The Latest News From Canada's Worker Co-op Sector
February 2022 Volume 14 Issue 2
In This Issue

  • Thetis Island Farm Co-operative an Oasis Amidst "Food Desert", by Kenzie Love
  • Black History Month a Chance to Recognize Overlooked Co-operative Tradition, by Kenzie Love
  • Upcoming Events
  • CWCF Young Adult Arts and Culture Granting Program Seeks Applicants
  • Member Updates
  • Canadian Co-op News
  • International Co-op News

Thetis Island Farm Co-operative an Oasis Amidst "Food Desert"
By Kenzie Love

The Co-op is a for-profit, multi-stakeholder, producers' co-op set up to create meaningful food-production and livelihood opportunities for Island residents and ensure greater food security by creating a market-hub for residents and visitors around food and community and well-being.
 
Black History Month a Chance to Recognize Overlooked Co-operative Tradition
By Kenzie Love

Looking beyond the Rochdale Pioneers offers a glimpse into the rich history of co-operativism that has long existed within Black communities.


Upcoming Events

  • Webinar - Isthmus Engineering: A case study on worker co-op governance. Isthmus Engineering is described as a "verdant example" of a "highly democratic" worker co-operative in a technical field. Join the International Centre for Co-operative Management for a webinar March 1 from 12-1 pm ET showcasing research on their participatory governance.
  • Worker Co-op 101 Introduction: Part II Mar 2, 12 pm ET
  • Foundations of Workplace Democracy (by US FWC etc.) Web Series - Setting up Membership Fees & Trial Periods, March 9, 4 pm ET.
  • Worker Co-op Finance 101 Mar 23, 12 pm ET

Image courtesy Molly Graham, artist
CWCF Young Adult Arts and Culture Granting Program Seeks Applicants

Thanks to the generosity of the late CWCF president Mark Goldblatt, CWCF is once again offering a small grant, up to $1000, to help pay for an arts and cultural projects to promote co-operatives (preferably worker co-operatives). Applications are due by April 30, 2022.

The project must be youth-generated (individual or a group/organization) and take place within Canada during the year following the application deadline (between May 1 to April 30).
Member Updates

  • Demand for climate action plans is rising. In the latest SSG newsletter: the projects we're excited about working on in 2022, why our founder is optimistic about the future of sustainable cities & more!
  • Danielle Turpin of Home Care Workers' Co-operative was featured in a recent story on CBC Radio's The Current.
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Canadian Co-op News
  • The International Centre for Co-operative Management at Saint Mary's University Offers Online, Part-time Co-operative and Credit Union Management Degree and Certificate Programs. Applications are open until May 31 for the Master’s, Graduate Diploma and Certificate in co-operative and credit union management designed for working professionals in co-operatives, credit unions and mutuals. Our online, part-time programs (Options: 3 years, 16 months or 10 months in duration). Excel in co-operative management, elevate your organization and join a global network of leading practitioners, educators and scholars in the co-operative economy. Bursaries are available.
  • On April 4 & 5, join SMU for an online professional development course “Operationalizing Co-operative Identity - Strategy to Practice”. Designed for veteran and emerging co-operators of all stripes. Deliberate the multiple facets of co-operative identity including how purpose, values and principles translate into strategy and practice spanning your co-operatives' governance, management and operations.
  • On 21st century consumerism and human needs. A TorontotheBetter book review of "All We Want" by Michael Harris.
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