker Co-ops is using the online chat application Slack to create a forum for its members to connect and has also created a Canada-specific channel. Instructions to join are available here.
Why Some Worker Co-ops Succeed While Others Fail

What criteria should be used to measure the success of worker co-ops? Should we use the same criteria as for capitalist businesses? The answers are by no means obvious. Co-ops need to be profitable to stay in operation, but profit maximization is not their goal.

International Co-op News

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, or news about your co-op, to:  

Kenzie Love
Editor of CWCF Newsletter 
.(403) 276-8250