February 2023 Newsletter

Volume 15 Issue 2

Black History Month

CWCF's Statement on Racial Justice in the Co-op Sector


Black lives matter. We acknowledge that while racism and oppression have come to the forefront again recently in the United States, Canada has its own historic and present-day systemic racism towards Black, Indigenous and Peoples of Colour.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT >>

MAKING REPARATIONS: SEEDING A JUST FUTURE

Realizing the extent to which the dominant economic system remains rooted in legacies of colonial violence and slavery, addressing the systemic injustices of racism and colonialism remain essential elements of a just and regenerative future.

WATCH >>

NEW ECONOMY COALITION: BLACK CO-OP HISTORY RESOURCE LIST

From mutual aid societies to freedom farms and credit unions — Black communities have been using co-operative economics as a tool for collective liberation, self-determination, and to resist the violence of racial capitalism for centuries.

VIEW THE LIST >>

BLACK FEMINISTS IN THE THIRD SECTOR

Black, Indigenous, and other minority groups tend to congregate in the solidarity economy, also known as the third sector, as a place of refuge when they are marginalized and alienated from the state and private sectors.

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ROSCAS: A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Women in small communities across the world are building resilient economic systems that nurture solidarity, equity, and trust.

READ MORE >>

DID YOU KNOW?


The CWCF Worker Co-op Academy is an online training program that coaches start-up groups through the process of developing and launching their worker co-op enterprises in a supportive cohort, with the help of experienced co-op developers.


Next cohort starts May 8, 2023

FIND OUT HOW TO APPLY >>

CWCF News & Events

CWCF WEBINARS, Conference

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CWCF WELCOMES NEW STAFF MEMBER

CWCF is pleased to welcome Lindsay Reid as the Program Assistant for Common Good Capital. Lindsay will be serving in this position over the coming year to cover for a maternity leave.

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CWCF GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

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UPCOMING DEADLINES FOR CWCF'S RACIAL JUSTICE PROJECT GRANTS

Applications for CWCF's BIPOC Training Bursary and Racial Justice Project Grants are both due March 31, 2023.

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UPCOMING MEET-AND-GREETS

CWCF staff, board members, and advisors have started this year’s member meetings and calls. We are trying to connect with as many members as we can. In light of this, we will be hosting a series of Meet-and-Greet events. Dates are still being finalized; however, we are planning events in Halifax in late March, Toronto in the evening of April 5th, Ottawa on May 16th, and Quebec City on June 8th (or 9th), as well as Victoria in June (Victoria date - TBC). More information will be provided once locations etc. are finalized.

CWCF HOSTS WEBINAR ON BUSINESS CONVERSIONS FOR EQUITY-DENIED GROUPS


Cet article est disponible en français ici.

CWCF reprised its successful pre-Conference session on Business Conversions to Social Purpose Organizations for Equity-Denied Groups on February 9 in the form of a webinar, which over 30 participants attended.

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CWCF LINKEDIN PAGE

CWCF now has its own LinkedIn page! Follow it to stay up to date on the latest goings on with our members and in the wider worker co-op sector.

VISIT THE PAGE >>

CWCF WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

MORE ABOUT CWCF MEMBERSHIP >>

From the CWCF Blog

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT IS CRITICAL TO A STRONG WORKER CO-OP SECTOR

In pondering the question of why worker co-ops flourish more in some countries than others, cultural differences are often cited. But Hazel Corcoran, CWCF’s Executive Director, points to another important factor: government support.

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LE SOUTIEN GOUVERNEMENTAL, UN FACTEUR INDISPENSABLE AU DYNAMISME DU SECTEUR COOPÉRATIF

Les différences culturelles figurent souvent parmi les raisons qui expliquent pourquoi les coopératives de travail prospèrent davantage dans certains pays. Mais Hazel Corcoran, directrice générale de la FCCT, souligne autre facteur important : le soutien gouvernemental.

LIRE LA SUITE >>

LOUDER THAN TEN SUCCEEDS AS A CO-OP CONVERSION

If Louder Than Ten’s founders had known about worker co-ops at the time of its inception, they probably would’ve incorporated as one.

READ MORE >>

Worker Co-op News

IN CANADA

INTERNATIONALLY


  • Cooperatives at Work shows how – in the face of the climate emergency and the multiple interwoven crises that are bound up with it – worker cooperatives can contribute to the fundamental social, economic, political and cultural change that is urgently needed.
  • Grassroots Economic Organizing's recent newsletter contains a series of articles on worker co-ops.
  • Co-op Cincy's February newsletter is now available.


  • The Decolonizing Economics Summit virtual conference takes place April 20-22, 2023.
  • The Association of Co-operative Educators' 2023 Institute takes place in Puerto Rico on August 7-10, with the theme of Climate, Cooperatives and Resilience!

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 

admin@canadianworker.coop

(403) 276-8250 

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